Agency Internship opportunities at ESA's Astronaut Centre 62724 views 45 likes

The European Astronaut Centre (EAC) is seeking interns to support activities in a range of fields related to human spaceflight.

We are looking for dynamic people who can work independently to help us meet the challenges of human and robotic space exploration. You will be encouraged to show initiative, take on new challenges and learn new skills. In return, you will have access to EAC facilities and work in a stimulating, multi-national environment that is unique within Europe and close to the historic and vibrant city of Cologne along the famous River Rhine. Internships are available in a number of areas. For detailed information, please click the relevant links. Interested students are asked to familiarise themselves with the general terms and conditions of ESA internships here.

Spaceship EAC The Spaceship EAC initiative is investigating low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies that could support future cislunar space missions as well as surface activities on the Moon as part of the Exploration, Preparation, Research and Technology (ExPeRT) team. The multidisciplinary, innovation-driven team comprises researchers, graduate and undergraduate students.

Space medicine team Internships are offered with the REDI (Research, Education & Development Initiative) that supports medical domain readiness both for current and future human space missions. REDI supports the space medicine team, whose approximately 25 experts from a variety of health-related fields are responsible for ensuring the health and wellbeing (physical and psychological) of ESA astronauts before, during and following spaceflight. The space medicine team consists of physicians (flight surgeons), biomedical engineers, countermeasure exercise specialists and medical project engineers in addition to biomedical and space medicine education experts.

Space training team – media production Multimedia internships at EAC offer exciting and fulfilling opportunities to produce video (filming and editing with Premiere) and media (2D and 3D: Adobe CC) to support astronaut training, E-Learning and more.

Space training team – CAVES and PANGAEA The CAVES and PANGAEA team specialises in training programmes that equip astronauts and mission developers with scientific, expeditionary and behavioural and skill sets for current and future space exploration. The group’s primary output is focused around two training programmes: CAVES (Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills) teaches astronauts human performance and behavioural skills for exploration tasks through an expedition into a natural cave system. Cave systems present environments and situations very similar to spaceflight, making them ideal for this type of training.

PANGAEA (Planetary ANalogue Geological and Astrobiological Exercise for Astronauts) is a geological and astrobiological field training course for astronauts and mission developers. It develops fundamental knowledge and skills in these disciplines, as well as observational and decisional skills such as identifying important geological features in the field, conducting efficient sampling and effectively communicating with scientists on Earth. CAVES and PANGAEA interns have had the opportunity to contribute directly to several fields which enhance these training programmes as well as prepare for the next phases of human spaceflight. Click the links below to learn more about the team’s current internship opportunities: Electronic Fieldbook (EFB) system development: the EFB is a tool supporting astronaut field mission operations with technology for geolocation, mapping, scientific data gathering, sensors interaction and wireless data relay to remote mission control centres. Interns are sought to support the development of this exploration tool in order to improve, extend and test its functionalities. Machine learning for recognition of planetary materials from multispectral datasets: interns are sought to continue development of machine learning algorithms for recognition of planetary materials from multispectral datasets. This project focuses on combining several mineral characteristics to achieve automatic classification. Planetary Mineral Database development and validation of spectra classification methods: interns are sought to continue enhancing and developing our analytical toolset consisting of multi-spectral archives and mineralogical catalogues. They will also help in the testing of a machine learning software to evaluate the most suitable spectral identification method of planetary materials.

Ground segment and IT The ground segment and IT team holds full responsibility of all systems that support EAC’s International Space Station control rooms as well as many other business critical IT systems. As an intern on the team, you will work to support the team and EAC by developing bespoke and valuable software tools. With many years of experience in multiple fields of engineering and IT, the team is well prepared to mentor interns through challenging projects that will have a real impact on services at EAC.

EAC communications team Internship opportunities with the team promoting Human and Robotic Exploration of space are not available at this time.

School internships A limited number of internship placements are available for school pupils every year. EAC school internships last between one and three weeks and can take place either during the schools’ official internship periods or on a voluntary basis during school holidays. During their internships, pupils will be introduced to the main areas of responsibility of EAC teams and work on an individual project under the supervision of an EAC staff member. Most activities and project work will be conducted in English. School interns must be citizens of an ESA member or cooperating state. Non-local students are responsible for arranging their own accommodation in Cologne. EAC cannot provide adult supervision outside of working hours. The school internship programme at the EAC is currently on hold. When it is possible to apply for school internships again, information will be published here.