Project NOVA— VGEC Rocketry Team at Teknofest 2026

Teknofest 2026 · A4 International

VGEC Rocketry — Project NOVA

Vishwakarma Government Engineering College, Ahmedabad, India

Target apogee - 12,811 ft

About the team

VGEC Rocketry is a student-led aerospace engineering team from Vishwakarma Government Engineering College (VGEC), Ahmedabad, India. Our team brings together undergraduate students from electronics, mechanical, and computer engineering disciplines, united by a shared goal — to design, build, and fly a competition-grade high-power rocket entirely from scratch.

VGEC Rocketry is more than just a technical team; we are one of the very few student-led clubs in India dedicated to the passion of high-power model rocketry. In a landscape where aerospace opportunities are often limited to large-scale government agencies, we are working to democratize rocket science. Our mission is to promote aerospace engineering at the grassroots level in India, proving that student passion, when backed by the right technology, can reach the stars.

Our team operates across five technical divisions:

• Avionics
• Structure
• Propulsion
• Aerodynamics
• Recovery

(VGEC Rocketry Team at Launch site with previously launched Rocket)

( Rocket Sitting peacefully on the Launcher)

VIDEOS

IMPORTANT!

We are currently competing in the Teknofest 2026 Rocket Competition, one of the world's largest student aerospace competitions hosted by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation. Having successfully cleared the Preliminary Design Review (PDR), we are among the top 30 teams selected globally in the A4 International category, targeting a target apogee of 12,811 feet..

Avionics of Nova

(FRONT)

(BACK)

This system is responsible for:

• Flight monitoring
• Sensor data acquisition
• Telemetry communication ( using RFD868ux modem)
• Recovery system deployment

Our avionics architecture relies heavily on custom-designed PCBs developed by the team.

These PCBs integrate several key systems including:

• Flight computer microcontrollers
• Accelerometers and gyroscopes for flight dynamics
• Barometric sensors for altitude measurement
• GPS module for accurate navigation
• Telemetry communication modules
• Power distribution systems
• Onboard data logging

These electronics must operate under extreme conditions including high vibration, acceleration, and temperature variation during rocket flight. Therfore we need a reliable fabricated PCB for our mission.

Why PCBWay's Support..

Operating as a passion-driven club in India, our biggest hurdle is the transition from prototypes to flight-ready hardware. In rocketry, "near enough" isn't good enough.

• High-G Reliability: Our boards must survive 10G+ acceleration. PCBWay’s industrial-grade manufacturing ensures no traces fail under stress.
• Complexity & Layers: Our main flight computer requires a 4-layer PCB to manage signal integrity between high-frequency GPS/Telemetry and high-current recovery circuits.
• SMT Precision: To fit into our 4-inch diameter airframe, we utilize fine-pitch SMT components that require professional assembly for 100% reliability.

(TOP LAYER ASSEMBLY- FCC Designed for NOVA)

What We Offer to PCBWay

• International Brand Exposure: Your logo on the rocket airframe and within the technical documentation presented to international judges at Teknofest 2026.

• Silkscreen Recognition: The "Powered by PCBWay" logo will be etched onto every custom board inside the rocket.

• Content Creation: We will provide high-quality "Unboxing & Assembly" videos, integration shots, and—most importantly—onboard flight footage of your hardware in action.

• Pioneer Status: Recognition as a key supporter of the student rocketry movement in India, helping train the next generation of aerospace engineers.

Our team regularly shares project updates and engineering development with the student community and the public through social media and official university pages.

Acknowledgment

We would be honored to collaborate with PCBWay as the hardware backbone of Project NOVA. At VGEC Rocketry, we aren’t just building a rocket; we are building a foundation for the next generation of Indian engineers. Every PCB you manufacture provides a real-world lesson in aerospace systems that no lecture hall can replicate. We invite you to join us on this journey, reaching new heights together—both figuratively and literally— as we take the Indian flag and the PCBWay logo to 12,811 feet.

Best Regards,

VGEC ROCKETRY TEAM.