Intern in the Satellite Real Time 3D Visualization Tool for Earth Observation

Our team and mission

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

Under the direct authority of the Director of Earth Observation Programmes, the Head of the Projects Department (H/EOP-P) is responsible for the overall system definition, and implementation activities for future missions and instruments, and management of approved ESA Earth Observation projects up to and including launch and in-orbit verification, in accordance with mission requirements established during preparatory activities and maintained by EOP-S.

EOP-P tasks include, in particular:

• consolidation of the final programmatic frame of the future missions to be implemented (Cost at Completion, schedule, procurement, and geo-return), done in coordination with EOP-S and F for Earth Explorer Missions;
• implementation of Phase A for Copernicus and Meteorological missions with participation of EOP-F;
• detailed design and implementation of the space segment of approved ESA Earth Observation missions up to and inclusive of launch and in-orbit verification, i.e., Phases B1, B2, C, D, E1;
• support to EOP-F and EUMETSAT for the overall mission definition of Meteorological missions;
• definition and maintenance of mission-specific system requirements documents, coherent with the mission requirements maintained by EOP-S;
• overall mission-specific system integration and pre-launch verification, with the support of D/OPS and EOP-G;
• provision of in-orbit commissioning with the support of D/OPS and EOP-G;
• routine operations phase support to EOP-G for satellite on-board issues, in collaboration with D/OPS for satellite command and control issues;
• coordination with other Directorates of the ESA Applications Area (D/NAV, D/CSC) on topics of common interest.

The design and implementation of the Flight Operations Segment and Payload Data Ground Segment are delegated respectively to D/OPS (all except Meteorological missions) and EOP-G (Earth Explorers).
 

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Satellite Real Time 3D Visualization Tool for Earth Observation

The objective of the internship is to develop a 3D visualization tool of the satellite model based on real satellite telemetry.

The primary goal of such tool is for use during LEOP (Launch & Early Operations Phase) to be able to follow satellite position and attitude along the orbit, to identify possible issues and to prevent possible threats by reacting faster to visual inspection of satellite conditions.

Such a tool can be also used for different activities during SC development lifetime:

• Preliminary design phase to visualize orbit options, accommodation constraints, visualization of operational constraints such as illumination of surfaces, possible blindings or straylight;
• Development and Verification phases to visualize on ground testing cases execution to complement functional checks. 

The following main features (non exhaustive list) in the visualizations tool shall be considered:

• Satellite model to be built based on real CAD files, with options for simplified models based on basic building blocks;
• Interface with real satellite telemetry through existing TM tool (e.g. WebMUST) or use of test data for playback and rerun of simulations data;
• Standard interface layer to be customized for each mission according to TM/TC interface;
• Visualization of Earth and main objects orbiting according to orbit definition data;
• Visualization of key satellite parameters, such as temperatures, sun illuminations, field of view, attitude, main sensors, actuators, etc.

The tool can be based on existing visualization open source software (e.g. gaming) to be customized for the requested purpose. The use of Virtual Reality shall be also assessed. 

You shall implement the following phases:

• Identifications of key project needs (survey among different projects);
• Definition of user requirements, derivation of technical implementation requirements;
• Survey of existing and available tools and trade off for final selection;
• Development of the tool with reference data and interface;
• Validation of the tool with real time telemetry and relevant analyses;
• Preparation of installation kit and user manuals;
• Identifications of tasks for generalization to other spacecrafts.

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.