Our team and mission

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

The Electric Propulsion Section is a team of 13 professionals located at ESTEC. The EPL team includes a Laboratory Manager, an Infrastructure & Quality Manager, several test managers, and test engineers.

Main tasks of the Electric Propulsion Section are: 

• Providing expert technical support to the Agency’s project teams responsible for the development of spacecraft, throughout all the project phases. 
• Contributing to the preparation and implementation of work plans for electric propulsion in the Agency’s technological programs; 
• Preparing and technically managing Agency contracts for studies, experimental investigations, engineering developments and qualification of electric propulsion technologies. 
• Taking charge of key tasks for the maintenance and operations of the ESA Propulsion Laboratory, including technical, quality and infrastructure management responsibilities together with test servicing of electric propulsion systems. 

In addition, in recent years, the Electric Propulsion Section has prepared and managed several Agency contracts targeting development and qualification of Electric Propulsion systems specific for Cubesats and Microsats and has managed and executed several functional and performance verification tests in the ESA Propulsion Laboratory (EPL).

Much of the Lab’s work involves characterizing engine performance during firing. EPL holds an ISO 9001 certificate and can perform measurements for electric and cold-gas thrusters, components, and systems. It exploits in-house procedures, which have demonstrated to be reliable and repeatable for measuring thrust, mass flow rate and electrical parameters related to propulsion system operations, along with related calibration processes. The laboratory offers also the possibility to perform endurance test campaigns, useful to verify the thruster’s performance evolution over time. They can be extended for hundreds or even thousands of hours at a time.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic: Cubesat Propulsion Testing at the ESA Propulsion Lab

As an intern, you will be integrated to the EPL team and assigned to the correspondent test activity. The intern will acquire skills and knowledge on Cubesat Propulsion testing inside the EPL main test facilities and using EPL test equipment (tools, GSE, diagnostics).

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In particular, you will be trained in:

• Operation of EPL test facilities: pumping down to low and very low vacuum, venting, leak detection and removal, pumping speed estimation and verification, partial & background pressures measurements, temperature measurements.
• Test preparation: definition and integration of test set-up, definition of test electrical/mechanical/fluidic interfaces, definition of test objectives & pass/fail criteria, definition of test sequence, preparation of test procedures, identification of test resources, leak detection, electrical checks, calibration and commissioning of a thrust balance, installation/alignment/calibration of diagnostic probes.
• Test execution: activation/operation of a Thruster and acquisition of relevant performance data, operation of a thrust balance and acquisition of relevant test data, operation of faraday probes of different design and acquisition of relevant test data (ion current density for divergence angle assessment), operation of probes of different design and acquisition of relevant test data.
• Application of ISO approved EPL procedures: measurement of thrust (direct and indirect), mass flow rate (direct and indirect) and power with uncertainty budget calculation.
• Test reporting. post-processing and reporting of measured data collected for the Thruster, Thrust Balance, Beam Diagnostics system and Test Facility.
• Preparation and execution of major Test Reviews: Test Readiness Review, Post Test Review, Test Review Board.

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:

• Spacecraft propulsion, electric propulsion, space system engineering