Our team and mission

This position is based at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) – Harwell, UK

IMPORTANT: Due to the location of ECSAT and current UK legislation, only UK citizens, students enrolled in a UK university, or those with pre-settled status (right to study) in the UK are eligible to apply for this internship.

The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE) is the main ESA entity in charge of supporting and coordinating efforts towards the current and future endeavours of human spaceflight and robotic exploration. The exploration activities are part of the strategic plans in securing a central role for Europe with respect to the global initiatives. The European Exploration Envelope Programme (E3P) is integrating the ESA activities in this field to ensure a single exploration process. The strategy includes three destinations where humans will work with robots to gather new knowledge: Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the Moon, and Mars.

The Vulcan Analogue Sample Facility is uniquely positioned within D/HRE’s Exploration Preparation, Research and Technology (ExPeRT) team to support long-term Lunar and Martian Surface Exploration by developing operational concepts and low TRL technologies. The Vulcan team provides expert support (on analogue sample topics) to research and technology development projects (focused on space exploration and planetary science applications) within ESA, its member states, and the rest of Europe.

The Vulcan Facility is a geological repository and analytical laboratory operated by a multidisciplinary, onsite team of staff and contractors. It is located on the Harwell Campus in the UK (part of ESA’s ECSAT site) and serves as a European focal point for the research, curation, and characterisation of analogue samples. The facility acts to:

• support validation and de-risking of low TRL technologies & key operational concepts;
• improve confidence in European simulants;
• inspire the next generation of planetary geoscientists.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Internship topic: Analogue Sample Research & Development

Research activities focus on analogue samples and related technologies through collaboration with other ESA teams (primarily Spaceship ECSAT). They include:

• New, customised analogue sample recipes for present and future missions:
  • Low-medium fidelity simulants for a range of target planetary bodies and sites;
  • High fidelity, mechanical simulants for a range of engineering and geotechnical applications e.g. plume surface interaction, dust interaction, mitigation, and contamination testing;
  • High fidelity, ISRU simulants focused on resource extraction and additive manufacturing test purposes;
  • Investigation of artificial (i.e. non-geological) simulant components e.g. simulated agglutinates.
• Adapted techniques for advanced characterisation of the physical, mechanical, mineralogical, and chemical properties of analogue samples.

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 Planetary Science or Geoscience is required. Knowledge in coding languages, geotechnical engineering, and materials processing is an asset.