ESA Academy’s very first CubeSat Summer School is a success

The first two weeks also featured 45 students livestreaming the lectures to learn about the fundamentals of Space Engineering. “I feel immensely grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend this Summer School as a livestream student”, explained a Spanish student from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. “This experience has allowed me to learn about CubeSat engineering from the most knowledgeable experts, and has connected me to a network of young, talented people as passionate about space as I am.”

More than 55 trainers contributed in excess of 100 hours of training between them. The majority of the trainers were ESA experts, but a significant 20% were experts from industry and academic institutions. “The CubeSat Summer School is a once in a lifetime experience,” enthused a German student from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg. “Dozens of experts providing exciting lectures, exercises and exceptional hands-on experiences is truly something you cannot get anywhere else.”

The first week saw the students learn the fundamentals of space engineering, focusing on CubeSats. Onsite students also enjoyed lab sessions where they worked in pairs on an educational CubeSat model called ESAT, applying their newly learnt knowledge of subsystems. Week two challenged the students to use Concurrent Engineering to design a two-satellite wildfire detection mission. Additional lectures taught varied topics, including model-based systems engineering, project management, cybersecurity, to give the students a more rounded education. There were then opportunities to visit SES Luxembourg, OHB LuxSpace, and the University of Luxembourg, to learn about corporate and academic perspectives in the space sector.

The fast pace continued into week three, with lessons on Assembly, Integration and Verification processes, launchers, and CubeSat deployment. Working in groups, the students completed a verification campaign end-to-end for thermal vacuum, and vibration tests, all the while guided by ESA Academy’s Fly Your Satellite! (FYS!) team. Then came a field trip to the Centre Spatial de Liège, where students visited facilities designed to test instruments for large space missions. This was followed by time at Technifutur’s Industry 4.0 Demonstrator, which showcased applications of robotics, machine learning, augmented reality, and other exciting new technologies.

The final week tasked students with learning about operations: how to decode satellite data through an RF beacon exercise; writing mission planning procedures in groups and uploading them to ESA’s OPS-SAT CubeSat, a flying laboratory currently in orbit. ESA commercialisation expert introduced business skills and perspectives on why the students should consider venturing into business, why be a space entrepreneur and what opportunities are available at ESA BICs. A series of guest lecturers from industry and trainers working in academic institutions then took to the stage, including the CEOs & Founders of D-Orbit and Aerospacelab where they introduced students to space entrepreneurship, business skills, and ways to transform a space product or idea into as a viable business opportunity.

Finally, students presented their group work and summarized their learning experience of four weeks to a jury, who were very supporting and gave useful feedback. Certificates of participation were awarded by the Director of ESA’s Technology, Engineering & Quality Directorate, and the Head of ESA Education Office, who also offered the students encouragement to continue their efforts within the space sector. The last day hosted two panel discussions: one with FYS! student team representatives where shared their experience and lessons learned in the FYS! programme: whilst the other panel included industries: AerospaceLab, D-Orbit, C3S, who discussed: emerging commercial space industry, specifically on start-ups and investors as well as on commercial applications and services and future challenges for space technologies, more on space sustainability. Then there was just time for a networking event with institutional, ESA, industry and university representatives, including ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano!

“As part of my PhD I am designing a CubeSat mission and I applied to the CubeSat Summer School in the hopes of obtaining the necessary knowledge to complete this goal,” said an Irish student from Trinity College, Dublin. “I can say that the Summer School far exceeded my expectations. My biggest surprise was the amount of networking opportunities. I spoke to an astronaut, met countless entrepreneurs in the space industry, and visited a number of space companies and facilities. I feel far more prepared in designing my CubeSat mission, but I have also connected with an amazing number of remarkable people. It was definitely one of the best summers of my life.”

The educational and professional benefits for the students will be felt for many years to come, and perhaps some will look back upon these four weeks as a turning point in their careers. 

For more information about future ESA Academy training opportunities, please check: https://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_Academy/Portfolio_of_ESA_Academy_training_sessions

Contact: tlp@esa.int