ESA Academy at its finest with multifaceted training opportunities

The ESA's Education Office has continued to be a catalyst for growth and development, providing a series of inspiring training sessions throughout the third quarter of 2024. The ESA Academy's Training and Learning Facility in ESEC-Galaxia, Belgium, hosted the Space Debris Training Course, and three workshops on Spacecraft Testing Workshop, Earth Observation Remote Sensing and Concurrent Engineering. These programmes have equipped 110 university students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the field of space science and engineering. 

From 8th to 12th July 2024, the Spacecraft Testing Workshop brought together 20 students from 13 different nationalities. Led by European Space Agency experts, this workshop offered an unparalleled insight into the processes ensuring satellite functionality in space. Students engaged in lectures such as product assurance, systems engineering, and essential environmental testing methods applied to spacecraft. 

What set this workshop apart was its hands-on dimension. At the CubeSat Support Facility, students conducted hardware environmental tests, collaborating in teams to orchestrate a comprehensive environmental test campaign, encompassing vibration or thermal vacuum testing. From defining test requirements to assembling and testing sample hardware, participants familiarized themselves with industry-standard approaches for spacecraft validation and verification. As the workshop culminated, each group presented their findings to ESA experts, receiving valuable feedback crucial for their future endeavours in the space industry. 

The Earth Observation Remote Sensing Workshop, held from 15th to 19th July 2024, provided a comprehensive introduction to the field of remote sensing for 30 students from 13 countries. The curriculum covered a wide range of topics, including optical and infrared remote sensing, radar remote sensing, bio-geophysical parameter retrieval, cloud-based Earth observation data analytics, and data fusion. Participants gained experience using state-of-the-art tools like ESA SNAP and ENVI, thanks to generous donations from NV5. They also applied their knowledge to a real-world case study in French Guiana, integrating data from various remote sensing techniques to gain a comprehensive understanding of the region.  

Fast forward to September, we unfolded the 6th edition of the Space Debris Training Course from the 9th to the13th. This edition was a collaboration between ESA’s Education Office and the ESA Space Debris Office. The course convened 30 participants from 13 different nationalities and delved into the challenges posed by the growing number of satellite constellations and the need for advanced space traffic management systems. Participants explored how evolving space debris mitigation policies and zero-debris initiatives are addressing these challenges, offering insights into the future of sustainable space exploration. The course culminated in a collaborative group project where participants developed innovative solutions to mitigate space debris and enhance spacecraft operations. This hands-on experience bridged theory and practice, empowering participants to become leaders in space sustainability.  

One week later, we held the 11th Concurrent Engineering Workshop. This year, the workshop focused on cost engineering, in addition to its standard topics. It was led by engineers from ESA's Systems and Concurrent Engineering Section, with support from the Cost Engineering Section, adding a new layer to the programme and highlighting its crucial role in managing project budgets and overseeing activities like cost control, investment evaluation, and risk analysis. Thirty university students from 12 countries participated. Another new element was the replacement of the Payload subsystem with the Ground Segment one. The mission assigned to the students was ambitious: to deliver and operate a floating platform in the Venusian atmosphere for conducting in situ scientific measurements within the planet's clouds. They named it PRIMAVERA, short for PReliminary Investigation Mission to Achieve VEnusian Reconnaissance in Atmosphere.  The workshop concluded with the students' final presentations, and both students and trainers were thrilled with the results. 

The ESA Academy is a leading force in space education, offering a diverse range of training programmes to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the space industry. 

Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities from the ESA Academy!