What is IREC?
For the past 10 years, the Akronauts have competed at the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), formerly known as Spaceport America Cup. Now with over 150 collegiate teams and 7000+ students from all around the world, IREC is an experience like no other. Teams are scored on technical reports, tabling/judging, flight apogee, and successful recovery.
The Akronauts are consistently at the upper echelon of teams at IREC, most recently winning awards at IREC 2022, 2023, and 2025. These rockets, supported by the proven technologies which have been developed within the Emergence series, introduce our innovations to the broader rocketry community. As our rockets become more and more sophisticated, we move closer and closer to our ultimate goal: bringing home first place overall for the University of Akron!
???????? – IREC 2026
IREC 2026 is currently being designed! Check back for updates and announcements!
Resurgence – IREC 2025
Project E.R.I.C. – Spaceport 2024
Imperium VI – Spaceport 2023
Imperium VI get its namesake from the five test launches that predated it, each named Imperium. After these successful test launches, the team decided that it was time for an Imperium to fly as a competition rocket. A 14ft-tall single-stage rocket powered by the Akronauts own Angry Listerine propellant, Imperium VI competed in the 30K SRAD Category.
Imperium VI flew to an apogee of 21,900ft with a fully successful launch and recovery, placing second in the 30K SRAD category!. This was a monumental achievement for the team, receiving commendations from industry professionals, amateur rocketeers, and other student teams.
The success of Imperium VI came from improving on the proven successes of Emergence II. Tried and true procedures and designs allowed us to perfect our craft and make the best rocket we possibly could for competition, and our innovation paid off.
The IPromise Project – Spaceport 2022
The IPromise Project was not only a competition rocket but an outreach effort for the Akron community. Working alongside the Lebron James IPromise School, members of the Akronauts met with fifth graders throughout the year to promote interest in STEM from a young age. Lessons ranged from basic rocketry design, to the history of spaceflight, and the engineering concepts behind making rockets fly. These students were involved in the design process from day one, making decisions ranging from the style of fins and motor selection to the paintjob, putting their handprints on the rocket to send a part of them to space.
IPromise was a 22ft tall, two-stage rocket competing in the 30,000ft SRAD category. A successful launch and separation was unfortunately followed by the sustainer bodytube splitting around 17,000ft due to a manufacturing error. Recovery of the booster was successful, but the sustainer came down ballistic.
Although the rocket did not perform as hoped, we received the Jim Furfaro Award for Technical Excellence due to our high-level design process and innovation. Due to the immense amount of community outreach and high scoring in non-flight areas, the project is regarded as generally successful.
Project Bo-Go – Spaceport 2020/2021 (Virtual)
project bogo covid
Pencil Rocket – Spaceport 2019
pencil rocket was the goat
Laus – Spaceport 2018
laus probably was good
Zion – Spaceport 2017
Zion was sick
Daedalus – IREC 2016
Daedalus was pretty cool too
Erebus – IREC 2015
Erebus started it all for the Akronauts.