Pre-registration and regional competition format
2027 Application Guide
One global application. Two competition routes. One international community.
Race 2 Space Korea and Race 2 Space UK are separate competitions with their own schedules and outcomes. The shared application system connects their routes; it does not create a hierarchy or subordinate relationship.
THE 2027 STRUCTURE
How R2S Korea and R2S UK connect
A Korea-route team submits its application and PDR in English, enters the Korea process and is also included in the UK technical review through the same submission.
R2S Korea
A competition in Korea with its own schedule, testing and winner.
Korea-only participation remains a complete competition route in its own right.
R2S UK
A separate UK competition and test campaign held at Westcott.
Teams may receive an opportunity through the normal UK review or by winning R2S Korea.
Korea-route applicants are automatically included in the UK technical review. The R2S Korea winner receives an R2S UK place and support for the UK entry cost; additional Korea teams selected through the UK review may also attend R2S UK.
ONE APPLICATION SYSTEM
The application flow
Pre-register
Provide the team, institution, contacts, concept and expected readiness. Every registered team proceeds to the full application without a selection gate.
Application + PDR
Submit the application and design document in English. This is not a Korea selection gate, and the same submission also applies to R2S UK.
CDR + technical review
Korea conducts its document review through the CDR, while UK test invitations are decided separately from the PDR technical assessment.
Receive outcome
Receive an R2S Korea result, R2S UK invitation, both, or Korea participation only.
Korea-route outcomes
R2S Korea title plus a guaranteed R2S UK test place. The R2S UK entry cost is covered.
Travel, freight, accommodation, visas and insurance are not included unless later confirmed.
The team may also attend R2S UK through the normal UK technical review.
Participation costs are not automatically covered.
The team participates in R2S Korea but does not receive a UK invitation.
R2S Korea remains a complete competition in its own right.
FOR PROSPECTIVE TEAMS
Prepare for pre-registration
Keep the first submission short. Its purpose is to understand the team, route and expected readiness before the full application opens.
Team + route
- University and country
- Student lead and faculty adviser
- New or returning team
- R2S UK or R2S Korea route
Technical + readiness
- High-level propulsion concept
- Current design maturity
- PDR, manufacturing and test-readiness plan
- Mentoring, logistics and funding constraints
Preliminary 2026–27 R2S Korea timeline
This is the current planning sequence. Dates and procedures will be confirmed in the final rules and subsequent announcements.
- First liquid-propellant rocket-engine design workshop
The first workshop covering engine design and development preparation is planned for August.
- Pre-registration
There is no selection at pre-registration: every registered team proceeds to the full application stage.
- Full application + PDR
The application and design document must be written in English. This is not a Korea participation selection gate, and the same submission simultaneously applies to R2S UK. UK test invitations depend on the PDR assessment, so Korea teams are strongly encouraged to submit a highly complete PDR. The earlier Korea-route deadline leaves a support and review window before the anticipated R2S UK PDR deadline of 31 December.
- R2S Korea CDR submission
This is the key submission for the Korea document review. Teams are strongly encouraged to be ready to begin or continue engine development no later than mid-February. Submitting early gives the organisers more time to review the CDR and provide support.
- R2S Korea document-review results
The Korea competition is expected to announce the result of its CDR-based document review.
- R2S Korea hot-fire testing
Korea competition hot-fire tests are planned on weekends across a three-week period.
- R2S UK testing + symposium
The separately operated R2S UK test campaign and symposium follow in the United Kingdom. R2S Korea and R2S UK are connected but remain distinct competitions.