International Rocket Engineering Competition

IREC

The International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) is the world’s largest university rocket engineering competition, challenging more than 180 collegiate teams to design, build, test, and launch high-powered rockets to target altitudes ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 feet. UGA AIAA’s IREC program applies systems engineering across propulsion, structures, avionics, simulation, and flight operations to develop increasingly capable launch vehicles. In 2026, UGA Rocketry placed 2nd in the 10K COTS category and 5th overall, demonstrating the team’s growing technical capability.

NEXT IREC LAUNCH IN:

In 2026, the team secured 2nd place (out of 79) in the 10K COTS category at the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC). Across all categories, we ranked 5th overall out of 143 international teams.

After a long drive from Athens, the team arrived in Midland, TX and launched our latest rocket, Magnolia, on June 17th. Despite the strong winds that day, Mags flew and landed flawlessly:

Target: 10,000 ft
Apogee: 10,201 ft (just a 2% margin of error)

This feat represents the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and discipline from 20+ Driftmier engineering students. When UGA Rocketry started in 2021, we had just 5 members, no formal aerospace program, and a dream. Each year, we've pushed the envelope further. Standing on the podium alongside the most established aerospace programs in the world proves what Georgia engineering is capable of.

Thank you to everyone who supported us this season.

GO DAWGS!