Past opportunities 2022
Earth Observation Remote Sensing Workshop 2022
Status: Call for applications closed; Training Course delivered
Date: 5 – 9 December 2022
Description: With the support of the Science, Applications & Climate Department, the Earth Observation Remote Sensing Workshop offered students the opportunity to learn about the importance of remote sensing as well as ESA’s Earth Observation satellite missions.
ESA is dedicated to Earth Observation (EO) satellite missions, being the driving force behind the Sentinels missions, among many others, such as the small Proba-V one. EO satellites are vital for supporting the daily lives of people all around the globe and will be at the forefront of efforts to confront future challenges. The remote sensing data they generate enables rapid responses to natural disasters such as flooding; the monitoring of vegetation and agriculture; optimisation of water usage; methods of preserving resources; better understanding of urban development; monitoring meteorological and environmental parameters essential to understanding the evolution of Earth’s global-scale dynamics... the list goes on! ESA ran this Earth Observation Remote Sensing Workshop to support future generations of EO scientists.
Schedule:
| Day 1 |
Introduction to Earth Observation Missions at ESA Basics of Remote Sensing Exercise 1: Image Visualization and Analysis |
| Day 2 |
Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing and Analysis of Multi-sensor Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) time-series for land Applications Exercise 2: Analysis of Radar Remote Sensing Images |
| Day 3 |
Optical Remote Sensing Introduction Bio-Geophysical Parameter Retrieval for Ocean Applications Bio-geophysical Parameter Retrieval for Land Applications Exercise 3: Analysis of Optical Remote Sensing Images |
| Day 4 |
Introduction to Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Radar and Optical Remote Sensing, Summary EO Processing Workflow & Application Exercise 4: Thermal Infrared RS Exercise 5: Radar and Optical RS |
| Day 5 |
Spatial Image Analysis Exercise 6: Geographic Information System (GIS) Applications Evaluation |
Human Space Physiology Training Course 2022
Status: Call for applications closed; Training Course delivered.
Date: 28 November – 2 December 2022
Description: Human Space Physiology Training Course intended to give students an in-depth look at the issues regarding life in space. Participants learned about the physiological challenges inherent to spaceflight and discovered how a range of Earth-based analogues, such as long-term (head-down) bed rest and over-wintering in Antarctica, were used to investigate some of the potential underlying mechanisms.
Having evolved in Earth’s gravity, our bodies adapt when in microgravity. Some of these adaptations may comprise astronaut health and well-being, either in flight or upon return to Earth. As a result, these adaptations must be understood to inform the development of effective strategies to support humans during space missions to the International Space Station and beyond.
Human Space Physiology Training Course was offered by ESA’s Education and Space Medicine Teams.
Schedule
| Day 1 |
History of Human Spaceflight The Space Environment - Outside and Inside a Space Vehicle Medical Support of ISS Astronauts Space Radiation and Health Risks |
| Day 2 |
The Global Exploration Roadmap - The Future of Human Space Exploration ESA Human Research Activities - ISS and Ground Analogues Adaptation of the Human Immune System to Extreme and Changing Environments A Sense of Space Fundamentals of Muscle and Neuromuscular Function in Space How Space has an Impact on the Neurosensory System and the Brain |
| Day 3 |
Fundamentals of Bone Physiology in Space Effects of Microgravity on the Cardiovascular System How Do Animal and Cellular Studies Help Our Understanding of Human Space Physiology? EVA Training |
| Day 4 |
Physical Exercise and Reconditioning in Spaceflight Nutritional Support for Astronauts Psychological Effects of Human Spaceflight Space Medicine Projects at EAC |
| Day 5 |
Experience of an ESA Astronaut Group Project Presentations |
Post-Albach Summer School 2022
Status: Training Course delivered
Date: 21 – 25 November 2022
Description: During Post-Alpbach Summer School, students from Summer School Alpbach designed further one of the missions developed during the Summer School using the Concurrent Engineering approach. The mission was selected at the end of the Summer School by the Alpbach Summer School Jury, and all the students who participated in the Summer School were invited to apply for the Post Alpbach Summer School Event.
