The American Rocketry Challenge
Catalog organization: Aerospace Industries Association and partner organizations
Compiled by: ExtracurricularHub Editorial Team — editorial policy
Last updated
What Is The American Rocketry Challenge?
The 2027 American Rocketry Challenge is open now to teams of 3-10 students in grades 6-12 at U.S. schools or homeschools. An adult advisor opens the team account, but students must significantly design, build, prepare, and launch the competition rocket themselves. The 2027 mission carries two raw hen eggs to a target 800 feet for 37-40 seconds and recovers the tethered rocket by parachute with both eggs intact. Teams fly two or three official NAR-observed qualification flights; the top 100 scores advance to the National Finals.
Registration costs USD 195 per team and closes December 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The qualification-report deadline is disputed: the portal/FAQ list April 4, 2027, while the rules/calendar list April 5. Confirm the operative report deadline with the organizer; neither date is presented here as settled. This dispute does not change the December 6 team-registration deadline. Finals are May 15 at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia, with May 16 as rain date; finalist registration costs another USD 395 and teams pay their own build, launch, travel, lodging, and local transportation expenses. Teams compete for part of USD 100,000 in awards and a possible international trip; neither is guaranteed.
The American Rocketry Challenge Key Facts: Cost, Deadline, and Eligibility
| Cost | Varies — see Cost and funding |
|---|---|
| Format | In person |
| Eligibility | Grades 6–12 |
| Application deadline | Team registration/payment December 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET; flight-report date disputed |
| Listing last updated | August 30, 2026 |
Program details shown here reflect the current catalog record.
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