Intern in the Future Navigation Department, LEO-PNT Project

Internship Opportunity in the Future Navigation Department, LEO-PNT Project

Our team and mission

The Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (LEO-PNT) initiative is at the forefront of innovation in the GNSS world. LEO-PNT has become the main trend in recent years, with dozens of global initiatives such as Xona, Trust Point, Centispace, and SatNet LEO demonstrating the disruptive potential of LEO-based navigation services. These efforts aim to provide increased resilience and to augment traditional GNSS by offering robust signals, faster time-to-first-fix, and improved coverage in urban and contested environments.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is leading a programme to advance European capabilities for developing a LEO-PNT system, supporting Europe in remaining a leader in world-wide space-based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). The current LEO-PNT In-Orbit Demonstrator phase showcases the PNT benefits of using low-Earth orbits, novel signals, and frequency bands, unlocking exceptional navigation resilience, accuracy, and agility, and responding to increasing user needs for more robust PNT services. The next phase, the LEO-PNT In-Orbit Preparatory phase, will focus on technology maturation, industrialisation of LEO-PNT building blocks for cost-effective and timely production, and their in-orbit validation towards a potential LEO institutional layer of the EGNSS System of Systems or potential LEO-PNT commercial initiatives. This phase aims to boost innovation and European leadership, preparing for future LEO-PNT market opportunities (institutional and commercial, European and worldwide) with technology. ESA is collaborating with the European Commission towards a potential future operational LEO-PNT system to complement Galileo and EGNOS. The LEO-PNT Team, as part of the Navigation FutureNav department, is responsible for the definition and implementation of LEO-PNT, from the current demonstration to future preparatory phases.

Field(s) of Activity for the Internship

You can choose between the following topics:

1. LEO-PNT advanced ISL concept and simulator development

   A LEO-PNT system will rely heavily on intersatellite link (ISL) to disseminate data within the constellation and with ground. Depending on the constellation characteristics (altitude, inclination, number of satellites, etc.) and the ground segment infrastructure (e.g. location of the ground stations and the control centers), the type and complexity of the ISL network will change. You are expected to define the ISL network concept starting from system level requirements, covering:

   • Definition of the network and connectivity (accounting for satellite attitude, ISL terminal characteristics, etc.);
   • Development of an ISL simulator to demonstrate correctness of the network;
   • Assessment of failure scenarios and definition of recovery concepts.

   The definition of ISL networks is one of the key topics for large constellations, so the work you will perform as part of the internship can be re-used in large LEO constellations, even if not focused on navigation services.

2. LEO-PNT System RAMS concept and derivation of dependability requirements to segments

   LEO-PNT is a system based on tens or hundreds of satellites, where dependability figures such as availability and reliability are very important as they drive the service quality (e.g. availability) and the system cost (e.g. reliability). In mega constellations, it is paramount to find the right balance between dependability requirements and system overall cost. For this reason, the definition of the Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) concept, in particular regarding reliability, availability and maintainability, is fundamental as it has large implications in the overall system and segment definition and concept. You are expected to:

   • Define system level availability and reliability figures starting from mission level requirements;
   • Derive the system level figures to segment level, providing an apportionment of the requirements to the different segments, in particular to space segment;
   • Definition of a mathematical model and methodology to derive availability and reliability figures in different LEO-PNT system architecture configurations;
   • Development of a simulator to validate the availability and reliability requirements allocation.

   RAMS analysis is key in any space system, but it is particularly important for large constellations where the balance between individual system element (e.g. a satellite) and the overall system must be found to ensure cost effectiveness. The experience you will gain as part of this internship will be re-usable in any space mission.

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.
• Topic 1: Experience in using mathematical and engineering packages and programming languages for scientific and technical computing, such as Python, Matlab and STK is recommended; knowledge and background in network architectures, graph theory and radionavigation are an asset.
• Topic 2: Experience in using mathematical and engineering packages and programming languages for scientific and technical computing, such as Python, Matlab and STK is recommended; knowledge and background in statistics, with a focus on reliability and availability analysis, is an asset.

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals 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. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).