Manipal, June 27, 2025: Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), a premier constituent unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University proudly announces the remarkable achievement of its premier student project team "thrustMIT" at the prestigious International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) 2025, held in Midland, Texas from June 9-14, 2025.

The thrustMIT team secured second place in the SDL Payload Challenge category, earning a cash award of USD 750 and bringing significant recognition to the institution. Competing among 138 teams that successfully passed the rigorous Flight Safety Review (FSR) test, the MIT Manipal team demonstrated exceptional technical prowess and innovation.

Participating in the highly competitive 30K COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) launching category, the team's rocket "Vayu Vega" successfully completed all safety protocols during the initial two days of competition. The culmination of their efforts came on June 12, 2025, when Vayu Vega was launched to the desired altitude and executed a flawless landing using parachute deployment systems. The thrustMIT recovery team demonstrated their technical competence by successfully retrieving the rocket using GPS coordinates, with the recovered vehicle subsequently evaluated and approved by the IREC recovery team.

The International Rocket Engineering Competition represents one of the world's most challenging platforms for aspiring aerospace engineers, attracting top-tier student teams from leading institutions globally. MIT Manipal's success at this prestigious event underscores the institution's commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in aerospace engineering education.

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd.), Vice Chancellor, MAHE, Manipal, expressed his in the team's accomplishment, "The thrustMIT team's remarkable success at the International Rocket Engineering Competition exemplifies MAHE's vision of transforming students into globally competitive professionals. This achievement not only showcases the technical excellence and innovative spirit of our students but also reinforces our institution's position as a leader in aerospace engineering education. We are immensely proud of their dedication, perseverance, and the honour they have brought to MAHE on the international platform."

Dr. V. Ramachandra Murty, Associate Director-Development, MIT Manipal, commented on the achievement, "The thrustMIT team's outstanding performance at IREC 2025 is a testament to the exceptional caliber of our students and the robust engineering education we provide at MIT Manipal. Their success in securing second place in the SDL Payload Challenge, coupled with the flawless execution of the Vayu Vega launch mission, demonstrates our commitment to nurturing future aerospace leaders who can compete and excel on the global stage."

This achievement adds to MIT Manipal's growing portfolio of international recognitions and strengthens its reputation as a premier destination for aerospace engineering education in India.