The 2027 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) will take place in Midland, Texas, June 14–19, 2027, continuing its role as the world’s premier intercollegiate high‑powered rocketry event. Hosted by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA)—a nonprofit founded in 2003 to advance hands‑on aerospace education—the competition challenges university teams to design, build, test, and launch rockets ranging from 4–8 inches in diameter, 8–20 feet in length and carrying >2 kg payloads to target altitudes between 10,000 and 100,000 feet. All chemical propulsion types, including solid, liquid, hybrid, and multistage systems, are permitted, making IREC one of the most technically diverse student rocketry arenas in the world.

Since its establishment in 2006, IREC has grown from a small U.S. collegiate gathering into a global showcase of innovation, now welcoming over 180 teams from 22 countries across six continents. Participation continues to rise each year—pushing the boundaries of student rocketry, accelerating aerospace career pathways, and driving new engineering breakthroughs. In 2026, 196 teams applied, 143 arrived in Midland, and 125 successfully cleared for launch, underscoring the competition’s scale, rigor, and international momentum.