Multi-Stage Rocket Launch + CAD Design
Design and launch a multi-stage water rocket capable of automatic stage separation, stable flight and independent recovery of every stage.
- Eligibility
- College and university students
- Date
- 5 October 2026
- Location
- Haldwani, Uttarakhand
- Team size
- 1–5 participants per team
- Mode
- On-site launch
- Registration fee
- ₹2,500
About
The Multi-Stage Water Rocket Challenge is a college-level engineering competition where teams design, build and launch a 2-stage or 3-stage water rocket capable of executing successful staging, automatic separation, stable flight and recovery of every stage.
The challenge
Can you make multiple rockets work as one? Teams must engineer a multi-stage water rocket that can launch, separate, continue its flight and recover every stage successfully while targeting the maximum possible verified altitude.
What you need to do
Choose a 2-stage or 3-stage architecture, select Series or Parallel Staging, engineer automatic stage separation, provide an independent recovery system for every stage, optimize the vehicle for altitude and clear technical and safety inspection.
How you are evaluated
- Height
- Execution of stages
- Parachute deployment and recovery
- Flight stability
- Engineering execution
- Technical documentation
Technical specifications
| Configuration | 2-stage or 3-stage |
|---|---|
| 2-stage maximum total height | Under 5 feet |
| 3-stage maximum total height | Under 7 feet |
| Staging architectures | Series Staging or Parallel Staging |
| Pressure vessel | Organizer-approved 2.0 L narrow-neck PET bottle |
| Bottle neck specification | 21.7–22 mm |
| Propulsion | Water and compressed air only |
| Stage separation | Automatic |
| Recovery | Independent recovery system required for every stage |
| Series launcher | Organizer-provided launchpad |
| Parallel launcher | Participant-provided launcher subject to technical and safety approval |
Key rules and safety
- Only water and compressed air may be used for propulsion.
- Combustion, chemical propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, flammable fuels and rocket motors are prohibited.
- Only organizer-approved 2.0 L narrow-neck PET bottles may be used as pressure vessels.
- Glass bottles are strictly prohibited.
- Pressure vessels must be free from cracks, cuts, deep scratches, deformation, heat damage and chemical damage.
- The operating pressure limit specified by the Organizing Committee must never be exceeded.
- Every stage must separate automatically.
- Manual pulling, remote manual activation or physical intervention during flight is prohibited.
- Every stage must have its own independently attached recovery system.
- Recovery deployment must occur automatically.
- Series Staging must use the organizer-provided launchpad.
- Parallel Staging teams must provide a compatible launcher subject to approval.
- Only authorized team members may operate participant-provided launch equipment.
- Weather and range safety conditions may postpone or cancel launches.
- The Range Safety Officer has final authority to suspend, delay or cancel a launch.
This is a summary. The official guidelines document is the binding version and takes precedence in all cases.