Schedule of Events
refer to the IMS for offical dates and times.
2027 IREC Photo Submission
Media Challenge: 2027 IREC Photo Submission opens - submit your photos for review.
Four Deadlines
Submission deadlines for May 1, 2026 are: Project Technical Report; Poster Session Material Submissions; Podium Session Material Submission; and School Participation Letter.
Two Deadlines
Deadlines for May 14, 2027 are: completion of the Flight Readiness Safety Review with your ESRA Safety Reviewers and submission of your Team Registration Package.
Final Launch Data
Deadline to submit your Final Launch Data Package is May 19, 2027 at 5:00 pm Central Time.
Items Pick Up
Time windows to pick up items shipped to Shipping and Temporary Storage Warehouse (TBC) are from June 10 to June 14 2027.
Cert Build Day
Certification Rocket Build Day: come build your Wildman Rocket in the Backstage Building at the Horseshoe Pavailion.
Setup Day 2
Solids/hybrid/liquid and two-stage pad and ground support equipment set up.
Mon Jun 14
Safety review, check-in, rocket-building, student panel, mass group photo, and pizza social at the Horseshoe Pavilion.
Tue Jun 15
Horseshoe Pavilion opens to everyone. Opening Ceremony, Conference Day Podium and Poster Sessions, and Flight Safety Reviews.
Video Challenge
Deadline to Submit a video entry for the Live Video/Telemetry Challenge is Saturday, June 19, 2027 at 6:00 pm Central Time.
Photo Challenge
Deadline to submit your photo for the 2027 IREC Photo Challenge is Sunday, June 20, 2027 at 11:59 pm Central Time.
Preparing for IREC - Zoom Webinar
Is your team interested in competing in the 2027 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC)? Whether you are a first time competitor or would love a few tips from an experienced team. We highly encourage you to join the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) on August 20, 2026 at 7PM CST in partnership with the University of Maryland Terrapin Rocket Team to discuss in detail "Preparing for IREC."
Video Entry for Live Video Challenge
Submit your video entry for the Live Video Challenge.
Judges deliberation and Awards Ceremony
Judges meet for final deliberations
Doors Open
IREC Awards Ceremony
Spaceport Midland Day 4
Range Close and Site Cleanup
Range open for launch operations
Morning Flyer Meeting
spaceport Midland Day 3
Morning Flyer Meeting
Range open for launch operations
Judges Coordination Meeting
Evening Flyer Meeting
spaceport midland day 2
Morning Flyer Meeting
Range open for launch operations
Judges Coordination Meeting
Evening Flyer Meeting
Spaceport Midland Day 1
Morning Flyer Meeting
Launch Preparations and Judging Evaluations
Range open for launch operations
Judges Coordination Meeting
Evening Flyer Meeting
Midland horseshoe pavilion day 2
Opening Ceremony for All Attendees
Team Officers, Mentors, Flyers of Record & Faculty Briefing
Flight Safety Reviews
Poster and Podium Sessions
Aerotech Motor Building Class
ESRA Staff, Judge and Volunteer Dinner
Midland Horseshoe Pavilion Day 1
Check-in and Poster Set Up
Mass Photo
Aerotech Motor Building Class
Coordination Kick-off Meeting
Hybrid and two-stage pad and ground support Equipment set up (optional)
Hybrid and Two-Stage Pad and Ground Support Equipment Set Up
Certification Launch Day
Launch and recovery operations will occur for certification flights and volunteer fun flights.
Pick-up at Midland Shipping Warehouse
Items shipped to Midland Shipping warehouse can be picked up from June 11 to June 15, 2026. See post for other days and times when your items can be picked up.
Short Video Submission for Livestream
The deadline for submission is May 20, 2026 at 5 PM CT.
Deadline for 3rd Interim Progress Report Submissions
The deadline is May 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT.
Team Registration Package Submissions
The deadline for submissions is May 1 at 5 PM CT.
Video Flight Readiness Safety Review
The deadline for completion is May 15, 2026 at 5 PM CT.
Project Technical Report Submissions
The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2026 at 5 PM CT.
Poster Session Material Submissions
The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2026 at 5 PM CT.
Podium Session Material Submissions
The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2026 at 5 PM CT.
School Participation Letter Submissions
The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2026 at 5 PM CT.
On-time Rocketeer Fee Deadline
The on-time payment deadline for the Rocketeer Fee is April 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT.
On-Time Rocket Fee Deadline
The on-time payment deadline for the Rocket Fee is April 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT.
Video Flight Readiness Safety Reviews
Window opens for Video Flight Readiness Safety Reviews.
Team Registration Package
Window opens for Team Registration Package submissions on April 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT.