Event Tag: Aerospace Students

2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC)

The 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) will take place in Midland, Texas from June 15–20, 2026.

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 mission is to provide safe and exciting opportunities for academic groups to compete in aerospace challenges.

In 2006, ESRA established the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) which has since grown from a handful of U.S. based collegiate teams to welcoming over 180 collegiate teams from 22 countries on 6 different continents. During the IREC each team designs, builds, tests and launches rockets with a payload size >2kg and target altitudes of 10,000 to 100,000 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.

The IREC isn’t just a competition, it’s a launchpad for innovation and careers. This year, 175 teams have successfully applied and been accepted to participate in the 2026 IREC to push the limits of high-powered rocketry, applying classroom theory to real-world engineering challenges, and break new IREC records!

In partnership with the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association, AIAA is proud to support the world’s largest university rocket engineering competition.

For more information about the competition, please visit: esrarocket.org

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2026 Region V Student Conference

Conference Host: Iowa State University, Howe Hall & Sukup Hall, Ames, IA
Conference Dates: 26–27 March 2026

Take part in AIAA’s Regional Student Conference by presenting your research in a formal technical meeting, exchange ideas, and discuss programs with students from other universities in your region.

Please note: A high school or university student in good standing at their institution who is also an AIAA student member is eligible to submit a paper to the Regional Student Conference. The submitting and presenting author(s) must be AIAA student members. Any student may attend the Regional Student Conference but may be subjected to a higher registration fee if they are not AIAA members. Please click here for more information to join as an AIAA Student Member.

You must be attending a high school/college/university in Region V to participate in the Region V Student Conference. Students can petition to present at a conference outside their university’s region by emailing [email protected].

Region V includes Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Additionally, it includes the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Cash prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place winners for each category.

2022 Region V Student Conference

Take part in AIAA’s Regional Student Conference by presenting your research in a formal technical meeting, exchange ideas, and discuss programs with students from other universities in your region.

You must be an AIAA Student Member and attending a college/university or high school in Region V to participate in the Region V Student Conference.

Cash prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place winners for each category. First-place regional winners are then invited to participate in the AIAA Foundation International Student Conference, held during the AIAA SciTech Forum each January.

Cancelled – 2020 Region V Student Conference

The student and volunteer organizers of the AIAA Region V Student Conference have cancelled their conference due to concerns about the coronavirus.

The Region V Student Conference was scheduled to be held 2-3 April at Wichita State University and has been cancelled at this time out of an abundance of caution due to a concern for the health and safety of visitors, students, faculty, and staff. AIAA will provide a full refund of conference registration fees in the next 3 to 5 business days. Students are still encouraged to submit their papers by 21 March 2020 to be evaluated for feedback from judges.

Student papers submitted to the conferences will still be evaluated by technical judges, and feedback will be provided after reviews have been completed. Additional information is forthcoming regarding refunds. We apologize for this inconvenience, and we appreciate your understanding and patience. For any questions, please contact Michael Lagana at [email protected].

Ready to submit your paper? Click the button below to begin your submission

2021 Region V Student Conference

AIAA has announced that the 2021 Region V Student Conference, set for 2–3 April 2021 will be fully online. This event is cohosted by the University of Iowa AIAA Student Branch and the AIAA Iowa Professional Section. The conference is intended for AIAA Region V students from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. Also includes the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, and portions of Ontario.

The Region V Student Conference is a technical and oral paper competition for undergraduate and graduate students. It provides students a change to present their research to professional member judges who can provide feedback and compete for cash prizes. Additionally, this fun-filled two-day event provides students with an opportunity to network with their peers and professionals in the Aerospace industry.

This is a VIRTUAL EVENT – Meeting links and conference booklet/program will be emailed to attendees before the conference starts.

2023 Region V Student Conference

Registration is now closed. | Abstract submissions are now closed

Take part in AIAA’s Regional Student Conference by presenting your research in a formal technical meeting, exchange ideas, and discuss programs with students from other universities in your region.

Please note: A university student in good standing at their institution who is also an AIAA student member is eligible to submit a paper to the Regional Student Conference. The submitting and presenting author(s) must be AIAA student members. Any student may attend the Regional Student Conference but may be subjected to a higher registration fee if they are not AIAA members. Please click here for more information to join as an AIAA Student Member.

You must be attending a college/university in Region V to participate in the Region V Student Conference.

2024 Region V Student Conference

Conference Host: Saint Louis University

Take part in AIAA’s Regional Student Conference by presenting your research in a formal technical meeting, exchange ideas, and discuss programs with students from other universities in your region.

You must be attending a college/university in Region V to participate in the Region V Student Conference.

2025 Region V Student Conference

Conference Host: University of Minnesota

Take part in AIAA’s Regional Student Conference by presenting your research in a formal technical meeting, exchange ideas, and discuss programs with students from other universities in your region.

You must be attending a college/university in Region V to participate in the Region V Student Conference. Students can petition to present at a conference outside their university’s region by emailing [email protected].

Cash prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place winners for each category.