(courtesy Spaceport America)

Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport located in southern New Mexico in the USA and the Experimental Rocket Sounding Association (ESRA), today announced inauguration of the annual Spaceport America Cup. The Spaceport America Cup is designed around IREC—the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition for student rocketry teams from all over the country and around the world. With over 110 teams from colleges and universities in eleven countries, 2017 will be the competition’s biggest year
yet. Students will be launching solid, liquid, and hybrid rockets to target altitudes of 10,000 and 30,000 feet.

“Together with our outstanding partners at ESRA, we are pleased to launch the first annual Spaceport America Cup, welcoming aerospace engineering students from all over the world for a week of rocketeering and comradery,” said Daniel Hicks, Chief Executive Officer Spaceport America. “We hope to inspire future generations to consider a career in space exploration and encourage spectators from all walks of life to join in.” Read more about the event schedule and participants here.