Student applications now open for ESA Academy’s Space Systems Engineering Training Course 2023

Space Systems Engineering is a crucial discipline within the space sector, and a keen understanding of what it is and how it is applied is critical in defining the success of any space mission – from a student-built CubeSat to a commercial communications satellite. Space System Engineers follow, and often lead, the space projects from conception to delivery, working with other disciplines to define user needs, define requirements, and shape the final design before supporting the project through the assembly, integration, and testing phase into operation. Space System Engineers at ESA and in industry are present at all stages of a space system's life cycle. They perform vital functions, ensuring what is delivered is what is required and, critically, handling the interface between many other project disciplines, including project management. 

During the four days, participating students will learn about the background and challenges of Space Systems Engineering before delving into the roles of a Systems Engineer within ESA and exploring the System Engineering process in detail. The course will also give students valuable insight into the Concurrent Design and systems approach to Verification and Validation as well as the interactions with project management, including project planning and risk management. The course will also include several group exercises, aiming to familiarise participants with system engineering products and some real-world problems faced by space system engineers.

This third edition of this training course builds on the successful previous editions developed and delivered by the ESA Education Office in collaboration with ESA staff members who are currently working as Systems Engineers- on an array of high-profile ESA missions.

Preliminary schedule:

Day 1:	Scope and context of Systems Engineering
	What is Systems Engineering?
	How to represent a System
	The Space Programmatic Environment
	Tasks of a Systems Engineer
Day 2:	Systems Engineering Process
	System Requirements
	How to define the architecture of a system, including trade-offs and specification
	Design of a space mission incl. concurrent engineering
Day 3:	Design of a space mission incl. concurrent engineering (continued)
	Development and Verification Approach
Day 4:	Project Management and Quality Management
	Application of a real space project
	Risk
	Launch, Commissioning and Operations

Who can apply?

To participate, students must fulfil the following eligibility criteria at the time of application:

• aged minimum 18 years old;
• be a citizen of an ESA Member States, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia or Slovenia;
• be enrolled as a Bachelor (at least 3rd year), Master, or PhD student in a university for the academic 2022-23 (not graduating before the training course);
• have a solid mathematical and physics background;
• be studying for an engineering degree.

Exceptions may be made for students enrolled in a scientific degree with a minimum level of engineering and mathematical knowledge, and a clear interest in space engineering related activities.

The selected students will be sponsored by ESA to cover accommodation and meals, as well as up to 300 Euros for travelling to Belgium.

How to apply:

• Fill in the application form;
• Upload a motivation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, no images);
• Upload a CV (PDF, in Europass format, maximum 2 pages);
• Upload a formal recommendation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, including signature, no images) from a university professor or academic supervisor of current university (if it is not possible to receive the recommendation letter from your referee, please ask them to send a recommendation email to tlp@esa.int before the application deadline);
• 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 5 December 2022.

For more information, please contact tlp@esa.int