The Rocketry Show

TheRocketryShow.com

A group discussion of Amateur High Power Rocketry and the technology around it!

  1. MAY 20

    Ep135: The 2025 IREC Rocket Competition

    In this episdode, we welcome Steve Taylor from The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) Each year, ESRA accepts over 150 collegiate teams from around the world to compete in the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) for the prestigious title of overall winner! Each team designs, builds, tests and launches rockets with a payload size of up to 2.2 Kg and target altitudes of either 10,000, 30,000, 45,000 even up to 100,000 feet! Rockets are typically 4 to 8 inches in diameter and 8 to 20 ft. long. Multistage rockets and all chemical propulsion types (solid, liquid, and hybrid) are allowed. The goal is to have participants learn their skills by doing (motto: Learn by doing) in a safe educational rich environment. The IREC has been an annual occurrence since 2006. The competition achieved international status in 2011 – when schools from Canada and Brazil joined – and has continued to grow rapidly ever since. More than 1,800 students attended the 2024 competition, representing over 120 schools from 22 countries on 5 different continents. ESRA has operated the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) since 2006. Competitions have been held in the following locations: 2006-2016 - Green River, Utah 2017-2024 - Spaceport America, New Mexico This year, it happens at 2025 - Spaceport Midland, Texas. For more info, Visit: https://soundingrocket.org Mentioned in this episode: The Rocketry Forum

    55 min
  2. MAY 5

    134: Randy Millikin of RailButtons.Com

    We welcome Special Guest Randy Millikin of RailButtons.Com! Randy Millikin of RailButtons.Com joins us to talk about his products, and to talk rockets with us. Some background on Mr. Millikin: I began my hobby of rocketry in the early to mid 70’s and stopped once I discovered girls, cars and got my first bass guitar. I launched my last rocket for many years somewhere around 1976. But then one day around 2003, while surfing the web, I came across Aerotech’s website and discovered this interesting thing called, High Power Rocketry! I remember thinking, WOW...M motors! The biggest I ever flew as a kid was a D, because E’s were not made yet (or if they were, I couldn't afford them!) I thought to myself, “ I need to find out more about this!”. With that information filed away, I finally was able to attend a launch in 3 Oaks Michigan in 2005. I went with my 6 year old son and my father. I was blown away and haven't looked back since. I ordered a few Estes kits that I built with my son and flew them at the school yard near our house. That brought back so many great memories that I just had to start building bigger rockets and fly them with bigger motors. About a year and a half later, I got my TRA Level 1 cert in 3 Oaks. The next year, I was able to get my Level 2, again in 3 Oaks, and a few years later, my Level 3 at LDRS28. So why am I doing this? Matt Strum started selling railbuttons in the 90's and had a very successful on-line business for over 10 years. When he decided to stop selling railbuttons, it left the hobby with fewer (and more expensive) options. After exchanging some email, he helped me with information about how he was able to provide the hobby with such and inexpensive choice for railbuttons. It is my goal to keep supplying inexpensive railbuttons for our hobby and keep Matt's vision moving forward. He was able to sell thousands and I hope to be able to do the same for many years to come. Mentioned in this episode: The Rocketry Forum

    1h 4m
4.8
out of 5
53 Ratings

About

A group discussion of Amateur High Power Rocketry and the technology around it!