American Rocketry Challenge

The American Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest rocket contest with nearly 5,000 students nationwide competing each year. The contest gives middle and high school students the opportunity to design, build and launch model rockets and hands-on experience solving engineering problems.

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Thank You For Registering!

Registration for the 2023 American Rocketry Challenge officially closed on December 12th, 2022. We are excited to see all of your hard work this season as you get ready to take to the skies! Read on to prepare for the 2023 challenge:

2023 Challenge Rules

With registration over, it’s time to get to the drawing boards! Check out this year’s design requirements and get ready to launch. Brush up on the 2023 rules to ensure that your team gets your qualification flights submitted by the April 3rd deadline!

 

WASHINGTON STATE STUDENTS PLACE SECOND INTERNATIONALLY

London, UK (July 22, 2022) – Today, a 10-student team from Newport High School in Bellevue, WA placed second at the International Rocketry Challenge held at the Farnborough International Airshow outside London. The Washington state team, who were representing the United States, finished behind Team Japan, with France and the United Kingdom placing third and fourth, respectively, in the international competition’s triumphant return to flight after the 2020 and 2021 contests were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

20 Year Anniversary Logo

Celebrating 20 Years in 2022

The 2022 competition represented our 20 (!) year anniversary. What started off as a one-off competition to celebrate the 100th anniversary of flight, has since become the world’s largest student rocket contest. More than 80,000 students have designed, built, and flown rockets to exacting requirements. We’re thrilled to know so many of them have pursued careers in STEM and we can’t wait to see where this year’s competitors will take us. Learn more about our program’s history below:

The World's Largest Student Rocket Contest

Compete against hundreds of teams nationally for the chance to win $100,000 in prizes and an all-expenses paid trip to the Paris Airshow.

Learn more about the American Rocketry Challenge

Thank You To Our Sponsors

Thank You To Our Partners

The American Rocketry Challenge allows me to engage and participate in a nationwide competition while learning and having fun with people that have similar likes and talents.

Kyra Wagner, Team Captain
Webster City, IA

The American Rocketry Challenge provides me the opportunity to give my students an endeavor that fosters curiosity, imagination, and scientific skills in the firmest spirit of collaborative enterprise.

Greg Severino, Teacher
Philadelphia, PA

TARC introduces students to the realities of the real world engineering pursuits, teaching them to attack not just the solvable problems but also face and learn how to mitigate the factors that they do not have control over.

Pavel Pinkas, Mentor
Madison, WI

Our Social Media

2 days ago
We're close to the finish line, teams! 🏁 Presentation Competition entries are due THIS Sunday, April 2 and all Qualification Flight scores must be submitted by Monday, April 3. All submissions must be entered by 11:59pm Eastern Time on their due date so don't delay!
3 days ago
🚀 We’re excited to announce the signing of our @NASA Space Act Agreement to enable us to reach new heights & new rocketeers! Together, we’ll continue to support the next generation of aerospace leaders. 📷: @AIAspeaks celebrating this milestone w/ Dep. Administrator @Astro_Pam https://t.co/fz3fWPRrxg RocketContest photo
1 week ago
The competition is heating up! 🔥 This year nearly 800 #rocketchallenge teams registered across 45 states. Don't miss out on the chance to rank in the top 100! Submit qualification flights by April 3 to compete for $100,000 in prizes! Explore the map here: https://t.co/vNsQ3BEbFA https://t.co/sQKVPpbU8J RocketContest photo
3 weeks ago
Happy International Women's Day! Today we celebrate the accomplishments of women in aerospace, to our own #rocketchallenge rocketeers to the trailblazers at @NASA! #IWD2023 https://t.co/JgUOZk0sMn https://t.co/5i5l0xrtrt
RocketContest photo
NASA @NASA
Hear the stories of women who make a galactic difference on Earth, from driving a rover on Mars to studying our changing planet: https://t.co/gzUxQaAJC8

Commemorate #InternationalWomensDay and follow @WomenNASA to discover their stories. https://t.co/swbB44tp4o
4 weeks ago
For the first time, an American Rocketry Challenge alum is blasting off to space! @NASA's  @Astro_Woody will pilot the #Crew6 launch on March 2. Woody participated in our 1st  #rocketchallenge in 2002 where he and his brother competed in National Finals. Happy travels, Woody! 👨🏼‍🚀 https://t.co/kiIBMhkiKX RocketContest photo

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