2 layers38.1 × 50.8 mm
LoRa 1W Breakout
alegoldstein/NUSTARS
Payload PCB for Northwestern University's 2025-2026 IREC rocket
55 parts
4 layers66.9 × 56.7 mm
PAYLOAD FILES
alegoldstein/NUSTARSPayload PCB for Northwestern University's 2025-2026 IREC rocket
- Size
- 66.9 × 56.7 mm
- Copper layers
- 4
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 30
- Nets
- 74
- Pads
- 165
- Tracks, vias
- 308, 159
- Pours
- 171
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
- Created
- 10 Sep 2026
- Updated
- 14 Sep 2026
Overview
PAYLOAD FILES is an open-source printed circuit board by alegoldstein, from the alegoldstein/NUSTARS repository on GitHub. It is a 4-layer board of 66.9 × 56.7 mm with 30 parts on 74 nets, routed with 308 tracks and 159 vias.
It is built around the INA226AIDGSR, B5B-XH-AM and B2B-XH-A. Its parts include 9 connectors, 7 resistors, 4 capacitors, 3 ICs and 1 diode. It belongs with the NXP (LPC, Kinetis, i.MX RT) boards of this library.
Main components
3
INA226AIDGSR
VSSOP-10-40℃~+125℃ 0.1uV/℃ 0V~36V 100pA 140dB 2.5uV 2.7V~5.5V 330uA High-side detection、Low-side detection、Bidirectional detection、Power monitoring、Digital output interface、Programmable threshold alarm、Enable/shutdown function ±40V VSSOP-10 Current Sense Amplifiers ROHSTexas InstrumentsCurrent Sense Amplifiers
B5B-XH-AM
插件,P=2.5mm-25℃~+85℃ 1 14.9mm 1x5P 2.5mm 250V 3A 5 5.75mm 5P 7mm Brass K Pin、With post PA66 Through Hole Tin UL94V-0 White XH 插件,P=2.5mm Wire To Board Connector ROHSJSTWire To Board Connector
B2B-XH-A
插件,P=2.5mm-25℃~+85℃ 1 1x2P 2 2.5mm 250V 2P 3A 5.75mm 7.4mm 7mm Brass K Pin PA66 Through Hole Tin UL94V-0 White XH 插件,P=2.5mm Wire To Board Connector ROHSJSTWire To Board Connector
README
README.mdNUSTARS
Payload PCB for Northwestern University's 2025-2026 IREC rocket
Objective: Integrate electronics to gather and transfer flight data in a compact payload.
Steps Taken:
- Designed a 4-layer Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in KiCad integrating sensors and a microcontroller into a compact payload, ensuring signal integrity through optimized placement, grounding, and trace routing.
- Created a custom breakout board for the INA226 current/voltage sensor, implementing I²C communication and shunt-based current sensing to improve battery monitoring reliability and prevent power-related system failures.
- Verify and debug PCB functionality to ensure success during launches.
- Teach other team members PCB design and soldering skills to improve team efficiency.
Outcome: Compact payload with reliable electronics for data acquisition during and after launch.
PCB Schematic
PCB Routing
PCB Rendering
Final PCB was made to be a hat for the Raspberry Pi to be as compact as possible Raspberry Pi handled video collection and Teensy 4.1 on the PCB collected data from altimeter and monitored battery life
Initial PCB made to have each system work modularly for ease of debugging
Parts
30| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4.7k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R3, R8, R9, R10 |
| 2 | 100nF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C3, C5 |
| 2 | B5B-XH-A | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:JST_B5B-XH-A | J2, J13 |
| 1 | 0.1uF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C4 |
| 1 | 1000uF | Capacitor_THT:CP_Radial_D10.0mm_P5.00mm | C1 |
| 1 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R1 |
| 1 | 330 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R7 |
| 1 | B12B-PHDSS_LF__SN_ | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:SHDR12W50P200_2X6_1390X500X650P | J8 |
| 1 | B2B-XH-A | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:JST_B2B-XH-A | J12 |
| 1 | Buzzer | Buzzer_Beeper:Buzzer_12x9.5RM7.6 | BZ1 |
| 1 | Conn_01x02_Pin | Connector_AMASS:AMASS_XT60PW-M_1x02_P7.20mm_Horizontal | J7 |
| 1 | Conn_01x02_Socket | Connector_PinSocket_2.54mm:PinSocket_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J6 |
| 1 | Conn_01x04_Pin | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:JST_B4B-XH-A | J5 |
| 1 | Conn_01x05_Pin | Connector_PinSocket_2.54mm:PinSocket_1x05_P2.54mm_Vertical | J3 |
| 1 | Conn_02x20_Odd_Even | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_2x20_P2.54mm_Vertical | J4 |
| 1 | Fuse | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:Fuse | F1 |
| 1 | INA226AIDGSR | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:INI226_Standard | U3 |
| 1 | LED | LED_SMD:LED_0603_1608Metric_Pad1.05x0.95mm_HandSolder | D1 |
| 1 | LOGO | LOGO | G*** |
| 1 | R_Shunt | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:R_Shunt | R2 |
| 1 | TEENSY_4.0 | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:TEENSY40 | IC2 |
| 1 | ~ | NUSTARS_Payload_FootprintLib:LGA9_BMP585_BOS | U1 |
The 27 most common of 30 parts.
Questions
How big is the PAYLOAD FILES PCB?
It measures 66.9 × 56.7 mm and has 4 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the PAYLOAD FILES use?
30 parts, built around the INA226AIDGSR, B5B-XH-AM and B2B-XH-A. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the PAYLOAD FILES KiCad files?
From the alegoldstein/NUSTARS repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is PCB/Payload/PAYLOAD_FILES/PAYLOAD_FILES.kicad_pcb and its schematic PCB/Payload/Battery_Sensor/Battery_Sensor.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the PAYLOAD FILES design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask alegoldstein before reusing the design.
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