T-Minus Space Daily: The International Rocket Engineering Competition

Episode Release Date: May 26, 2025

Overview

In this special edition of T-Minus Space Daily, host Alice Carruth delves into the intricate world of the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), the largest student rocket engineering competition globally. Organized by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (EZRA), the competition serves as a pivotal platform for university students worldwide to showcase their engineering prowess and innovative designs in rocketry. This summary encapsulates the episode’s key discussions, insights from seasoned volunteers, the competition’s evolution, and its significant impact on the aerospace industry.

1. Introduction to IREC

Alice Carruth sets the stage by highlighting the dedication of thousands of college rocketry teams who continue their relentless pursuit of excellence even as the academic year concludes. She introduces IREC as the premier event where future aerospace leaders converge to test their creations and compete for the coveted title of overall winners.

“The future of the aerospace industry gathers to put themselves and their creations to the test.” [00:59]

2. Origins and Evolution of IREC

Dustin Kohler, a veteran in aerospace and the unofficial historian for IREC, recounts the competition’s humble beginnings. Founded in 2006 by EZRA, IREC initially catered to a handful of teams from Utah and California. Over the years, the competition expanded its reach, welcoming teams from the East Coast and beyond, transforming into the international event it is today.

“The original reason the IREC competition started was there was a couple universities in Utah and California that were all kind of developing some sounding rocket programs...” [04:30]

3. Dustin Kohler’s Journey with IREC

Dustin shares his personal journey with IREC, detailing how his initial involvement as a project lead at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University led him to spearhead the university’s participation in the competition. His team’s early success set the foundation for his long-term commitment to IREC.

“Our team won the first rocket competition. And that was kind of our first foray into what was the older IREC.” [06:15]

4. Volunteer Dedication and Community Impact

Andy Burger, the current executive director of EZRA, emphasizes the pivotal role volunteers play in orchestrating IREC. From judges to launch operations, volunteers infuse energy and expertise, ensuring the competition runs smoothly. Andy underscores the profound satisfaction derived from witnessing students overcome challenges and achieve their launch and recovery goals.

“Watching the actual launch, which is a super exciting time, just the launch, they're off the pad, a year's worth of work under their belts...” [14:17]

5. The Vital Role of Volunteers

The episode highlights the essential contributions of volunteers like Andy and Dustin, whose extensive hours and passion keep the competition thriving. Their stories illustrate how past competitors transition into leadership and support roles, fostering a vibrant community dedicated to advancing rocketry education.

“Everybody's doing this after work hours and they put the time in, they're, they're dedicated to this.” [33:58]

6. Innovations in Live Streaming

A significant focus is placed on the competition’s live streaming capabilities, a project led by former competitors Logan and Matt. This initiative brings global accessibility to IREC, allowing teams and supporters worldwide to engage with the event in real-time, enhancing visibility and participation.

“We are now filling all of that dead space... It's like an NFL football event. They really do everything they can to make sure that it is exciting and entertaining and it's not boring.” [18:57]

7. Event Structure and Schedule

Steve Taylor, the president of EZRA, provides an in-depth overview of the competition’s schedule. The week-long event encompasses registration, safety reviews, poster sessions, technical presentations, and multiple launch days. Each day is meticulously planned to balance competition, education, and networking opportunities for participants and sponsors alike.

“Monday is a convention center day where teams are coming in, we're having their registrations done, we're doing their flight safety reviews...” [28:32]

8. Competition Categories and Challenges

IREC is characterized by its progressive categories that escalate in complexity, from launching rockets to 10,000 feet with commercial motors to more advanced stages involving bipropellant systems and multi-stage rockets. This structured approach ensures that teams develop their skills incrementally, preparing them for higher challenges in aerospace engineering.

“There are different categories with different propulsion types... Next year we want to have a bipropellant category...” [25:48]

9. Sponsorship and Recruitment

Sponsors play a crucial role in IREC by providing resources and opportunities for student recruitment. Companies leverage the competition to identify and engage with emerging engineering talent, ensuring a symbiotic relationship that benefits both the industry and the participants.

“The companies they're looking for, who's that next engineer? How am I going to recruit that next engineer?” [32:06]

10. Logistics and Community Support

Relocating the competition to Midland, Texas, presented significant logistical challenges, which were adeptly managed by dedicated volunteers. Steve Taylor commends the city of Midland for its support and the collective effort of the volunteers in successfully transitioning the event to its new venue.

“In closing, I want to give a lot of credit to the city of Midland and their appetite for STEM...” [33:58]

11. Future Outlook

Looking ahead, IREC plans to introduce new categories and expand its reach further, fostering greater innovation and participation. The competition continues to evolve, reflecting the dynamic nature of the aerospace industry and the relentless spirit of the students involved.

“We want to be able to support it with a competition... that's what we were to a certain extent.” [10:57]

Notable Quotes

• “The future of the aerospace industry gathers to put themselves and their creations to the test.” – Alice Carruth [00:59]

• “Our team won the first rocket competition. And that was kind of our first foray into what was the older IREC.” – Dustin Kohler [06:15]

• “Watching the actual launch, which is a super exciting time, just the launch, they're off the pad, a year's worth of work under their belts...” – Andy Burger [14:17]

• “Everybody's doing this after work hours and they put the time in, they're, they're dedicated to this.” – Steve Taylor [33:58]

• “We are now filling all of that dead space... It's like an NFL football event. They really do everything they can to make sure that it is exciting and entertaining and it's not boring.” – Andy Burger [18:57]

• “The companies they're looking for, who's that next engineer? How am I going to recruit that next engineer?” – Steve Taylor [32:06]

Conclusion

The International Rocket Engineering Competition stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of students and volunteers alike in advancing the field of rocketry. Through collaborative efforts, innovative projects like live streaming, and robust industry partnerships, IREC not only fosters technical expertise but also cultivates the next generation of aerospace leaders. As highlighted in this episode of T-Minus Space Daily, the competition’s enduring legacy is built on passion, community, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in space engineering.

For more information about the competition, visit soundingrocket.org.