The International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC)

Leads: David Wang (ECE ’27) & Edric Zhang (MAE ‘27)

Duration: Full Year

Launch: June 2026 at Midland, Texas

Description:

The International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) is the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket engineering conference and competition, held annually at Midland, Texas. We have competed at the IREC Cup four times before, in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025. In 2024, our rocket reached 24,500 feet and a top speed of Mach 1.6. Funding 14 members to travel and compete in person, our team placed 10th in the 30k COTS Division. And 2025 was our most ambitious year yet, featuring custom carbon fiber fins and a 13 foot fiberglass airframe.

Our IREC team offers students a fantastic opportunity to build their engineering knowledge and skills, as well as make connections with like-minded individuals from other schools and in the industry. Team members work collaboratively to design, manufacture, test, and launch the rocket from the ground up. This year, our IREC team will be constructing a single-stage, solid-fuel rocket intended to reach 30,000 feet, carrying a CubeSat payload of various technical and scientific experiments. This project comprises six main sub-teams: airframe, avionics/telemetry, payload, recovery, operations/logistics, and media.

High Power Rocketry (HPR)

Website: https://www.nar.org/high-power-rocketry-info/

Leads: Riley Samples (MAE ‘28) & Simon Kupchik (MAE ‘28)

Duration: Full Year

Launch: Fall 2025 and Spring 2026

Description:

Dedicated to fostering growth among new members, the club is committed to enabling newcomers to gain experience in designing, building, and launching Level 1 & 2 high power rockets. We employ both kits and custom designs for the rocket body as well as developing our own payloads equipped with GPS, accelerometers, atmospheric sensors, and custom PCBs.

High Power Rocketry (HPR) allows our members to develop skills using hand tools, CAD programs, and microprocessors as well as soldering, coding, and experiencing the joy of watching something you built soar into the air at hundreds of miles per hour. In a project tailored towards new members, our seasoned rocketeers provide mentorship to a dozen members as they build their first high power rocket.

New members form groups to design their own payloads and camera cases, which causes each rocket to take on distinct characteristics that align with the interests of its creators. These encompass diverse elements such as unique payloads, optimized apogee, and communication with ground equipment. In the second semester, members are guided in their pursuit of L1 certifications with the National Association of Rocketry (NAR).

The High Power Rocketry project is Princeton Rocketry’s longest running project, currently in its eighth year. It is a great introduction to rocketry for students who want to take ownership of a hands-on project as soon as possible. With mentorship from experienced rocketeers, members have learned the crucial skills to continue on and make significant contributions to the club's other projects, no matter the individual's background or field of study.

Orbital

Lead: Talon Flores (MAE ’28)

Duration: Full Year

Launch: 2025 (ISS) and 2027 (TigerCub – Tentative)

Description:

The Orbital Team’s mission is to give Princeton students hands-on experience designing, building, and flying real space hardware.

Previous Project – ISS Payloads: The team completed its first major project by designing and building three student payloads using MaxIQ kits and custom PCBs. These payloads are awaiting launch to the International Space Station in 2025 through the Nanolabs platform and will be returned after the mission for analysis.

Current Project – TigerCub PocketQube: The team is now taking on Princeton’s first student-designed, fully autonomous spacecraft, continuing the development of an award-winning senior thesis project. Major tasks ahead mean plenty of opportunities for involvement in:

• Payload design and integration

• Mechanical systems (including deployable radar signature panel)

• Firmware and software development

• Electrical design and PCB work

• Analysis, testing, and qualification for launch

From the completed ISS payloads to the upcoming PocketQube spacecraft that will fly in orbit, the Orbital Team offers students a chance to contribute to Princeton’s growing legacy in space engineering.

High-Altitude Ballooning (HAB)

Lead: Adin Kojic (MAE ’25)

Duration: Full Year

Launch: Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

Description:

High-Altitude Ballooning (HAB) is the art and science of sending payloads to the stratosphere. In previous years, we’ve achieved a team record of 106,524 feet and demonstrated its value as a testbed for programs such as BRGR. With almost the entire sky below us, we captured unique views of New York City and the Jersey shore.

This year we plan to climb higher and conduct more frequent launches, as our recent recovery successes justify to us the deployment of more sophisticated balloons, including better cameras, higher altitudes, and more advanced science missions. The more frequent launches will provide also a testing ground for payloads designed and utilized across the other project teams.

Active Controls

Lead: Kenan Kao (MAE ‘28)

Duration: Fall Semester

Launch: Fall 2025, Spring 2026

Description:

The Active Controls project is a team focused on creating a rocket with thrust-vector control capabilities. This project involves developing a system that allows the rocket to adjust its orientation mid-flight, allowing for greater stability. The team consists of three groups working together to develop the rocket. The mechanical group designs and builds a vectoring motor mount, the electrical team creates a flight computer system that collects crucial flight data, and the software team writes the code that reads this data and adjusts the rocket's orientation in real-time.

This project is a valuable learning experience for members, providing hands-on opportunities particularly in mechanical design, electronics, and software. The Active Controls project not only aims to push the boundaries of the club's rocketry capabilities but also serves as a platform for students to explore a more experimental approach to engineering.

Liquid Rocket Propulsion (LRP)

Leads: Connor Long (CBE ‘27)

Duration: Full Year

Description:

"The Liquid Rocket Propulsion (LRP) Team is a brand new team aimed at expanding the club’s knowledge and experience beyond the world of solid rocket motors, with an eventual goal to build Princeton Rocketry’s first student-designed and manufactured liquid rocket engine. The team is targeting to conduct its first hot-fire of such a system mid to late 2026.

Progressing through its R&D phase, the team is working alongside professors, mentors, administrators, and University Environmental Health and Safety to ensure a safe and successful test-bed for projects in the coming years. For those interested in research and planning, this project team offers a great opportunity to take initiative and contribute to the growing legacy of Princeton Rocketry.