Experimental Sounding Rocket Association

06/08/2026

Don't miss the opportunity to have your team, rocket, payload, and challenge participation accurately represented on the 2026 IREC Livestream, fill out the Livestream Database here: https://www.esrarocket.org/irec-team-media-portal

06/08/2026

One week out. If you're coming to watch at Spaceport Midland, here's a few important items to pack!

🏕️ Pop-up tent — shade is survival in West Texas. Bring one.
🪨 Sandbags, not stakes — the ground won't cooperate with stakes. Weight your tent down.
🪣 A good seat — 5 gal. buckets work great and pull double duty for hauling gear.
💧 Hydration — water bottles and electrolytes. Both. Not just one.
☀️ Sunscreen + bug spray — apply before you arrive and bring both for reapplication.
👟 Solid footwear + layers — closed-toe shoes or boots, long sleeves, pants, and a hat. The field is uneven and the sun is relentless.
🔋 Battery pack — your phone will work hard all day. Keep it alive.
🌮 SNACKS + cash for the food truck — signal can be spotty so cash is better, especially small bills.

Full event info: esrarocket.org/what-to-bring-to-irec

06/07/2026

From six continents to one stretch of West Texas sky.
143 teams. 20 countries.
Thousands of hours of design, testing, and rebuilding, all converging on Spaceport Midland, June 14–20.
IREC isn't just the largest intercollegiate rocket engineering competition in the world. It's proof that the next generation of aerospace engineers is already at work, and they're coming from everywhere.
8 days. 🌍🚀
www.esrarocket.org

06/06/2026

Every rocket at IREC started the same way...as a problem nobody had solved yet.
How do you design an airframe that survives 30,000 feet? How do you engineer a recovery system that actually works? How do you build a motor when off-the-shelf isn't an option?
You figure it out. As a team. Under pressure. With a deadline.
That's not a classroom exercise. That's an engineering career that starting in college.
9 days until 143 teams show the world what figuring it out looks like. 🚀
www.esrarocket.org

06/05/2026

Hey West Texas, share your talents by supporting the largest rocket engineering competition in the world! Join us at the 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) by becoming an On-Site Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) Volunteer today! Whether you are in to aerospace or just enjoy helping others, ESRA has a position for you!

Learn more here: https://www.esrarocket.org/volunteer-opportunities

06/05/2026

The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) would like to thank the following companies for believing in and supporting our mission by sponsoring the 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC): Platinum Sponsor: Gold Sponsor: Silver Sponsor: Bronze Sponsors: .ai General Sponsors: Partners: Media Sponsors: Rocketry Sponsors: Supporting Sponsors: .org Community Sponsors: We truly thank you!

06/04/2026

You hear it before you see it. Then the smoke. Then it's gone. A white streak trading the desert floor for the stratosphere in seconds. 45,000 feet is eight and a half miles straight up. These students built something that can do that.
11 days. 🚀
www.esrarocket.org

06/04/2026

Reminder: Last town hall this evening. Check the website and discord for the Zoom link!

Join us on Thursday, June 4th at 7:00 PM CST for the rescheduled final Town Hall of the 2026 IREC season. This is your chance to connect directly with ESRA staff, ask questions, and stay engaged with the latest in competition updates and information. Don't miss out!

06/04/2026

See you soon Midland!

06/03/2026

Discover how the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) and the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) are shaping the future of aerospace innovation and inspiring the next generation of engineers in West Texas. Listen to the Good Work West Texas podcast to learn more about their mission and impactful work here: https://youtu.be/m7Y7nwj9HK4