Documents, Forms, and Branding
The documents below are everything a team needs to compete in the IREC and Sponsored Challenges. Some documents are living documents and will be updated as the competition progresses and launch dates get closer while others are final. Please check back periodically to make sure you have the most recent document. Unless otherwise noted, all documents and forms/ templates remain valid from their effective date until they are either replaced or otherwise declared obsolete by ESRA. Feel free to contact ESRA with any questions.
Documents
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This document defines the rules and requirements governing participation in the IREC. Additional guidance for collegiate teams entered in the competition is contained in the IREC Design, Test, & Evaluation Guide.
Notes: 2026 v1.0 edition is now available.
2026 IREC Rules & Requirements Document v1.0
Last Updated: April 29, 2026 by jem
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Team Roster CSV Template for Question 31 of the IREC Application.
Please download the file and edit accordingly.
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SDL is excited to be involved with the IREC, focusing on the payload portion of the competition. After all, there’s no reason to launch a rocket unless there’s a payload! SDL is offering prizes to teams that produce meaningful payloads.
2026 IREC SDL Payload Challenge Rules and Information
Last Updated: Nov 4, 2025 by jem
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This document defines the minimum design, test, and evaluation criteria which the event organizers expect college and university student teams participating in the IREC to uphold. ESRA use these criteria to ensure a very high level of flight safety. Departures from the guidance this document provides may negatively impact an offending team’s flight status depending on the degree of severity. This document supplements the foundational, qualifying criteria for the IREC contained in the IREC Rules & Requirement Document.
2026 IREC DTEG V1.1 (Design, Test and Evaluation Guide) - REDLINES
2026 IREC DTEG V1.1 (Design, Test and Evaluation Guide)
2026 Frequency Student Band Plan Rev D 041426
Last Updated: February 26, 2026 by jem
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This document defines the overarching "run-rules" governing IREC activities, most notably all IREC launch operations. IREC team members and individuals closely associated with teams are this document's intended audience. It is not intended for use by members of the general public. Such visitors to the IREC will receive event information relevant to them through other channels.
2025 IREC Range Standard Operating Procedures
Last Updated: April 23, 2024, by acb
NOTE: This document is a work-in-progress and the current version should serve as a guide in the meantime. -
This document primarily defines the schedule on which participants in the IREC must submit required deliverables to the event organizers in order to be considered "timely" in scoring. The impact of timeliness on scoring is described for each respective deliverable in the IREC Rules & Requirements Document. Furthermore, this document integrates other information useful to participants, such as the deadlines for early, on-time, or late payment of fees, due dates for required waivers/forms, and the detailed event schedule of the IREC itself. This information is updated on a regular basis throughout the year, so participants should check regularly to verify they are working with the most current version.
Notes: 2026-B edition is now available.
2026 IREC Integrated Master Schedule Document V1.3
2026 IREC Integrated Master Schedule Document V1.3 - REDLINES
Last Updated: April 29, 2026 by jem
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The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association can provide this letter to organizations financially supporting IREC teams, to explain and define the fee structure for the competition. Three separate fees make up the entire “IREC Registration Fee”. These are the Entry Fee, the Rocket Fee, and the Rocketeer Fee.
2026 IREC Competition Fees Overview
Last Updated: Nov. 13, 2025 by jem
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No student, sponsor, or spectator drones will be allowed at any site associated with the IREC. This incudes the Horseshoe Pavilion, the Launch Site at Spaceport Midland, and the Bush Center. Please review the ESRA Official UAS (Drone) Policy and email media@esrarocket.org with any questions or concerns.
Updated: May 6, 2026 jem.
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This document provides student team members, staff and volunteers with a highly recommended style of clothing for dealing with the environment. Wearing inappropriate clothing such as flip flops, swimming attire, etc. can lead to points deductions or even removal from the site.
Last Updated: March 26, 2025 by acb
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2025 3rd Progress Report - Video Flight Readiness Review Information
Last Updated: May 2, 2026 by acb
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See below for printouts of the 2025 Progress Reports 1-3. Detailed changes are certain in future years, but the overall content is expected to be similar. These are intended to help teams prepare for Progress Reports before the submission period opens.
Progress Report 1 Preview
Progress Report 2 Preview
Progress Report 3 Preview - Please note that this is only a template and the actual form may be slightly different due to formatting.Last Updated: January 20, 2026 by jem
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Instructions for shipping team equipment to Midland.
Last Updated: May 28, 2026 by acb
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IREC Contestant Solids Pad Operations Guide
Last Updated: June 7, 2025
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This document provides shipping guidance and instructions for 2026, contact information for Flagship Forwarding, deadlines for specific activities, and a Shipment Declaration Form.
IREC International Shipping Guidance and Instructions for 2026
Last updated: 25 March 2026 tmy
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Download the current band plan.
