Edmonds college rocketry team launches big at irec

On June 8, the Edmonds College Rocketry Team flew to Midland, Texas, to compete in the International Rocketry Engineering Competition (IREC)—one of the world’s top collegiate rocketry events. For this small but determined group of students, the trip marked the final stage of a year-long journey marked by hard work, setbacks, and breakthroughs.

The team faced challenges from the start. Their rocket arrived on a separate flight, causing brief delays, but they quickly regrouped. Day 1 involved registration, setting up their exhibit, and meeting student teams from around the world.

Their presence made an impact. Judges praised the design, and major sponsors were deeply impressed by the team's dedication and effort. The team stood out not only for their engineering work but also as a rare community college among teams from large universities.

"By reaching the competition, this team has already outperformed many IREC hopefuls,” reflected their club advisor, William Hamp. Throughout the year, many teams were disqualified; however, our Edmonds crew persevered through rigorous design, evaluation, and testing phases to earn their spot. Imagine competing against major universities with massive teams – our small, mighty group of five launch team members stood tall and proud. They even caught the eye of the IREC livestream, showcasing their project to a global audience.

Despite late-night math exams, 4 a.m. safety checks, and a long, treacherous drive to the launch site’s remote location, they passed their final flight review and prepared for launch. One final hurdle stood in the team’s way when a storm hit, damaging the launch site and disrupting the setup plans. Only a few teams were allowed to fly, and the Tritons needed last-minute supplies to qualify.

Thanks to support from Washington State University, the team secured what they needed and received a launch slot. In the desert heat, with temperatures topping 100°F, they prepped the rocket, resolved a radio issue at the pad, and watched it successfully launch.

Recovery meant hiking half a mile through rough terrain—but they found the rocket intact. Months of design, testing, and late nights had paid off. Their advisor called it their “Apogee”—a true high point in every sense.

The team returned home tired but proud, having gained real-world experience, industry exposure, and lasting memories. More than a technical win, it was a reminder of what Edmonds College students can achieve with vision, teamwork, and persistence.

Dream Big. Fly High. The sky is not the limit.