Intern in the Commercialisation and Innovation Team, Space Resources

Internship Opportunity in the Commercialisation and Innovation Team, Space Resources

Our team and mission

The Commercialisation and Innovation Team in the Directorate of Human & Robotic Exploration (HRE) leads the definition and coordinates the implementation of all HRE cross-sectoral innovation initiatives as outlined in the Agency’s European Exploration Envelope Programme (E3P) Innovation Plan. This includes, in particular, delivery of the E3P Space Resources Plan and the establishment of Low-Earth Orbit and Lunar platform-based commercial services developed in the frame of the open ‘Call for Commercial Services and Products’.

Furthermore, the Team’s responsibilities include the promotion of non-ESA funded demand for such services through the Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN), as well as delivering a comprehensive lunar communication and navigation service in coordination with the ESA Directorates of Navigation and Telecommunications.

The BSGN’s Industry Accelerators for Sustainable Food, Advanced Materials and in-Space Manufacturing and Health are fostering business opportunities in space exploration to private industry, acting as a Business-to-Business (B2B) interface between the space industry and other industries. It aims to establish an ecosystem for commercial projects to grow and provides relevant support mechanisms and frameworks to support the development of the LEO and Lunar Economy.

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Space Resource Utilisation

The European Space Agency is currently investing in the development of Space Resources Utilisation applications, developing technologies along the ISRU value chain, from prospecting, excavation, extraction of resources and their end use, focusing on developing a roadmap of applications, discerning between institutional and commercial applications along the value chain.

These activities comprise several fields in which the Agency is proactively expanding, including technical aspects with the creation of state-of-the-art laboratories in collaboration with the Luxembourg Government, community engagement activities such as the Space Resources Week and the Space Resources Challenge, and support for Space Resources Start up programmes and Accelerators. In this context, there is an ongoing effort in supporting Academia in the development of Space Resources enabled Business Cases, with the creation of a framework to guide research towards areas of interest for the European Space Resources market development.

Whilst the Agency, and its international partners, are still working out the details of ISRU driven architectures, to move towards a more sustainable, and sustained exploration of the celestial bodies, the ground-based testing facilities are being developed to provide the community with access to bespoke technologies.

You will experience a variety of tasks in a very flexible environment, spanning from technical work and providing support to the compilation of programmatic and strategy documents, with an opportunity to learn a variety of tasks and skills which will be useful for your career.

As an intern in the Commercialisation and Innovation Team (HRE-FC), you will be:

• Supporting community engagement activities: This will involve participation and contribution to webinars, and supporting public events the group might be involved with.
• Supporting the development of the Space Resources Value Business Models: providing organisational support and technical expertise where applicable. Helping to coordinate ongoing development work and to refine existing models. This will also involve investigating public domain information sources to gather stronger data sets to support the modelling activities, with ample opportunity to improve existing skills or be introduced to new ones.
• Supporting the development of Architecture Driven Application scenarios: In combination with the previous task, your help will be required in drafting and developing documents covering the technological developments aimed at specific applications enabling and advancing ISRU driven architecture currently under definition, based on internationally discussed and agreed overarching architectures.

In general, it is expected of you to be flexible in the tasks which will be assigned, which will be commensurate to your expertise and aimed at providing you with real work experience, whilst contributing to fundamental aspects of the Space Resources technology and community development.

You should be familiar with one or more of the Space Resources fields and have a good understanding of Mission Architectures, in order to create clear development paths for the required and critical technologies. An understanding of how the nuances between institutional technological development and commercial technology development in the field of space would be a distinct bonus.

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You must be a university student, preferably studying at master’s level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

• The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
• During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

Knowledge and background in Mission Analysis and Design, ISRU technologies, and general competencies in research and development of technologies would be an asset.

Important Information and Disclaimer

• During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
• Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
• The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.