Our team and mission

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

The Earth and Mission Science Division is based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre. The Earth and Mission Science Division provides the creative vision for innovation and new discoveries in Earth system science, using Earth Observation (EO) in close cooperation with the scientific community.

The Earth and Mission Science Division team:

• Bridges science and technology by translating ideas and concepts into technical reality and scientific success. It does this by defining, consolidating and managing scientific mission requirements throughout all phases of a mission, and by measuring the maturity of the resulting mission concept.
• Manages scientific research-based studies, providing the scientific foundation for mission concepts and approval, supports the successful development of space and ground segment, in-orbit satellite commissioning and in-orbit scientific achievements.
• Undertakes airborne, marine and terrestrial campaigns contributing the development of new technologies, mission feasibility assessments, calibration/validation and application development.

You will work within the Campaigns Section of the Earth and Mission Science Division, whose role is to provide support throughout the preparation and development of new future Earth Observation missions, and to validate the data being delivered by those satellites already in orbit. Your activities will contribute to and benefit from a diverse and international team of scientists working across a variety of Earth Science disciplines in support of Earth Explorer, Copernicus Sentinels, Earth Watch and other EO missions.

For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic: Sea surface current retrievals and validation to support Harmony and Seastar 

As an intern, you will be involved in the Earth Explorer 10 mission Harmony and Earth Explorer 11 candidate mission Seastar. One of Harmony’s mission objectives is to improve our understanding of the upper ocean and of interactions between the lower atmosphere and the ocean surface by providing large scale simultaneous measurements of wind, waves, surface currents, sea surface temperature differences and cloud motion vectors. Seastar is dedicated to observing the fast-evolving small-scale ocean surface dynamics in coastal seas, shelf areas and marginal ice zones.
 

The focus of the internship will be to investigate synergies of both missions regarding sea surface current retrieval and validation. As a starting point, data from different airborne campaigns shall be analysed. 

Behavioural competencies

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

Education

You must have student status and be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. You should preferably be in your final or second to last year of a university course at master’s level in a technical or scientific discipline.

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.

Additional Requirements:

• Knowledge and background in active remote sensing and oceanography is an asset