Intern in the Lunar Science Office - Landing Site Assessment for Future Robotic Exploration Missions

The Lunar Science Office at the European Space Agency's European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, is offering an internship opportunity focused on the assessment of candidate landing sites for future robotic exploration missions to the Moon.

Intern in the Lunar Science Office - Landing Site Assessment for Future Robotic Exploration Missions

Our team and mission

Within the Exploration Science Office, the Lunar Science Office Team (HRE-SL) is responsible for scientific activities at the Moon in ESA’s Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate.

These activities emphasise:

• understanding lunar resources and their potential for the future;
• understanding the lunar environment, its effects on human activities and the impact of human activities on the environment;
• preparing for future habitation at the Moon;
• working with other teams to support research into crew health and performance;
• preparing opportunities to utilise the Moon as a unique location for scientific research and an archive of Solar System history.

The team provides expert support to projects in areas relating to landing sites and the lunar environment and how these affect exploration missions.

Our activities operate across the missions and platforms of ESA, international partners, and new commercial actors.

Field(s) of activity for the internship

The work will support ongoing activities related to the PROSPECT mission, which aims to investigate water and other volatile materials near the lunar poles, and Argonaut, Europe's lunar lander programme. These activities contribute to the preparation of future scientific and exploration missions on the lunar surface.

During this internship, you will contribute to the characterization of potential landing sites and surface operations areas through the analysis of lunar remote sensing data and terrain information. You will work with a variety of datasets to identify and assess landing and mobility hazards, investigate geological and geomorphological features, and support mission planning activities.

Depending on your background and interests, your work may include:

• identification and mapping of landing hazards such as impact craters, boulders, steep slopes, and rough terrain;
• geological and geomorphological mapping of candidate exploration regions;
• analysis and interpretation of lunar remote sensing datasets;
• surface mobility studies and rover traverse planning using Geographic Information System software;
• development of machine learning or deep learning approaches for automated feature detection and classification;
• numerical modelling of surface conditions relevant to landing site safety and mission operations;
• support to the generation of scientific and operational products used in mission planning and decision making.

Through this internship, you will:

• gain an understanding of lunar geology and the processes that have shaped the lunar surface;
• become familiar with lunar remote sensing datasets and planetary mapping techniques;
• learn methods for detecting and characterising surface features such as craters, boulders, and roughness elements;
• develop practical experience with Geographic Information System tools for planetary exploration applications;
• acquire skills in scientific data analysis, machine learning, or numerical modelling, depending on the selected project;
• understand how scientific observations are translated into mission requirements and operational constraints for robotic exploration missions;
• gain first-hand experience within an international space mission environment and contribute to activities supporting future European lunar exploration.

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course 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.

Priority will be given to candidates pursuing a degree in planetary science, geology, geophysics, remote sensing, geography, physics, computer science, aerospace engineering, or a related field. Experience with data analysis, programming, machine learning, numerical modelling, or Geographic Information System software would be an advantage.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

Nationality

Applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, 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.

Location

ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands