4 layers66.9 × 56.7 mm
PAYLOAD FILES
alegoldstein/NUSTARS
Payload PCB for Northwestern University's 2025-2026 IREC rocket
30 parts
2 layers38.1 × 50.8 mm
LoRa 1W Breakout
alegoldstein/NUSTARSPayload PCB for Northwestern University's 2025-2026 IREC rocket
- Size
- 38.1 × 50.8 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 55
- Nets
- 19
- Pads
- 75
- Tracks, vias
- 88, 83
- Pours
- 2
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
- Created
- 10 Sep 2026
- Updated
- 14 Sep 2026
Overview
LoRa 1W Breakout is an open-source printed circuit board by alegoldstein, from the alegoldstein/NUSTARS repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 38.1 × 50.8 mm with 55 parts on 19 nets, routed with 88 tracks and 83 vias.
Its parts include 5 resistors, 4 capacitors, 2 connectors, 1 IC and 1 diode. It belongs with the radio and wireless and interfaces and adapters boards of this library.
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
55| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 100k | LoRa_1W_Breakout:0603 | R16, R17, R18, R19 |
| 4 | FIDUCIALUFIDUCIAL | LoRa_1W_Breakout:FIDUCIAL-MICRO | FD1, FD2, FD3, FD4 |
| 4 | STAND-OFF | LoRa_1W_Breakout:STAND-OFF | H1, H2, H3, H4 |
| 3 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#GND#8 | U$52, U$53, U$61 | |
| 2 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:LORA0 | U$1, U$67 | |
| 2 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:1W1 | U$3, U$27 | |
| 2 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:1X09_NO_SILK | J1, J2 | |
| 2 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:SPX12760 | U$2, U$69 | |
| 2 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:915MHZ0 | U$7, U$8 | |
| 2 | SPARKX-LOGO5 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:SPARKX-LARGE | U$5, U$6 |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#SCK#2 | U$62 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#D5#6 | U$54 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#RXEN#7 | U$49 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:##CS##5 | U$47 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#D4#5 | U$55 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:SMT-JUMPER_2_NC_TRACE_SILK | VIN_LED0 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#3V3#0 | U$44 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#D1#2 | U$58 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#5V#1 | U$43 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#D0#1 | U$59 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#SDI#4 | U$46 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#SDO#3 | U$45 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#LED#0 | U$15 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#D3#4 | U$56 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#D2#3 | U$57 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:PWR0 | U$4 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:##RST##0 | U$60 | |
| 1 | LoRa_1W_Breakout:#TXEN#6 | U$48 | |
| 1 | 0.1uF | LoRa_1W_Breakout:0603 | C6 |
| 1 | 0.22uF | LoRa_1W_Breakout:0603 | C7 |
| 1 | 1.0uF | LoRa_1W_Breakout:0603 | C5 |
| 1 | 1k | LoRa_1W_Breakout:0603 | R1 |
| 1 | 47uF | LoRa_1W_Breakout:EIA3528 | C8 |
| 1 | E19-915M30S | LoRa_1W_Breakout:E19-915MS1W | U4 |
| 1 | FRAME-LETTER | LoRa_1W_Breakout:CREATIVE_COMMONS | FRAME2 |
| 1 | OSHW-LOGOMINI | LoRa_1W_Breakout:OSHW-LOGO-MINI | LOGO3 |
| 1 | RP-SMA | LoRa_1W_Breakout:SMA-EDGE | E1 |
| 1 | Yellow | LoRa_1W_Breakout:LED-0603 | D7 |
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Payload PCB for Northwestern University's 2025-2026 IREC rocket
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Payload PCB for Northwestern University's 2025-2026 IREC rocket
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Questions
How big is the LoRa 1W Breakout PCB?
It measures 38.1 × 50.8 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the LoRa 1W Breakout use?
55 parts. 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 LoRa 1W Breakout KiCad files?
From the alegoldstein/NUSTARS repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is PCB/Payload/LoRa_1W_Breakout/LoRa_1W_Breakout.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 LoRa 1W Breakout design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask alegoldstein before reusing the design.