Training Future Opportunities

ESA Academy Home Page / Portfolio of ESA Academy training sessions / ESA Academy Current Opportunities (all)

Space Policy in Action - ESA’s Contributions Over Half a Century (1975–2025)

Deadline to apply: 28 April 2025

Course dates: 7 - 11 July 2025

Description: This five-day course aims to provide comprehensive insights into ESA’s history, from its foundations with ESRO and ELDO to its current role in space exploration, education, and international cooperation. Participants will explore key topics such as the evolution of European space policy, the legal implications of space exploration, the importance of ESA's role in public communication, and the future challenges and opportunities for space. The course will also feature a mock ministerial exercise, giving participants a hands-on understanding of space policy discussions at the highest levels.

Earth Observation Remote Sensing Workshop

Deadline to apply: 27 April 2025

Course dates: 14 - 18 July 2025

Description: Earth observation is essential for monitoring and understanding our planet’s dynamic environment. In this workshop, university students will gain insights into remote sensing techniques and their applications by working with real satellite data. Guided by ESA experts, participants will explore key concepts such as optical, thermal infrared, and radar remote sensing, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and data fusion. Through hands-on exercises, students will process and analyze remote sensing data to address real-world challenges related to land, ocean, and atmospheric observations.

Robotics Workshop #2

Deadline to apply: call closed - applicants already selected

Course dates: 22 - 25 July 2025

Description: Robotics plays a crucial role in current and future space missions, from planetary exploration to orbital servicing. In this workshop, university students will learn about the design, operation, and control of robotic systems for space applications. Under the guidance of ESA experts, participants will explore the fundamentals of robotic engineering and autonomy, while working hands-on with rovers. Through interactive exercises and team projects, students will develop practical skills in teleoperation, mission planning, and automation, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of space robotics.

Space Debris Training Course

Deadline to apply: call not open yet

Course dates: 18 - 12 September 2025

Description: Space debris poses a significant threat to current and future space operations, making its mitigation and management a growing priority. In this course, university students will explore the origins, characteristics, and risks associated with space debris, while learning about the latest techniques for monitoring, modelling, and mitigation. Guided by ESA and external experts, participants will engage in lectures and hands-on exercises, gaining practical experience in assessing debris environments, collision risks, and designing mitigation strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of space activities.

Concurrent Engineering Workshop

Deadline to apply: call not open yet

Course dates: 22 - 26 September 2025

Description: Concurrent engineering is a method employed in the design and development of products within the space sector, whereby all subsystems are designed simultaneously to enhance efficiency. During this workshop, university students will gain insights into concurrent engineering and its advantages by utilizing the ESA Academy’s Concurrent Design Facility (CDF). Under the guidance of ESA experts, students will first become proficient in using the Concurrent Model-based Engineering Tool (COMET) and identifying design drivers. Students will be divided into groups to address various subsystems, collaboratively developing a subsystem concept. This approach will ultimately enable them to achieve a pre-determined mission concept through concurrent engineering.

Space Systems Engineering Training Course

Deadline to apply: call not open yet

Course dates: 7 - 10 October 2025

Description: Space systems engineering is at the core of every successful space mission, ensuring that complex systems work together seamlessly. In this course, university students will discover the principles and methods of systems engineering as applied to space projects. Through lectures and interactive exercises led by ESA experts, participants will learn about the full project lifecycle, from requirements definition to verification and validation. By working in teams on a realistic space mission case study, students will apply systems engineering techniques to design and evaluate a space system, gaining valuable insights into the challenges of multidisciplinary collaboration.

Ladybird Guide to Spacecraft Operations

Deadline to apply: call not open yet

Course dates: 13 - 17 October 2025

Description: Spacecraft operations are vital to the success of any space mission, ensuring that spacecraft perform as intended once in orbit. In this course, university students will gain a comprehensive introduction to spacecraft operations, guided by ESA experts using the accessible and engaging “Ladybird Guide” approach. Participants will learn about the key principles behind spacecraft subsystems, ground control, and mission operations, understanding how real missions are flown. Through lectures and practical examples, students will develop the knowledge to grasp the complexities of operating spacecraft safely and effectively.

Access to Space Training Course

Deadline to apply: call not open yet

Course dates: 27 - 31 October 2025

Description: Access to space is a fundamental aspect of space missions, encompassing the design, development, and operation of launch systems. In this course, university students will explore how rockets and launchers enable missions to reach their intended orbits. Guided by ESA and external experts, participants will learn about the key elements of launch vehicles, launch bases, and the overall launch segment. Through lectures, case studies, and hands-on exercises, students will gain insights into launch system design, mission analysis, and the challenges of delivering spacecraft safely and reliably into space.

Earth Observation Satellite System Design Training Course

Deadline to apply: call not open yet

Course dates: 3 - 7 November 2025 (onsite) and 17 - 21 November (online) (both weeks are part of the same training)

Description: Designing Earth observation satellites requires balancing scientific objectives with complex engineering challenges. In this course, university students will learn how Earth observation satellite systems are conceived, designed, and implemented to meet mission requirements. Under the guidance of past and present ESA experts, participants will explore the fundamentals of satellite system design, including payloads, platforms, and ground segments. Through lectures and practical exercises, students will apply their knowledge to develop a preliminary design for an Earth observation mission, gaining valuable insights into the end-to-end design process of space systems.

Mission Success through Product Assurance Training Course

Deadline to apply: call not open yet

Course dates: 17 - 21 November 2025

Description: Product assurance is essential to guarantee the quality, reliability, and safety of space missions. In this course, university students will learn how product assurance supports the success of space projects by identifying and managing risks throughout the entire project lifecycle. Guided by ESA experts, participants will explore topics such as quality management, dependability, safety, materials, and verification processes. Through lectures, case studies, and practical exercises, students will gain valuable insights into how product assurance contributes to mission success by ensuring that space systems perform as intended under challenging conditions.

Post-Alpbach Summer School

Deadline to apply: call only open to Alpbach Summer School students

Course dates: 17 - 21 November 2025

Description: During Post-Alpbach Summer School, students from Summer School Alpbach design further one of the missions developed during the Summer School using the Concurrent Engineering approach. The mission is selected at the end of the Summer School by the Alpbach Summer School Jury, and all the students who participated in the Summer School are invited to apply for the Post Alpbach Summer School Event. 

Human Space Physiology Training Course

Deadline to apply: call not open yet

Course dates: 1 - 5 December 2025

Description: Understanding how the human body responds to spaceflight is essential for the success of crewed missions. In this course, university students will explore the effects of microgravity and space environments on human physiology, covering topics such as bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular adaptation, sensorimotor disturbances, and more. Under the guidance of ESA and external experts, participants will gain insights into how these challenges are studied and mitigated. Through lectures and practical exercises, students will learn how human spaceflight experiments are designed and how results contribute to safeguarding astronaut health during missions.

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