This year, students were invited to iterate on the concept and design of an ambitious hypothetical mission to study the induced magnetosphere of Venus, which forms when the solar wind interacts with particles in the Venusian ionosphere. MVSE, as it is called, would use three spacecraft, each in a different region of the magnetosphere, to measure changes to the magnetosphere’s structure and variations in the heating process during events such as solar flares - phenomena which are not fully understood by scientists.
Students were supported by ESA and external experts while using the ESA Academy's Concurrent Design Facility (CDF)NC2]
Ladybird Guide to Spacecraft Operations 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Training Course delivered.
Date: 20 – 23 September 2022
Description: To bring this fascinating world of challenges and satisfaction to life for university students contemplating a career in the space sector, ESA organised the Ladybird Guide to Spacecraft Operations Training Course, a technical course without excessive mathematics or technical jargon, for students who wanted to quickly acquire a feeling for the broad spectrum of disciplines that are part of spacecraft operations.
Lectures covered mission operations, spacecraft attitude and orbital control, the power and thermal challenges and design, communicating with and controlling a spacecraft in orbit from the ground, and the on-board data handling and software subsystems, using real-life examples and first-hand stories of operational errors and lessons learned – lots of opportunities for the students to try to work out what caused the error/mistake and how it could have been avoided.
Schedule
| Day 1 |
Introduction - the difference between design and operations engineers Mission design and payloads Attitude Dynamic and Control Subsystems |
| Day 2 |
Orbit Control System Power Group Work |
| Day 3 |
Thermal Telemetry, Telecommunication & Command Group Work |
| Day 4 |
On Board Data Handling On Board Software Group Challenge and Summary |
CubeSat Summer School 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Summer school delivered.
Date: 8 August – 2 September 2022
Description: The CubeSat Summer School 2022 was a training session during which ESA and external experts delivered an extensive mix of lectures and hands-on activities. The entire project lifecycle of a satellite mission was covered, from design to verification, launch and operations, including typical milestone reviews and new methodologies. Students were introduced to project management best practices, legal, cybersecurity, and economic aspects of space projects. The Summer School even introduced space entrepreneurship skills, offering support in devising methods of turning a CubeSat into a viable and profitable business opportunity!
Upon completing the CubeSat Summer School 2022, participating students gained the multidisciplinary knowledge and skills needed to undertake CubeSat or other space-related projects, be confident with engineering and project management standards, and be better prepared to join the European space sector.
Schedule:
|
Week 1: Fundamentals 8 August – 12 August |
Space Systems Engineering CubeSats and their subsystems Hands-on Practice with Educational Satellite Models |
|
Week 2: Design 15 August – 19 August |
Cybersecurity Awareness Project Management for Space missions Model-based Systems Engineering principles Preliminary design of a CubeSat mission using Concurrent Engineering methodology |
|
Week 3: AIV - Testing 22 August – 26 August |
Introduction to Space Product Assurance, Production and Procurement Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIV) Techniques in Space Radio Frequency Experiment – Decoding CubeSat data |
|
Week 4: Operations and Business Development 29 August – 2 September |
Launch and Operations Space Law and Space Debris Mitigation Developing skills for Space Business and Entrepreneurship OPS-SAT live passes and real-time demonstrations of operating commands Student panel with industry and Fly Your Satellite! Programme experts Networking Event with ESA and External delegation |
ESA/ELGRA Gravity-Related Research Summer School 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Summer school delivered.
Date: 27 June – 8 July 2022
Description: This Summer School, given through in-person workshops and online lessons, offered students an overview of the current research under microgravity and hypergravity conditions in both Life and Physical Sciences, and explained the interest and benefits of performing research and technology demonstrations in altered gravity. Students attended stimulating lectures and worked in teams to devise ideas for prospective altered gravity experiments. They learnt the impact of altered gravity research, as well as career possibilities in the European space sector.
