Intern in the Science Projects Department, interactive spacecraft simulation model for EnVision

Our team and mission

This position is based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) - Noordwijk, Netherlands

EnVision is a Venus orbiter mission selected by ESA’s Science Programme Committee as the fifth Medium-class mission in the Agency’s Cosmic Vision plan. It will be the first mission to investigate Venus from its inner core to its upper atmosphere, characterising the interaction between its atmosphere, surface/subsurface and interior. It aims at providing a holistic view of Venus, studying the planet’s history, activity, and climate. EnVision is an ESA-led mission in partnership with NASA who are providing the VenSAR instrument, Deep Space Network support for critical mission phases and Aerobraking support. 

The project team in which this internship is proposed is in charge of the implementation of the mission: the procurement of the spacecraft and the launch vehicle and the liaising with the developers of the instruments that will be embarked on EnVision. As with most Science missions, the instruments are provided by Member States and International Partners contributions, with ESA providing several specific payload elements.
 

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Interactive spacecraft simulation model for EnVision in its operational environment

You will be part of the EnVision project team. You will closely interact with the spacecraft engineering and mission performance teams. Your task will be to develop an interactive spacecraft simulation model for EnVision, depicting:

• the spacecraft into its orbit, in the various mission phases and spacecraft attitudes. The objective of this tool is to allow engineers from the various engineering disciplines to have a better understanding of the external environment of the spacecraft (e.g., Sun illumination, planet albedo, distance to Earth, occultation of the spacecraft by Venus with respect to Earth). This is dependent on the spacecraft attitudes in the various mission phases and operational modes. The possibility of using virtual reality shall be also assessed. It should be possible to rotate the spacecraft for different viewpoints. As inputs for this work, you will have the EnVision orbit files, the spacecraft CAD (Computer-Aided Design), and information about the EnVision operational concept;
• based on user-selection, specific views of the various subsystems shall be developed showing their respective architectures schematics and their locations on the spacecraft shall be highlighted upon user selection.

In the next phases of the project, this model is intended to be used for investigations following tests or in-flight operations, interfacing with a system that allows using telemetry from the actual satellite from on-ground tests or in-orbit such as WebMUST. The intention is to create specific views useful during operations, to understand where the spacecraft is (distance to Earth and Venus, in which attitude, what the line of sight of the instruments is, are the thrusters in use, temperature maps, highlight out-of-limit telemetry parameters for each subsystem). The tool/model that you will develop must be compatible with this further interfaces and extension.

Behavioural competencies

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

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain 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 Member State language would be an asset.

Knowledge and background in one or more of the following domains is an asset: software (e.g., python, Ansys STK, SPICE/Cosmographia), gaming tools/game development software, spacecraft system engineering.