Air Rocketry
Design and launch a lightweight compressed-air powered rocket for maximum possible altitude while maintaining stable and controlled flight.
- Eligibility
- Classes 3–5
- Date
- 4 October 2026
- Location
- Haldwani, Uttarakhand
- Team size
- 1–2 participants per team
- Mode
- On-site
- Registration fee
- ₹1,000
About
The Creative Air-Rocketry Challenge 2026 is a school-level engineering competition designed to introduce young students to aerodynamics, compressed-air propulsion, structural design, rocket stability and engineering optimisation.
The challenge
How high can your rocket fly using only compressed air? Teams must design a lightweight air-powered rocket that achieves the maximum possible altitude while maintaining stable and controlled flight.
What you need to do
Design, build and test a lightweight compressed-air rocket, optimize its aerodynamic profile and stability, prepare it for the official launcher, clear technical inspection and launch under official supervision.
How you are evaluated
- Altitude / range performance
- Aerodynamic stability
- Rocket design and creativity
- Engineering execution
Technical specifications
| Recommended body mass | Approximately 50 g before payload |
|---|---|
| Launcher specification | 22.5 mm |
| Recommended body-tube diameter | Approximately 23 mm |
| Nose cone | Mandatory |
| Fins | 3 or 4 fins recommended |
| Payload | Optional, subject to declared mass and safety limits |
| Material | Customizable, subject to safety and approval |
| Dimensions | Within limits specified by the Organizing Committee |
| Propulsion | Compressed air only |
| Launch pressure | 60–100 PSI |
| Air chamber | 2 L PET air chamber |
| Stability | Centre of Gravity (CG) should remain ahead of Centre of Pressure (CP) |
Key rules and safety
- Compressed air is the only permitted propulsion medium.
- Launch pressure must remain within the prescribed 60–100 PSI range.
- Launch pressure and launch sequence are controlled exclusively by the Organizing Committee/instructors.
- Participants must not independently pressurise, alter, exceed or control the prescribed launch pressure.
- Only authorised personnel may operate the pressurisation and launch systems.
- Participants must not independently trigger the launch mechanism.
- The rocket must be compatible with the official 22.5 mm competition launcher.
- The rocket must have a mandatory nose cone and securely attached fins.
- Any payload must remain within declared mass and safety limits and must not compromise structural integrity or stability.
- Rockets with cracks, loose components, deformation, visible damage or unsafe construction will not be approved for launch.
- Spectators and non-launch personnel must remain behind the designated safety line during pressurisation and launch.
- Unsafe payloads or rocket configurations may be rejected during technical inspection.
- Every participating team must submit the mandatory Project Report according to the prescribed format.
- The online Project Report and competition-day physical copy must correspond to the final competition entry.
This is a summary. The official guidelines document is the binding version and takes precedence in all cases.