Schedule:
| Week 1 (27 June – 1 July 2022) | |
| Day 1 |
Introduction to ESA, its programmes and opportunities Introduction to ELGRA and SELGRA Gravity-related research overview Gravity and gravity-related research platforms ESA Education Office and hands-on programmes Develop a Gravity-Related Experiment Team Project Introduction |
| Day 2 |
Presentations by Former Student Teams of ESA Academy’s Hands-On Programmes Life Science Gravity-Related Research Lecture 1 Physical Science Gravity-Related Research Lecture 1 Human Physiology Gravity-Related Research Lecture 1 Project Management Workshop |
| Day 3 |
Life Science Gravity-Related Research Lecture 2 Physical Science Gravity-Related Research Lecture 2 Human Physiology Gravity-Related Research Lecture 2 Team Work |
| Day 4 |
Life Science Gravity-Related Research Lecture 3 Physical Science Gravity-Related Research Lecture 3 Human Physiology Gravity-Related Research Lecture 3 Team Work |
| Day 5 |
Systems Engineering and Requirements Definition Workshop Team Project Topic Pitch |
| Week 2 (4-8 July 2022) | |
| Day 6 |
Team Work Team Meetings with Tutors |
| Day 7 | Team Work |
| Day 8-9 |
Team Work Team Meetings with Tutors |
| Day 10 |
Team Project Presentations Conclusion |
Standardization Training Course 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Training Course delivered.
Date: 21-24 June 2022
Description: During these four days, students were given an introduction to the ECSS and learnt from several ESA experts the importance of using standards and the impact they have on the way space activities are implemented. They were also provided with an overview of how and why standards are used in different disciplines at ESA.
Schedule:
| Day 1 |
Introduction to ECSS System Management Structures |
| Day 2 |
Product Assurance & Quality Assurance Mechanisms Control Engineering |
| Day 3 |
Communications protocols Electrical Engineering Thermal Engineering |
| Day 4 |
Ground System and Operations Software Engineering & Product Assurance System Engineering |
CubeSat Hands-On Training Week 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Training Week delivered.
Date: 30 May – 3 June 2022
Description: During this 5-day training week, the university students learnt about small satellite design and testing through hands-on exercises on a CubeSat training model, the ESAT. These lab sessions were supervised by Theia Space and complemented by technical lectures, delivered by ESA experts. The aim of this Training Week was to allow university students, who were involved in a CubeSat mission or would like to develop one, to get acquainted with the hardware and software of a CubeSat and with the assembly, integration, and verifications of a small satellite as well as all the testing required.
Schedule:
| Day 1 |
Space Systems Engineering Introduction to the ESAT model Software |
| Day 2 | On Board Data Handling |
| Day 3 |
Electrical Power System Communications |
| Day 4 |
Attitude and Orbit Control System Assembly, Integration and Verification |
| Day 5 |
Satellite Operations Satellite Testing |
Online Space Debris Training Course 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Training Course delivered.
Date: 16 – 25 May 2022
Description: During this training course, students were provided with an introduction to the concept of space debris, why it is necessary to address this problem, and how the mitigation policies set by ESA applies to missions. Participants not only learnt about the space debris environment and mitigation technologies and future challenges such as large satellite constellations, but also about how it impacts spacecraft operations and potential future solutions. Current topics such as large satellite constellations and new space traffic management developments were also discussed. The course was delivered through formal technical lectures complemented by hands-on exercises based on a real-life case study.
