International Rocketry Engineering Competition 2025

10K COTS First Place, New Horizons Trophy Runner-up

This was our team’s second time competing in the IREC Competition. Our rocket, Sabre II, showcased its capabilities in the 10K Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) category. The payload, which was our first entry into the Space Dynamics Laboratory’s Payload Challenge was a live video system which captured footage from onboard the rocket.

Structures

Lead: Anne Marie Branch
Designing and manufacturing the rocket’s structural components, including the airframe and fins. Conducting structural analyses and simulations to evaluate the strength and durability of the rocket. This year, they developed a live video payload and an airbrake altitude control system.

Flight Performance

Lead: Emma Lubeshkoff
Ensure the rocket’s flight performance, including stability and recovery. Conducting simulations and tests to evaluate the rocket’s flight performance. This year, they are also conducted CFD simulations for the airbrakes.

Avionics

Lead: Christopher Wood
Designing the rocket’s electronic systems, including avionics, telemetry, and recovery systems. Ensure reliable data collection and transmission during flight. This year, they designed and tested the airbrake electronics and software.

Nov 6, 2024

Team Application Submitted

The team submitted our proposal for IREC 2025

Nov 6, 2024
Nov 15, 2024

Team Acceptance

We reached another milestone by being accepted into the world’s largest intercollegiate rocketry competition for the second time.

Nov 15, 2024
Dec 6, 2024

1st Interim Progress Report Submitted

Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Report completed.

Dec 6, 2024
Feb 7, 2025

2nd Interim Progress Report Submitted

Critical Design Review (CDR) Report completed.

Feb 7, 2025
Mar 8, 2025

Sabre II Subscale Launch

The team successfully test launched Sabre II to over 3600 ft, verifying the functionality of our subsystems.

Mar 8, 2025
Apr 25, 2025

Video Flight Readiness Review Completed

Sabre II successfully passed a virtual safety review in preparation for the competition.

Apr 25, 2025
May 2, 2025

Technical Report Submitted

All final deliverables completed.

May 2, 2025
Jun 8, 2025

Competition Week

A team of 17 members traveled to Midland, Texas. The launch of Sabre II was successful reaching 10,019 ft, only 1.4% off our predicted apogee. This allowed the team to win 1st Place in the 10K COTS Category and 2nd Overall!

Jun 8, 2025
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