Training Future Opportunities
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Ladybird Guide to Spacecraft Communications
Deadline to apply: 30 November 2025
Course dates: 9-13 February 2026
When we talk about space missions, few people mention communications systems first. Yet sending commands to a satellite and receiving data back is paramount. Given the criticality and complexity of spacecraft communications, it’s fair to argue that there would be no space missions without highly skilled communications engineers. The Ladybird Guide to Spacecraft Communications Training Course combines lectures, group discussions, presentation of real cases and exercises. The lectures will be delivered by ESA engineer of the Mission Operations Department of ESOC and will include real stories of operations engineers trying to rescue spacecrafts in complex situations. They will also feature discussions about the implications of the way communications systems are designed, how they are used and what problems might occur.
Introduction to Space Law Training Course
Deadline to apply: 11 January 2026
Course dates: 2-6 March 2026
From the smallest student CubeSat to large-scale projects like the International Space Station, all space activities are governed by space law. International space law originated under the auspices of the United Nations, starting right after the launch of Sputnik-1 in 1957 and leading to the Outer Space Treaty, the ‘Magna Charta’ of space law, as entered into force in October 1967. This Treaty is considered the cornerstone of space law and impacts the daily work of space scientists and engineers, touching upon the authorisation of space activities, liability, insurance, and sustainability. Exploring space law is essential for future space professionals, offering insights into the legal landscape shaping their careers and space endeavours.
Satellite Communication Systems Training Course
Deadline to apply: call not out yet
Course dates: 16-20 March 2026
In the modern world, space-based telecommunications play a vital role in enabling global connectivity and secure communications, forming the backbone of numerous innovative applications. These encompass critical services like satellite broadcasting, high-speed internet access, and uninterrupted mobile network coverage. Moreover, it contributes to the development of global navigation, scientific research, remote sensing, telemedicine, improved transportation efficiency, and enhanced educational access, among other areas. This technology facilitates innovation and societal advancement across various dimensions.
The course will be delivered by ESA experts and will include formal lectures alongside brief exercises and a group project. In the group project, participants will work together to design a satellite communications mission that addresses current user requirements, utilising the knowledge acquired from lectures and practical sessions during the week. This hands-on exercise will reinforce participants' comprehension of the dynamic field of satellite communications, linking theoretical concepts with real-world applications.
Space Weather Training Course
Deadline to apply: call not out yet
Course dates: 23-27 March 2026
ESA intends to provide participants with an overview and introduction to the space weather domain from a range of perspectives. This will include scientific and technological fundamentals, space weather monitoring, forecasting, modelling, and understanding of its technological impacts along with an outlook toward the future evolution of these fields. The course will include lectures and hands-on practical work together with tours of key facilities providing an essential part of the current European space weather landscape: ESA’s Space Weather Coordination Centre and the Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence at the Space Pole in Brussels, and both ESA’s Space Weather Data Centre and Proba-2 Operations Centre at ESEC-Redu.
Concurrent Engineering Workshop
Deadline to apply: call not out yet
Course dates: 26-29 May 2026
Concurrent engineering is a method employed in the design and development of products within the space sector, whereby all subsystems are designed simultaneously to enhance efficiency. During this workshop, university students will gain insights into concurrent engineering and its advantages by utilizing the ESA Academy’s Concurrent Design Facility (CDF). Under the guidance of ESA experts, students will first become proficient in using the Concurrent Model-based Engineering Tool (COMET) and identifying design drivers. Students will be divided into groups to address various subsystems, collaboratively developing a subsystem concept. This approach will ultimately enable them to achieve a pre-determined mission concept through concurrent engineering.
Space Standards Training Course
Deadline to apply: call not out yet
Course dates: 1-5 June 2026
The European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) provides a unified, streamlined set of standards for all European space activities. These standards are applied consistently across project management, hardware and software development, testing, and product and quality assurance. The collaborative development and updating of these and NEXTGEN standards involve key stakeholders, including agencies and industry partners. ESA contracts with spacecraft manufacturers specify subsets of ECSS management standards, while quality and product assurance standards ensure the reliability of engineering designs and processes for spacecraft and payloads. During this week-long programme, participants will learn from experts in space standards—a topic often overlooked in traditional university courses. By the end of the course, they will have gained critical knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of the space industry and advance their careers in this highly specialized field.
CubeSat Hands-On Training Course
Deadline to apply: call not out yet
Course dates: 8-12 June 2026
This Training Week is a great opportunity for university students to get hands-on experience with CubeSats and to apply theoretical knowledge obtained from classroom lectures. Students will have the opportunity to perform experiments on Educational Satellites (ESAT) and learn how subsystems work and interact with each other. They will also discover how to conduct Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV), and how to handle tests using real hardware. The aim of the Training Week is to help students that have innovative ideas for educational CubeSat missions, or are working on CubeSat projects at a conceptual or preliminary stage. As an outcome, students will be able to inject the new knowledge gained from the training week into the early design phase of their CubeSat projects.
ESA/ELGRA Gravity Related Research Summer School
Deadline to apply: call not out yet
Course dates: 15-26 June 2026
The Summer School is designed in a blended format. In the first week, you will take part in a series of lectures and workshops held at the ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Facility located at ESEC-Galaxia in Transinne, Belgium. You will collaborate with fellow university students in dynamic team settings to brainstorm and develop new and exciting ideas for gravity-related experiments. In the second week, you will attend online sessions and work in teams to finally present your gravity-related experiment proposal on the last day of the Summer School! During the Summer School, you will have the possibility to engage with stimulating lectures led by renowned international experts who are members of ESA and/or ELGRA. You will benefit from their experience and expertise in gravity-related research across different disciplines and gain insights into the practical aspects of their day-to-day work.
Navigation Training Course
Deadline to apply: call not out yet
Course dates: 22-26 June 2026
PArticipants will gain a comprehensive introduction to Satellite Navigation, with a particular emphasis on Galileo. Designed by ESA experts who played a key role in developing the Galileo Space and Ground Segments, this training course will equip participants with essential knowledge of Galileo’s architecture, tools, services, and functionalities. The course will also address emerging topics such as LEO-PNT and Space Exploration (i.e. Moonlight). The course includes a mix of engaging lectures, hands-on group exercises, and a guided tour of key Galileo in-orbit test facilities at ESEC, which form a critical component of the current Galileo Ground Segment.
For more information, please subscribe to our Newsletter or check the Current Opportunities to learn more about upcoming ESA Academy training sessions and to apply.
