Call for first-ever ESA Academy’s Spacecraft Testing Workshop 2022!
In brief
ESA Academy is looking for university students with a background in engineering or science to join the pilot edition of the Spacecraft Testing Workshop, to be held between 25 and 29 April 2022 at the ESA Education Training Centre in ESEC-Galaxia, Belgium. This is a unique opportunity to learn from ESA experts on the preparation and execution of test campaigns for space hardware, with both lectures and hands-on activities.
In-depth
Do you want to know more about the testing processes that ensure satellites will work in space? The Spacecraft Testing Workshop will allow university students with an engineering and/or science background to dive into this crucial aspect of space missions while also complementing their academic curricula.
In the ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Facility, selected students will receive lectures from ESA experts on different topics related to testing, from product assurance and systems engineering to the most common types of environmental tests applied to spacecraft.
To top it off, students will have the unique opportunity to put their newly acquired theoretical knowledge to the….test! Students will prepare and execute a real-life hardware environmental test at the CubeSat Support Facility, by using a special educational test unit developed by the ESA Education Office.
During the group project, students will work in teams to prepare a real environmental test campaign (vibration or thermal vacuum): define the test requirements and conditions, prepare the specifications and procedures, and finally assemble and test the dummy hardware. The hands-on component will empower participants to learn first-hand the standard ESA and industry approaches for the validation and verification of spacecraft.
At the end of the Workshop, all groups will have the opportunity to present the results of their work to ESA experts, receiving feedback that will be no doubt valuable to their future careers in the space industry.
Preliminary schedule
| Day 1 |
Introduction to space projects testing Introduction to space systems engineering AIT Product Assurance: Every failure is a lesson! Group project introduction |
| Day 2 |
Mechanical environment and testing Thermal environment and testing Group project: verification planning |
| Day 3 |
Functional testing Cleanliness and contamination control Group project: test definition and preparation |
| Day 4 | Group project: Test activity execution |
| Day 5 |
To radiation testing… & beyond! Spacecraft Testing Group project: test reporting and discussion |
Who can apply?
All students wishing to participate in the Workshop must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
- aged minimum 18 years old. ESA Academy and relevant partners will only appraise applications from students who have no or limited professional experience in relevant engineering or space-related topics
- be a citizen of an ESA Member State, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania or Slovenia;
- be enrolled as a Bachelor, Master or PhD student in a university for the 2021-2022 academic year;
- be studying an engineering subject or science (no previous testing experience required);
The selected students will be sponsored by ESA. This will cover accommodation and meals as well as up to 300 Euros for travelling to Belgium.
Upon completion of the Workshop, the students will be evaluated on the basis of the group project work. In case of successful participation, students will receive a certificate of participation and a course transcript, allowing them to request ECTS credit(s) from their respective universities.
How to apply
- Fill in the online application form:
- Upload a motivation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, no images);
- Upload a CV (Europass format, PDF, maximum 2 pages, no images);
- Upload a formal recommendation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, including signature, no images) from a university professor or an academic supervisor of current university (if not possible due to the current COVID-19 situation in your country, please ask a university professor or an academic supervisor to send a recommendation email to tlp@esa.int);
- Upload a copy of academic records (PDF).
All answers and documents should be in English (except academic records if not available).
The deadline for applications is 10 March 2022, 23:59 CET.
For more information, please contact tlp@esa.int
*Important note
Due to the evolution of the corona virus situation in Europe, and in line with governmental instructions across Europe and with the recommendations of ESA's Director General on travel restrictions for health and safety reasons, the ESA Education Office reserves the right to cancel scheduled ESA Academy training sessions.