Schedule:
| Day 1 - Afternoon |
Introduction Forces Acting on a Space Object Space Debris Environment - Part 1 |
| Day 2 - Afternoon |
Space Debris Environment – Part 2 Space Debris: Legal & Regulatory Aspects Group Project Session 1 |
| Day 3 - Afternoon |
Mitigation Principles & Guidelines De-orbiting & Passivation technologies Group Project Session 2 |
| Day 4 - Afternoon |
Space Debris Mitigation Context The Future of the Environment |
| Day 5 - Afternoon |
Space Surveillance Operating in the Space Debris Environment Collision Avoidance |
| Day 6 - Afternoon |
Protection & Shielding Group Project Session 3 |
| Day 7 – Full day |
Aerothermodynamics during re-entry Simulation of Spacecraft Destruction during Atmospheric Re-entry On-ground Risk Estimation Group Project Session 4 |
| Day 8 – Full day |
Design for Demise Active Debris Removal Group Project Session 5 Evaluation Conclusion |
FYS! Phase D Training Week 2022
Status: Only for student teams participating in Fly Your Satellite! 3rd edition. Call for applications. Training Week delivered.
Date: 9-12 May 2022
Description: This workshop was held at the ESA Education Training Centre in ESEC-Galaxia, Belgium over 3.5 days. It was organised by Fly Your Satellite! team of the ESA Academy Programme. This workshop offered teams participating in Fly Your Satellite! 3rd edition hands-on experience complementing the theoretical sessions offered during the online FYS 3 Phase D Training Week (18-22 Oct 2021). Students prepared and executed a real-life hardware environmental test at the CubeSat Support Facility, using a special educational test unit developed by the ESA Education Office. They worked in groups to prepare a real environmental test campaign (vibration or thermal vacuum): plan verification, define the test requirements and conditions, prepare the specifications and procedures, and finally assemble and test the dummy hardware.
Schedule:
| Day 1 |
Introduction Mission Status Update by CubeSat Teams AIV and Environmental Testing Group project: Introduction |
| Day 2 |
Group project: verification planning Group project: Assembly & Integration |
| Day 3 |
Group project: Vibration Testing Group project: Thermal Verification |
| Day 4 | Group project: test reporting and discussion |
Spacecraft Testing Workshop
Status: Call for applications closed. Workshop delivered.
Date: 25-29 April 2022
Description: During this Workshop held over 5 days at the ESA Education Training Centre in ESEC-Galaxia, Belgium, students had the opportunity to learn from ESA experts on the preparation and execution of test campaigns for space hardware, with both lectures and hands-on activities.
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 |
Concurrent Engineering Challenge 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Workshop delivered.
Date: 4-8 April 2022
Description: This Challenge features groups of up to 30 students, each one supervised by two system engineers in the four participating Concurrent Engineering Facilities (CEF). Groups are given a specific mission to design in four days.
Students in each group are divided into small teams of two to four people to cover the following disciplines: structures, configuration, power, mechanisms, thermal, attitude and orbit control, propulsion, trajectory analysis, communications and data handling. Students within each small team create a subsystem concept in order to achieve the mission parameters using the Concurrent Engineering approach.
The groups do not compete against each other. Instead, they use video conferencing to share each day’s progress, raise any particular difficulties they are facing, and receive helpful input from the other participants. At the end of the week, each group presents their final design.
Ultimately, students involved in the Challenge learn about the Concurrent Engineering approach and its benefits, the Concurrent Model-based Engineering Tool (COMET) and how ESA performs the technical and financial feasibility of space missions.
Schedule:
| Day 1 |
Introduction to the Concurrent Engineering Approach Get familiar with Workbooks and CoMET Presentation of each CEF Introduction to the mission Mission overview and requirements |
| Day 2 |
System requirements Mission and system modes definition First iteration of all subsystems – part 1 Each group results presentation |
| Day 3 |
First iteration of all subsystems – part 2 First budgets Finalisation of the concept Each group results presentation |
| Day 4 |
Second iteration of all subsystems Product tree Budgets Each group results presentation |
| Day 5 |
Final design consolidation & any open issues Each group final presentation |
Online Technology Transfer, Application & Innovation Workshop 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Workshop delivered.
Date: 9-18 March 2022
Description: During this online workshop held over 8 afternoons, university students are introduced to the different disciplines related to Technology Transfer, Applications and Innovation. Students learn about various domains such as patenting, technology transfer and applications, and entrepreneurships. These lectures are complemented by a case study based on an actual ESA patent. The students implement their newly gained knowledge to help ESA to find a suitable application, working on a simplified business plan proposal in Group Assignments.