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Forms
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To enter the SDL Payload Challenge, each interested team shall submit a payload challenge entry form to SDL no later than May 31, 2025; email to: payloadchallenge@sdl.usu.edu
2026 IREC SDL Payload Challenge Entry Judging Sheet
Last Updated: Nov. 9, 2025 by jem
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Each team shall submit a Project Technical Report which overviews their project for the judging panel and other competition officials. The Project Technical Report shall be formatted according to the style guide of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), using a provided Microsoft® Word document template. These files are to be submitted in pdf format.
IREC Project Technical Report Template 2026 v.1
Last Updated: April 1, 2026
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In accordance with the IREC Rules & Requirements Document, the Project Technical Report appendix shall contain a Risk Assessment. This appendix shall summarize risk and reliability concepts associated with the project. All identified failure modes which pose a risk to mission success shall be recorded in a matrix, organized according to the mission phases identified by the concept of operation (CONOPS). A mitigation approach – by process and/or design – shall be defined for each risk identified. An example of such a matrix is available here.
Example Risk Assessment Matrix
Last Updated: October 9, 2016
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Each team shall submit an Extended Abstract on a particular aspect of their work for competition officials and the judging panel to consider including in a Podium Session held during the conference day at the IREC. Teams whose topics are accepted into the Podium Session will be considered eligible for Technical Excellence and Innovation Awards defined in the IREC Rules & Requirements Document. The Extended Abstract shall be formatted according to the style guide of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), using a provided Microsoft® Word document template. The file should be submitted as a pdf format.
IREC Extended Abstract Template 2026
Last Updated: April 1, 2026
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Each team shall have the academic institution(s) in which its members are enrolled provide a signed letter to the event organizers, acknowledging the team's participation in the IREC. The signature shall be that of a faculty member or other paid, non-student staff representative. This will affirm the team in question does in fact represent the academic institution(s) its members claim affiliation with. Academic institutions sending more than one team to the IREC need only write one participation letter, covering all their teams, but each included team must submit an individual copy of that letter. In the case of a joint team, comprised of students from multiple academic institutions, each affiliated institution must provide its own letter to the team.
Example IREC School Participation Letter
Last Updated: April 1, 2026
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Every individual attending the IREC – including team members, faculty advisers, and other invited guests – shall digitally sign the IREC Waiver and Release of Liability Form. Individuals who do not sign this form will be unable to participate in any activities during the IREC.
The IREC Waiver and Release of Liability Form is available for digital signature at the following web address:
TBDLast Updated: Aug 23, 2025 by jem
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The following sample of the IREC Flight Safety Review Resolution Form is provided for participants' reference purposes only. The flier's actual form will be issued at the event by an inspector from the Flight Safety Team. The Launch approval process, including the Flight Safety Review, is defined in the Standard Operating Procedures.
IREC Flight Safety Review Resolution Form
Last Updated: June 3, 2019
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The following sample of the IREC Consolidated Flight Card and Post Flight Record is provided for participants' reference purposes only. The flier's actual form will be issued at the event by an inspector from the Launch Operations Team. The Launch approval process, including the use of the Consolidated Flight Card and Post Flight Record is defined in the Standard Operating Procedures.
Sample IREC Consolidated Flight Card & Post Flight Record v1.1
Last Updated: June 3, 2019
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Earn a coveted Blue Shirt! Become an ESRA volunteer. Visit Volunteer Opportunities for all the details and available positions.
Ready to launch? Fill out the Volunteer Application Form.
Branding
Please note that when using ESRA and IREC branding this is for personal use on team paraphernalia, posters, etc. It is not intended to be used for mass distribution of materials without written consent from ESRA staff. Please email general.info@esrarocket.org with any questions regarding the use of ESRA and IREC branding.
2026 IREC Patch
The 2026 IREC Mission Patch is brought to you by Anthony Le Jeune of University College London - Team 60.
"When designing this patch, I aimed to reflect the natural and industrial beauty that make Midland, Texas distinct. Ranching remains central to West Texas, yet the work behind it is often overlooked. To recognize that effort and its importance, I chose to represent cattle alongside a pumpjack. Together, they reflect industries that help feed and power people far beyond the region.
I also wanted the patch to reflect American pride. The rocket revealing the American flag is meant as an unveiling, a reminder that Texas’ grit is part of the broader American dream.
Finally, I included two recurring Easter eggs from past IREC patches. The number of stars corresponds to the 19th edition of IREC, and the armadillo from last year’s mission patch is subtly hidden in the cloud. My hope is that the longer someone looks at the patch, the more meaning they uncover and the more they appreciate what Midland has to offer."
ESRA Insignia
Think our insignia looks pretty cool? Want a high quality version of it to display on things? Please feel free to download this full resolution file and use it as you see fit - for promotion, to decorate your rocket, etc... Have fun!
IREC Logo
Please feel free to download this full resolution file and use it as you see fit - for promotion, to decorate your rocket, etc.
Coin Logos
Color Branding
