Rocket Simulation Design Challenge
Develop a technically defensible computational rocket simulation that models, validates and optimizes a realistic aerospace engineering problem.
- Eligibility
- College and university students
- Date
- 4 October 2026
- Location
- Haldwani, Uttarakhand
- Team size
- 1–3 participants per team
- Mode
- Simulation / Software
- Registration fee
- ₹2,000
About
The Rocket Simulation Design Challenge 2026 introduces students to computational modelling, numerical simulation, aerospace engineering and design optimisation. Teams must select one approved rocket-engineering challenge and develop a simulation that produces meaningful quantitative results supporting an engineering decision.
The challenge
You are not being asked to make a rocket fly. You are being asked to predict how it will fly—and use that prediction to make it better.
What you need to do
Select one approved engineering challenge, build a technically defensible model, define inputs and governing equations, validate the simulation, perform sensitivity and trade-off analysis, optimize the design where applicable and submit reproducible source code.
How you are evaluated
- Engineering understanding — 20%
- Mathematical and physical model — 20%
- Simulation quality — 20%
- Validation and verification — 15%
- Optimisation and engineering insight — 15%
- Software quality and documentation — 10%
Technical specifications
| Challenge 01 | Ascent Trajectory Optimisation |
|---|---|
| Challenge 02 | Six-Degree-of-Freedom Rocket Flight Simulator |
| Challenge 03 | Reusable Rocket Re-entry & Thermal Simulation |
| Challenge 04 | Multi-Stage Rocket Performance & Staging Optimisation |
| Challenge 05 | Rocket Digital Twin & Failure Prediction |
| Required validation | Input → Model → Simulation → Reference → Error |
| Sensitivity analysis | At least three major parameters |
| Source code deadline | 30 September 2026 |
| Development platforms | Python, MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, Julia, Java, Fortran or other approved environments |
| Reproducibility | Complete source code, dependencies, inputs, configuration and example outputs required |
Key rules and safety
- Teams must select exactly one approved engineering challenge.
- The simulation must address a meaningful engineering problem.
- The governing equations or computational relationships must be clearly defined.
- Measured/reference data must be distinguished from assumed or estimated data.
- Every team must demonstrate validation using analytical calculations, reference data, benchmark cases, experimental data or comparison with an established tool.
- At least three major parameters must be investigated through sensitivity or trade-off analysis.
- The simulation must produce quantitative outputs supporting an engineering conclusion.
- Open-source libraries may be used but must be disclosed.
- Submitted source code must be sufficient to reproduce the team's results.
- Complete source code must be submitted by 30 September 2026.
- Submission must include README/install instructions, dependencies, input files, configuration files, sample data where applicable and example output.
This is a summary. The official guidelines document is the binding version and takes precedence in all cases.