Who We Are:

The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2003 for the purpose of fostering and promoting engineering knowledge and experience in the field of rocketry. ESRA's primary focus is providing safe and exciting opportunities for academic groups to compete in aerospace challenges.

What We Do:

ESRA has operated the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) since 2006. 

• 2006-2016 - Green River, Utah
  
• 2017-2024 - Spaceport America, New Mexico
  
• 2025 - Spaceport Midland, Texas

Each year, we accept over 150 collegiate teams from around the world to compete for the prestigious title of overall winner! Each team designs, builds, tests and launches rockets with a payload size of 2.2 pounds and target altitudes of either 10,000, 30,000 or 45,000 feet. Rockets are typically 4 to 8 inches in diameter and 8 to 20 ft. long. Multistage rockets and all chemical propulsion types (solid, liquid, and hybrid) are allowed. For information about competing in the Spaceport America Cup, please visit http://www.soundingrocket.org/

The IREC has been an annual occurrence since 2006. The competition achieved international status in 2011 – when schools from Canada and Brazil joined – and has continued to grow rapidly ever since. More than 1,800 students attended the 2024 competition, representing over 120 schools from 22 countries on 5 different continents.