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Young Graduate Trainee for Lunar Surface Mission Analysis

Posted 23 Mar 2024
Work experience
0 to 2 years
Full-time / part-time
Full-time
Job function
Degree level
Required languages
English (Fluent)
French (Fluent)
Deadline
1 Mar 2021 22:59

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You will be part of the Mission Analysis Section, Flight Dynamics Division, Ground Systems Engineering Department.

The Mission Analysis Section is entrusted with mission studies for future terrestrial, lunar and interplanetary missions as well as scientific missions located in planetary or lunar libration points, with the emphasis on trajectory and attitude related aspects, and on supporting ground segment design and operations. This includes trade-offs for selection of the nominal mission trajectory, definition of manoeuvring strategies, optimisation of orbital manoeuvres (low- and high-thrust propulsion, including rocket ascent trajectories), calculation of propellant budget, analysis of launch window, analysis of orbit perturbations and navigation. The Section’s tasks also include development of the necessary analytical and numerical methods and software tools.

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

You will contribute to Mission Analysis for lunar lander missions, in particular the surface phase and surface operations. A surface analysis tool will be used and integrated in the Mission Analysis Software infrastructure to enable calculation of e.g. illumination conditions as well as visibility to any object in the sky integrating and using a digital terrain model. You will develop the tool (building on existing work) with any further requirements and calculations needed to assess different surface operation scenario architectures taking all kinds of potentially available communication links and potential surface mobility vehicle constraints into account. In order to increase reuse and to exploit synergies between the envisaged new surface analysis tool and existing or planned surface operations mission data systems capabilities (e.g. train simulations, path planning systems, AR/VR visualisation tools), the development of your work will need to be closely coordinated with the Directorate of Human & Robotic Exploration Programmes and the Mission Operations Data Systems Division.

In addition, the tool will need to be capable of calculating parameters important for the surface landing, e.g. a slope and hazard map. These capabilities are also common in other operational mission data systems (e.g. mission planning and simulation tools). This will need to be closely coordinated with the ESOC Artificial Intelligence experts, who are already working on e.g. the rock and feature detection, slope estimation, visual odometry, localisation, and crater detection from image data. You will provide support to the international interface definition such that e.g. the geo-information system data coordinate systems are uniquely identified and that different layers of interest (e.g. accessibility with given rover constraints, areas of scientific interest, high-resolution digital elevation models) required for a mission assessment can be easily combined by all stakeholders, such as space agencies, academia and industry. You will support the assessment of different surface operations scenarios and enable a fast response to, for instance, changes in the international exploration architecture or availability of commercial services around the Moon.

You will also provide support to other exploration activities linked to surface landing and operations beyond the lunar environment. The toolsets will be tested for missions to asteroids, Mars and other celestial bodies.

Technical competencies

  • Knowledge of relevant technical domains
  • Relevant experience gained during internships/project work
  • Breadth of exposure coming from past and/or current research/activities
  • Knowledge of ESA and its programmes/projects

Behavioural competencies

  • Result Orientation
  • Operational Efficiency
  • Fostering Cooperation
  • Relationship Management
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Forward Thinking

Education

You should have just completed, or be in your final year of, a university course at Master’s level in engineering, physics, mathematics or computer science. You should have a solid knowledge of mathematics, classical mechanics, and orbit mechanics.

Additional requirements

  • You should have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and as part of a team.
  • The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.
  • During the interview motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

Aerospace & Defence
Noordwijk
4,000 employees