Alexandre Chappuis

EPFL Rocket Team

The EPFL Rocket Team (ERT) is a student association whose aim is to design and build rockets. The team, based at EPFL, is composed of about 200 students from different schools and universities in the canton of Vaud. ERT is currently supervising four student projects, and part of the work done by students is made as a part of accredited semester projects of EPFL. Project Bella Lui : The competition team designs and builds a large rocket each year to be launched in various international competitions. The ultimate goal? To win the Spaceport America Cup, the largest student competition of its kind, which takes place in June in the USA. The competition team also attends the European Rocketry Challenge that it helped to be created. Several challenges (target altitude, type and construction of the propulsion system, payload type) allow each team to surpass themselves year after year thought new rocket designs. Project Space Race : The Space Race team is mainly made up of early bachelor students. Their goal is to design and build smaller rockets that they will launch to obtain various certifications. Once trained, they have the opportunity to join the competition team. Project Icarus : The research and development team is currently gathered around the Icarus project. Its members, more experienced students, are trying to design a stabilisation system for the rocket. The goal is to be able to land it in the long term.