Competition

Launch Canada Challenge 2026

Launch Canada is the national student rocketry competition. Pioneer is judged on the documented engineering process and on performance, operations, and team conduct at the range — each weighted 50% of the total score.

Team 06 · Launch categorySeneca PolytechnicPioneer

Judging phases

How judges assess the quality of the vehicle and the team.

Half the score is the documented engineering process, analyses, design, and build quality. The other half is performance, operations, and team conduct at the competition.

01

Design documentation

Initial presentation, Preliminary Design Report, progress updates, and the Final Design Report. Judges score analyses, tests, and how results shaped the design.

02

Build-quality interview

Conference-day judging at the vehicle: manufacturing, integration, and assembly quality, plus justification of any as-built deviations from the report.

03

Operations & conduct

Judges observe the team at the setup area and the launch pad throughout the event — safety, procedures, and professionalism.

04

Flight performance

Achieved altitude against the locked-in target, an efficiency score from total motor impulse, and a safe, nominal recovery.

05

Post-flight inspection

Recovery data and the payload are checked by judges after the vehicle returns; an operational payload earns bonus points.

Build-quality interview

Judges at the vehicle, not just the report.

On conference day the judges come to the table. They check manufacturing, integration, and assembly, and they ask the team to justify every deviation between the as-built vehicle and the Final Design Report.

Inspect Pioneer

Scoring

What the score is made of.

50%

Engineering process

Final Design Report, initial presentation, progress updates, and the build-quality interview. On-time deliverables count toward project management.

50%

Performance & conduct

Flight score against the locked-in target altitude, an efficiency score from total motor impulse, nominal recovery, and safety and conduct observed on the range.

Bonus

Operational payload

A valid Payload Challenge entry that flies on board and is confirmed operational at post-flight inspection earns fixed bonus points.

Launch Canada

On the range and in the arena.

Photos from the competition briefing, check-in, judging, and the launch range.

Competition briefing
Competition briefingTeams gathered in the arena for the Launch Canada briefing.
Registration desk
Registration deskLaunch Canada volunteers at the check-in desk on arrival day.
In the arena
In the arenaA member in front of the Canada flag at the competition venue.
Team table
Team tableAstra Labs at its table on the arena floor.
Parachute prep
Parachute prepFolding the parachute and sorting shroud lines in the hotel.
Shock cord
Shock cordMeasuring out the recovery shock cord with a tape.
Crew and mentors
Crew and mentorsAstra Labs crew and mentors sharing a laugh with the Pioneer airframe.
Nose cone fit
Nose cone fitA mentor test-fits the nose cone with a member at the table.
Machine shop
Machine shopHuddle with the machinists at the shop door.
Shop guidance
Shop guidanceA machinist talks through the airframe and fin can with a member.
Launch site prep
Launch site prepUnpacking and staging the vehicle at the range.
Fin work
Fin workFinal airframe adjustments before check-in.
Pioneer fin can
Pioneer fin canThe Pioneer name on the fin can under the team tent.
Build-quality judging
Build-quality judgingA Launch Canada judge assesses Pioneer at the tent — scale, avionics, and airframe on the table.
Field PCB work
Field PCB workScrewdriver work on a small PCB out on the range.
On the pad
On the padA competition vehicle raised on the Launch Canada pad.

Clips

Short clips from Launch Canada 2026.

Mentor review sessionA mentor at a table with a rocket nose cone and body tube, walking students through the build over a laptop.
Launch crew on the floorLaunch Crew shirts around a red rocket on the prep table, under the arena scoreboard and Canadian flag.

Organizer

Visit launchcanada.org