Swagelok as gold partner for EPFL Rocket team

We care about rocket science

The EPFL Rocket Team was founded in 2017 by student engineers who wanted to put their theoretical skills into practice through an interdisciplinary project. Before covid they participated in the largest international rocket launch competition, the Spaceport America Cup, which takes place every year in the United States. In 2021 and 2022 they won awards at EuRoc, a well known international competition, held in Portugal and launch their first bi-liquid engine on their rocket in 2023. The EPFL team will be back in 2025 for the launch of Firehorn I (9Km), and hoping for the launch of Firehorn II in 2026, when they are aiming for 30Km!

EPFL Rocket Team at 2023 EuRoc Competition in Portugal (source EPFL)

The EPFL Rocket Team, recognized by EPFL university in Lausanne, brings together about 200 students from EPFL as well as from other technical Swiss schools and universities such as UNIL, HEIG-VD, and ZHAW. The team is currently overseeing different student projects:

• Competition Project: The goal is to design and launch a rocket in international competitions.
• Training Project: Designed for bachelor students wishing to learn and train in rocket manufacturing.
• Research and Development Projects:
  Developing a system to re-land the rockets similar to SpaceX launchers.
  Designing in-house bi-liquid propellant engines with the ultimate goal of reaching space.

We, as Swagelok Switzerland, are proud to be gold sponsor of the EPFL Rocket Team in season 2024/25 with the following projects:

• Firehorn: the complete rocket project that participates at the EuRoC 2025.
• Hyperion: a R&D Project for an own engineered Bi-Liquid engine and Bi-Liquid SRAD.
• Icarus: research project that focuses on active attitude control.

Hyperion's aim is to develop the engines which, among other things, will power the team's next rockets (including Firehorn I in 2025) and the Icarus hopper. The ultimate goal is to be able to reach space equipped with a Hyperion bi-liquid engine.

Swagelok materials are used for the plumbing of the Firehorn rocket and also in the Hyperion project. Next to components such as gauges, tubes and fittings, we provide know-how around the design and assembly of fluidsystems and training to safely install tube fittings.

Swagelok essential tube fitting and installation Training at EPFL in Lausanne

Collaborating with such a dedicated and innovative group is a fantastic opportunity for us to show our support for the next generation of aerospace engineers. We look forward to a successful collaboration and are proud to be part of this exciting journey.

Stay informed on EPFL Rocket Science via their website too.

Do you have questions about sponsoring or our products?
We are looking forward hearing form you via e-mail info@arborag.ch or phone +41 56 485 61 61