Schedule:
| Day 1 |
Introduction to Technology Transfer, Application & Innovation Introduction to Patenting |
| Day 2 |
Dissecting an ESA Invention Tips & Tricks for Idea Generation GP1: Technology Transfer: From Fiction to Reality |
| Day 3 |
Technology Beyond Space and Business Application Practical Case Examples |
| Day 4 | GP2: From Patent to Application |
| Day 5 |
Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation New Venturing Creation ESA Opportunities & Education Programme |
| Day 6 |
Entrepreneur – Skyflox GP3: From Application to Business |
| Day 7 | GP4: Group Project Finalisation |
| Day 8 | Final presentations |
Online Ladybird Guide to Spacecraft Communications Training Course 2022
Status: Call for applications closed. Training Course delivered.
Date: 21 February - 4 March 2022
Description: Taught by an ESA expert from ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), Darmstadt, Germany, the Online Ladybird Guide to Spacecraft Communications Training Course is offered through formal lectures without excessive mathematics or technical jargon, but with a heavy emphasis placed on the interaction with the students. Students learn about:
- the challenges of communicating with a spacecraft
- an operator’s view on all the spacecraft subsystems both on-board and on the ground
- "Physiological traps’" to be avoided during operations and testing
Schedule:
| Day 1 | Introduction |
| Day 2 |
The Challenge Modulation (Part 1) |
| Day 3 |
Modulation (Part 2) Demodulation |
| Day 4 |
Coding ESA & ESA Education Programme |
| Day 5 |
Protocols Transmission (Part 1) |
| Day 6 |
Transmission (Part 2) Reception |
| Day 7 |
Real Ground Stations Wrap-up |
| Day 8 |
Presentation of ESEC Introduction to Galileo Programme Evaluation |
| Day 9 | Group project |
| Day 10 |
Group project Conclusion |
Online Gravity-Related Experiments Training Week 2022
Status: Only open to students of ESA Academy Hands-on Space Projects. Training Course delivered.
Date: 24 January – 2 February 2022
Description: The aim of this training week is to better prepare selected university student teams for their participation in the ESA Academy’s Fly Your Thesis!, Drop Your Thesis! and Spin Your Thesis! Programmes, by providing them with the information and basic knowledge that is required to design, develop, test, and perform a gravity-related scientific experiment or technology demonstration. The idea is to optimise the transfer of know-how and expertise from the experts in the field to the students, before their experiment campaigns, through lectures, workshops and meetings with the experts. Hence, the objective is to increase the quality of collected data and the success rate of the students’ hands-on projects.
Online Cubesat Concurrent Engineering Workshop 2022
Status: Open to students selected for the 2020 edition. Training Course delivered.
Date: 17-27 January 2022
Description: University students are introduced to the concurrent design of a CubeSat mission. Guided by ESA experts, the students learn to use the Open Concurrent Design Tool and identify design drivers. Divided into teams, they first create a subsystem concept to later achieve an already identified mission concept, function tree and product tree, using concurrent engineering. The workshop helps to better prepare those universities that are planning to embark on a CubeSat project or are at the early stages of one. Teams wishing to participate do not need to be at an advanced stage in their CubeSat project. They can be at a conceptual and/or preliminary phase of their CubeSat design.
Schedule:
| Day 1 |
Introduction to Concurrent Engineering and Requirement Management Get familiar with Workbooks and OCDT Introduction to the Mission Student team CubeSat projects presentations CubeSat Architectures |
| Day 2 |
First Concurrent Engineering iteration ESA TEC CubeSats Introduction to ESA and ESA Education Programme Introduction to Fly Your Satellite! Programme |
| Day 3 |
Finalisation of the first Concurrent Engineering iteration ESEC-Redu visit How to increase CubeSat reliability? Second Concurrent Engineering iteration |
| Day 4 |
Finalisation of the second Concurrent Engineering iteration Final Presentations |