When is the symposium?

Saturday, January 31st & Sunday, February 1st, 2026
8:30am start time  (please arrive around 7:30-8:00am to park and check-in)
6:00pm closing with dinner and after-party following (until ~9pm)
Sunday, 8:30am start time through noon.

Where is the symposium?

At Flabob Airport in Riverside, California
4130 Mennes Ave, Riverside, CA 92509  
Google Map link here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jZdqhu9RxFKmZS9Q9
Flabob Information: https://www.flabobairport.org

What is the purpose?

The Liquid Propulsion Symposium exists to inspire, educate, and connect the next generation of liquid rocketry innovators. Through live demonstrations, educational sessions, inspiring experiences, networking opportunities, and collaboration, the symposium brings together over forty university teams, young engineers, academics, and industry professionals to learn, share, and advance the field of liquid propulsion. This results in faster innovation, improved safety, and growth of the liquid rocket community. It is 100% non-profit and volunteer run (self and privately funded) and hosted by the Friends of Amateur Rocketry and Flabob Airport. The Symposium is an important part of a broader program of competitions, financial incentives, and education programs to promote more liquid rocketry in universities and the start-up community.

Our 2026 theme is: “Celebrating 100 Years of Liquid Rocketry” -- acknowledging the first liquid rocket flight of Robert Goddard on March 16th, 1916.

Who can attend?

The symposium is open to students, academics, and industry professionals working with liquid rockets. Overall capacity is capped at 400 participants, so university liquid rocket teams will be limited to only ten members during the first wave of early registration. Once general registration opens up, additional team members, academics, and industry professionals can register until all the spots are confirmed. Please plan on registering early, to ensure your team can participate. The event will sell out this year.
NOTE: The 2026 Symposium is SOLD OUT. All attendees MUST have an email confirmation. No tickets will be sold at the door. No name swaps after January 5th, 2026.  

How much are tickets?

Unfortunately the 2026 event is sold out and there are no tickets remaining and no waiting lists. There will not be tickets sold at the door.

Tickets are $25/each. Academic Advisors to student teams are encouraged to attend and can register for free by sending an email, while tickets are still available. The registration fee covers all activities and provided meals.

How do I register?

Unfortunately the 2026 event is sold out and there are no tickets remaining and no waiting lists. There will not be tickets sold at the door. Everybody arriving must have an email confirmation ticket in their name and must be ready to show ID to collect their badge.

Pre-registration will open October 1st, 2025, for university team captains.General registration will open November 1st, 2025.
More details are found under the registration page.

Can I just show up and buy tickets at the door or transfer my ticket to someone else?

No. There will not be tickets sold at the door on the day of the event. Everybody arriving must have an email confirmation ticket in their name and must be ready to show ID to collect their badge.

There will be no name swamps or badge transfers allowed after January 5th. If someone is unable to attend they can email the organizers for a refund, as long as it is 24 hours before the event. (LiquidPropulsionSymposium@gmail.com)

If anyone from a university team shows up without a ticket in their name the university will be disqualified from pre-registering next year.

What topics will be presented?

The 2026 Program is now available here.

There will be a broad range of presentations, including ~25 sessions across four concurrent tracks all related to liquid rockets or liquid propulsion. There will be a mix of industry experts, academics, and students presenting on Safety, Propellants, Cryogenics, Testing, Ignition, Operations, and Design. Saturday will also include a tank burst demonstration, hands-on LOX loading, project displays, organized networking, and more. The topics are intentionally organized for beginners (fundamentals), advanced, and special topics.

Can we showcase our rocket project?

Yes, University teams are encouraged to exhibit in the project expo and encouraged to fill out the project poster surveys – these will be turned into 3’x2’ poster board and published in the annual “State of Collegiate Liquid Rocketry book”. Your team captain should coordinate with the organizers (send an email to LiquidPropulsionSymposium@gmail.com )

Do you have a map of the airport?

The Symposium will take place across 4-5 venues at Flabob Airport, including EAA’s Hangar 16A (“Main Stage”), the Tom Wathen Education Center, Building 11A, The Project Expo Hangar, and the Rocket Lab. An event map of the airport can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/FlabobMap

Where do I park?

Parking will be provided on the airport grounds (see map above). Once you arrive at the airport Saturday/Sunday morning you will be directed to the nearest parking by Civil Air Patrol volunteers.

What should I wear?

We are super casual. This is primarily a university student event, so wear whatever makes you most comfortable. Weather in Riverside at this time of year can range from cool/cold at night (40’s) to mid-70’s during the day, depending on if it is rainy or sunny. Also, airport hangars can be drafty or inconsistent, so please plan on layers and check the weather before departing. Also, please wear good walking shoes. We will be walking between venues around the airport campus.

Will you serve food?

Yes, there is complimentary food!  Complimentary coffee and breakfast burritos will be provided in the morning and complimentary lunch (In-N-Out Burger) and dinner will be provided by caterers and food trucks. Specific information on food options will be available closer to the date of the event. If you have specific dietary needs or allergies you should plan to bring your own meals and/or there is a cafe at the airport with a broad range of options for purchase or restaurants within a short drive.

Flabob Airport Cafe Menu: https://tinyurl.com/FlabobCafe

Will there be networking?

There will be organized networking hours to connect with industry, academics, and project teams. There will also be numerous breaks, meals, and other opportunities to meet and share ideas. Sunday morning is dedicated to space, launch, and propulsion company networking. Take the opportunity to meet other teams and learn how they are solving similar challenges.

I am a vendor/supplier to the community

Vendors and suppliers to the liquid propulsion community are encouraged to participate and showcase their wares. If you are a vendor and you want to participate, please send an email to: LiquidPropulsionSymposium@gmail.com

Will anything blow-up?

Yes. We will be doing live tank burst demonstrations and BLEVE demonstrations. Good tanks are giving their lives to science – you don’t want to miss it.

How do I sign up to learn LOX loading?

We will run two sessions to learn about liquid oxygen loading and get a live demonstration with cryo. This year these will be open breakout sessions and do not require sign-ups ahead of time. Demonstrations will be held in the test stand area outside the rocket lab. Meet there during the designated times in the schedules (see map above).

Are there hotels nearby?

Downtown Riverside is only about 5-10 minutes away by car or Uber and there are a number of nice hotels there including the Mission Inn Resort and Spa, the Marriott Riverside, Hyatt Place Riverside, and many more budget friendly options.

Additional Questions?

Send any additional questions to LiquidPropulsionSymposium@gmail.com