Tufts Rocketry Team Places in Top 10 at International Competition

The Tufts Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) Rocketry team recently participated in the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), the largest collegiate rocketry competition in the world. More than 140 teams from 20 countries gathered from June 15-20 in Midland, Texas to fly their rockets. The Tufts Rocketry team scored eighth place out of 143 teams overall and fifth place out of 80 teams in the 10,000 feet category.  

This past year marked the third consecutive year the team competed in IREC. Their rocket, called KINDLEVAN (a reference to the Tufts Dining cafe in the Tsungming Tu Complex where many engineering classes/labs are located), was an iteration of the rockets the team built for previous competitions. 

“The biggest challenge with the rocketry competition is the weight,” explained Ari Ben-Ami, A27, one of the leaders of the club. “To get your rocket to 10,000 feet, it has to be extremely light. This year, we made fins out of carbon fiber, a really light material that I think helped us have our most successful competition to date.” 

"The carbon fiber we use is quasi-isotropic, meaning it is strong in all directions,” explained Sheelyn Pharr, E27, a mechanical lead on the team. “While expensive, carbon fiber as a material is very strong and super lightweight. This allows us to reduce the weight of the aft end of the rocket and the booster which improves stability.”

"Another difficult part of flying a rocket to 30 thousand feet is the extreme speed required,” said team lead Sean Doherty, E27. “At two times the speed of sound, the air can strip the paint from the rocket and produce temperatures exceeding 500°F. The engineering challenges are substantial, but the team is up to the challenge." 

With competition categories of 10,000, 30,000, and 45,000 feet, the team hopes to fly their rocket in the 30,000 feet category next year. “It will be a challenge because the rocket must be significantly smaller and lighter,” said Ben-Ami, “but we’re excited to continue challenging ourselves and growing the capabilities of our team.” 

Ben-Ami, a political science major, highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the rocketry team and how the club aims to foster an environment where students with all backgrounds can pursue their interests. With 64 members, 61 rockets launched, and an 86% success rate, the Tufts Rocketry team is excited for the challenges and accomplishments to come in the 2026-2027 academic year.          

Tufts SEDS Rocketry is a student-led organization dedicated to designing, building, and launching high-power rockets. Their diverse, experienced, and highly motivated team comprises students studying everything from mechanical and electrical engineering to physics, computer science, chemistry, and even English. Learn more about the team that’s passionate about space, excited to tackle the challenges of rocketry, and committed to developing a supportive aerospace community at Tufts.