15 Different JLCPCB’s PCBs Used in GSP’s Rocket

"3, 2, 1, 0， all engine running, liftoff!"

“Colibri”, the name of the rocket featured in this video, is built by the Gruyère Space Program, an organization based in Switzerland.The rocket is planned to conduct its first Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) flight by the end of this year.

With much excitement, it is worth noting that this rocket is reusable. Even more astonishingly, Colibri was constructed by a team of 7 students from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland!

Now, it’s time to immerse in the space dreams of the GSP team together with JLCPCB!

Revolutionary Technology Explored by a Group of Students

Reusable rockets are a revolutionary space exploration technology. Similar to airplanes, Reusable rockets can return to the ground after completing a mission, undergo adjustments and maintenance, and then be used for space missions again.

SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, has been in the leading position in this field. Their flagship product, the Falcon 9, continuously breaks records and has now reached 17 reuses.

Another notable company is Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, the founder of Amazon. Their New Shepard rocket has successfully conducted multiple suborbital flights and landings.

As we can see, the remarkable achievements in this field have mostly been made by international top companies. However, the emergence of Colibri shows us more possibilities for development in this revolutionary product.

In terms of technical features, reusable rockets typically use vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) methods. These rockets usually have high specific impulse and thrust-to-weight ratios to achieve higher efficiency and performance.

Colibri Built by the GSP Team

The GSP team has developed exactly such a bi-propellant vertical and landing (VTVL) rocket. This rocket weighs 100 kg, stands 2.5 meters tall, can fly in low orbit for over a minute, and has a maximum payload of 10 kg, showcasing their advanced technology in launcher reusability and planetary landers.

Is Colibri Just a “Student Project”?

The GSP team was established in November 2018 by students who share a common love for space exploration and rocketry and have been passionately focused on the development of reusable rocket technology. The members of the team come from different educational backgrounds such as mechanical engineering, robotics, and electrical engineering.

Based on the same passion, they voluntarily embarked on this challenging venture and continuously achieved technological breakthroughs.

“The progress of the rocket project is ongoing. We have completed several key elements of the vehicle, including an UAV named uMouche for the flight control and our F-100 bipropellant test engine for the propulsion. We are currently preparing for the first flight of Colibri with the first integration tests.” said the GSP team.

When it comes to the challenges they encountered during the process, they stated: “One of the most significant challenges we encountered was the development and tests of the F-100 bipropellant test engine. Through rigorous testing and problem-solving, we were able to overcome this challenge ”  Members of the team also firmly believe that this project will provide valuable experience for their future careers.

With the continuous improvement of their product, the GSP team had the privilege of presenting it to Thomas Zurbuchen, the former Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA.

JLCPCB Empowers the Development of Colibri

According to the GSP team, they came across JLCPCB  through social media and were impressed by JLCPCB's cost-effective services with competitive prices, high quality, and fast delivery.

They used over 15 different JLCPCB PCBs inside and outside of the rocket!

After more than three years of collaboration, members of the GSP team shared their satisfaction with  JLCPCB’s products and services: "JLCPCB’s services and products are of high quality and reliability. Their quick PCB prototype and manufacturing services set them apart from other companies."

“We would like to express our gratitude to JLCPCB’s high-quality products and services, which have greatly contributed to the progress of our projects. We look forward to continuing to order more lightweight and high-precision PCB products from JLCPCB for application in critical components such as antennas. ”

In the future, the GSP team is aiming to successfully launch and land Colibri and continue contributing to the field of space exploration.

The realization of their dreams was witnessed by JLCPCB and highlights the importance of reliable and high-quality PCBs in cutting-edge technology projects like rocket development.

JLCPCB has expanded to over 180 countries and regions worldwide, empowering the realization of countless hardware innovation dreams globally. We aim to accelerate hardware innovation by providing millions of enterprises, research institutes, and engineers with one-stop integrated electronic/mechanical service, including EDA software, PCB manufacturing, PCB Assembly, 3D Printing, and CNC Machining.

JLCPCB empowers flexible manufacturing through the integration of digital technology, a self-built order platform, automated production, and intelligent warehousing. This enables us to meet customer demands for prototypes, small batch production, and the "fast delivery, high quality, customization, one-stop" experience.

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Image and video source:

Gruyère Space Program’s social media posts