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Experimental Sounding Rocket Association ESRA Logo

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:

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 2kg or 4.4 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.
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​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. 
ESRA has operated the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) since 2006. 
  • 2006-2016 - Green River, Utah
  • 2017-2024 - Spaceport America, New Mexico
  • 2025 - Spaceport Midland, Texas
The 2025 IREC will be hosted in MIDLAND,TEXAS Monday, June 9 - 14, 2025.

2025 IREC Sponsors

Platinum Level Sponsor

2025 IREC Platinum Level Sponsor - Protospace - Protocase
2025 IREC Supporting Sponsor - Landbridge Land Management

Gold Level Sponsor

2025 IREC Gold Level Sponsor AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
2025 IREC Gold Level Sponsor - Onshape Cloud Native CAD

Silver Level Sponsor


2025 IREC Silver Sponsor Blue Origin - For the Benefit of Earth

Bronze Level Sponsors

2025 Bronze Level Sponsor - Ansys - Powering Innovation That Drives Human Advancement
New 2025 IREC Bronze Level Sponsor Solidworks

2025 IREC Bronze Level Sponsor - Estes Energetics - Thrust you can trust.
2025 IREC Supporting Bronze Level
2025 Bronze Level Sponsor - Space Dynamics Laboratory - Delivering Mission Success Since 1959
2025 IREC Bronze Sponsor - SpaceX - The road to making life multiplanetary.

Supporting Sponsors

2025 Supporting Sponsor - Blakemore Planetarium
2025 IREC Supporting Sponsor - Discover Odessa
2025 IREC Support Sponsor - Midland County, Texas
2025 Supporting Sponsor - Tripoli Rocketry Association, Inc
2025 IRED Supporting Sponsor - Midland Chamber of Commerce
2025 IREC Supporting Sponsor - City of Midland, Texas
2025 Supporting Sponsor - Legacy Artificial Lift Solutions
2025 IREC Supporting Sponsor - Midland Development Corporation
2025 IREC Supporting Sponsor - Visit Midland

2025 IREC Media Partners

2025 IREC Media Partner NASA Spaceflight
2025 IREC Media Partner Spacenews

DONATE TODAY!

Not ready to become a sponsor but able to make a tax deductible donation?
Donations are always welcome and 100% of the proceeds go directly to supporting ESRA's mission!
web login
  • ESRA Home
  • News
  • Sponsorships
    • Becoming a Sponsor
    • Sponsor a Challenge
    • Rocket Vendors
    • Past Sponsors
    • Donate
  • About ESRA
    • What is IREC?
    • Volunteer
  • IREC competition
    • 2025 IREC
    • IREC Fees
    • Technical Resources
    • IREC Documents & Forms
    • SDL Payload Challenge
    • Team Video Challenge
    • Live Rocket Video Challenge
    • IREC Locations, Maps, Travel, & Lodging
    • Past IREC Events
  • Contact Us
  • Online Store