2,000+ Student Engineers to Compete in IREC 2026, the Largest Collegiate Rocketry Competition

ProtoSpace Mfg, a rapid‑manufacturing leader for aerospace, defense, and research, has returned as the lead sponsor of the 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) scheduled for June 15‑20 at Midland International Air & Space Port, Midland, Texas.

Organized by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA), IREC is the world’s largest collegiate rocketry contest and a pivotal talent pipeline for the aerospace industry.

This year, the event will unite more than 2,000 student engineers from 175 university teams representing over 20 countries across six continents.

During the week, teams will present, test, and launch rockets they have spent the previous year designing, building, and validating. They will navigate rigorous safety reviews, technical inspections, engineering presentations, and launch operations, competing across multiple categories—including missions that reach altitudes of up to 45,000 feet.

ProtoSpace Mfg’s involvement extends beyond sponsorship. The company has supplied direct manufacturing support to the competition and its participants, designing and producing essential infrastructure such as launch equipment, payload support hardware, and specialized components. Custom‑manufactured parts, enclosures, and assemblies enable student teams to transition quickly from concept to test flights.

Dr. Doug Milburn, co‑founder and vice president of ProtoSpace Mfg, notes, “Most engineering students spend years solving problems on paper. These teams are building flight hardware, testing it, troubleshooting failures, and learning to adapt when things don’t go as planned.”

“The ability to iterate quickly, solve problems under pressure, and learn from setbacks is what separates great teams from average ones. Competitions like IREC cultivate those skills at an exceptional level, benefiting both students and the industry,” he adds.

Alumni of IREC have gone on to roles at leading aerospace firms, government agencies, research institutions, and advanced manufacturing companies, underscoring the competition’s role as a proving ground for future technical talent.

ESRA president Steve Taylor expresses enthusiasm: “We’re proud to partner again with ProtoSpace Mfg for IREC 2026. Every year we witness students tackling increasingly ambitious challenges, and their success hinges on the ability to rapidly design, build, test, and refine systems. ProtoSpace Mfg’s expertise in this process ensures teams can transform ideas into flight‑ready hardware.”

The 2026 competition will feature a full week of technical presentations, poster sessions, safety reviews, launch operations, and industry engagement, culminating in an awards ceremony on June 20.

All launches will again occur at Midland International Air & Space Port, one of the few FAA‑licensed commercial spaceports in the United States.

Conference Day will convene students, industry leaders, aerospace organizations, and competition partners from around the globe.

Highlights include ProtoPod Live at IREC: Engineering, Velocity & Life After University—a live recording of Protocase and ProtoSpace Mfg’s innovation‑focused podcast hosted by Jordan Rose, featuring guests from Mercury Space Systems and Blue Origin.

Rose will also lead two sessions of Project DNA: “How to Build Projects That Actually Move,” a seminar focused on accelerating execution, reducing project friction, and building momentum in complex engineering environments.

ProtoSpace Mfg’s support of IREC reflects its broader investment in the future of aerospace manufacturing. The company partners with universities, research organizations, startups, and 19 of the world’s 20 largest aerospace and defense contractors, helping engineering teams eliminate manufacturing bottlenecks and shorten development cycles.

As aerospace activity expands across North America, ProtoSpace Mfg is growing its own footprint, including significant investments in Wilmington, North Carolina, to meet increasing demand from the aerospace and defense sectors.