American Rocketry Challenge
The American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocket competition, has engaged over 100,000 middle and high school students in model rocketry. The challenge provides a yearlong opportunity to gain hands-on engineering experience by designing, building, testing, and launching model rockets to meet rigorous requirements. The program fosters leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills as students deepen their interest and passion for aerospace and STEM.
Bellevue, WA Team Wins First Place in International Rocketry Challenge
Farnborough, UK – Washington Youth Aerospace from Bellevue, Washington placed first today in the International Rocketry Challenge, representing the United States at Farnborough International Airshow. With a target altitude of 750 feet, the team’s rocket launched 765 feet in the air for 38.16 seconds.
“Congratulations to Washington Youth Aerospace on their incredible victory and their inspiring journey to today’s competition — from national runner-up to world champion” said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning. “As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, their talent, creativity, and teamwork carry forward our nation’s legacy of innovation and point to what’s next. Today’s competition made one thing clear: the future of aerospace across the globe is very bright.”
Registration Open for the 2027 American Rocketry Challenge
Registration is now open for the American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocketry competition. Students in grades 6-12 can design, build, and launch rockets while gaining hands-on STEM experience and competing for awards, national recognition, and the opportunity to represent the United States on the international stage.
Register your team today and launch your STEM journey! Registration closes December 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.
2027 Team Resources
Rocketry Starter Kit
New to rocketry or looking to refresh your member and get the 2027 rocket parameters? Get all the details for the 2027 competition including this year’s challenge, scoring, suggested schedule of activities, rocketry vocabulary, and a sample letter for potential team sponsors.
2027 Rocketry Starter KitFriend of the Team
The “Friend of the Team” Program connects American Rocketry Challenge teams with adult supporters who can provide additional expertise to support their work. This may include rocketry expertise, advice on fundraising, assistance raising the profile of the team in the community, leadership development, or any other area where the team needs additional help. Adult Team Advisors: sign up now to express interest in being matched!
Express Interest Now!Team Handbook
The official guide to participating in the 2027 American Rocketry Challenge, featuring competition rules, safety requirements, rocket design and flight guidance, qualification procedures, National Finals information, and additional resources to support teams throughout the season.
Explore 2027 Team Handbook2026 Results
Top 100 Teams Ready for the World’s Largest Student Rocketry Competition
To qualify for the National Finals, teams designed, built, and launched rockets that safely carried a raw egg to 750 feet, remained airborne for 36-39 seconds, and returned safely to the ground. Finalists then faced a new challenge, competing for $100,000 in awards, the title of National Champion, and the opportunity to represent the United States at the International Rocketry Challenge during the Farnborough International Air Show.
See the press release here.
2026 FinalistsExpanding Access with Northrop Grumman Foundation STEM Innovation Grants
Twenty-three teams from Title I schools in 14 states received Northrop Grumman Foundation STEM Innovation Grants, helping first-time American Rocketry Challenge teams gain access to hands-on STEM experiences and compete in the world’s largest student rocketry competition.
Read more here!Explore the 1,107 Teams for the 2026 Challenge!
The 2026 competition featured 1,107 teams from 44 states and Washington, DC, bringing together thousands of students to tackle a real-world aerospace engineering challenge and explore STEM through hands-on rocketry.
See the 2026 Participating Teams!
La Jolla, California, Team Named National Champion in World’s Largest Student Rocketry Competition
The Bishop’s School from La Jolla, CA, today earned the title of National Champion at the 24th American Rocketry Challenge National Finals held at Great Meadow in The Plains, VA. Supporting the students at today’s event were many mentors, parents, competition sponsors, and special guest Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator.
The Bishop’s School led a record-breaking 1,107 teams that entered the competition at the start of the year and earned a first-place finish out of the top 100 teams competing at National Finals. They will represent the United States in the International Rocketry Challenge at the Farnborough Air Show in London in July.
“It’s a full circle moment,” said Ryan O’Donovan of The Bishop’s School. “We put in the work, going out every weekend to launch the rockets. To be in this place right now is really fulfilling and surreal.”
The four-person team worked for six months to prepare for the competition. Team members include Daniel Guo and Ryan O’Donovan (pictured), as well as Charlie Ahn and Logan Yockey.
American Rocketry Challenge Announces 2026 National Finalists After Another Record‑Breaking Season
Arlington, Va. – The Aerospace Industries Association’s (AIA) American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) today announced the top 100 teams that have placed in the 2026 National Finals. Among 1,107 teams registered nationwide, these groups of students from all over the United States ranked as the top performers for altitude and flight duration.
“The American Rocketry Challenge launches not just rockets, but also the careers of the next generation of aerospace innovators,” said Eric Fanning, AIA President and CEO. “Our 100 national finalists have spent the year applying creativity, precision, and teamwork to one of the most demanding STEM competitions in the country. On May 16, we’ll see their hard work take flight as they compete for the title of National Champion.”
Partnerships
Club for the Future and ARC
Through this partnership, ARC teams participate in Club for the Future’s Postcards to Space initiative by designing co-branded postcards that will launch aboard future missions. This hands-on experience encourages students to imagine the future, share their ideas, and see those ideas travel to space and back, inspiring the next generation of explorers and innovators.
Learn MoreChallenger Center and ARC
Challenger Center and ARC announced a new partnership designed to spark curiosity, build skills, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, engineers, and explorers. Through this partnership, select ARC student teams will gain access to Challenger Center’s Virtual Missions — interactive, team-based space simulations that immerse students in solving real-world aerospace challenges as scientists and engineers.
Learn MoreFFA and ARC
The National FFA Organization’s partnership with the American Rocketry Challenge will broaden the competition, expanding FFA members’ awareness and interest in aerospace and STEM. By partnering with FFA, the program will reach even more students, including those with agricultural backgrounds, and introduce them to the exciting possibilities of aerospace and STEM careers.
Learn More
ARC Alum Travels to International Space Station
On March 2, 2023, American Rocketry Challenge alum Warren “Woody” Hoburg launched to the International Space Station as the mission pilot for a six-month mission as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6. Woody participated in the first-ever American Rocketry Challenge in 2003, then known as the Team America Rocketry Challenge, as a North Allegheny High School (Pennsylvania) team member, alongside his brother.
Attend National Finals
National Finals will take place on May 15th, 2027, at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia. Student teams who have designed, built, and launched their rockets into the Top 100, will compete for the title of National Champion. More information will be posted here in the Spring 2027.
The World's Largest Student Rocket Competition
Compete against hundreds of teams nationally for the chance to win $100,000 in awards and an all-expenses paid trip to the Paris Air Show.
Learn more about the American Rocketry ChallengeThank You To Our Sponsors
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
Get In Touch
Don’t see the answer to your question? Want to learn more? Get in touch and someone from our team with reach out to you shortly.
Contact UsSubscribe
Subscribe to the American Rocketry Challenge Newsletter to learn more about the competition.
Sign Up NowReconnect
ARC Alumni: Reconnect with the American Rocketry Challenge by completing this 1-minute form!
Reconnect