Fly a Rocket! programme launches cycle 03

The ESA Education Office is looking for 24 future space workers to participate in the Fly a Rocket! Programme, challenging them to support the preparation and launch of a sounding rocket – a rocket designed to carry scientific experiments and sensors on a sub-orbital flight. The programme offers a unique opportunity for bachelor students to learn about the physics, engineering, and operations behind a rocket launch. It combines theoretical course work carried out online with a hands-on launch campaign of a sounding rocket from the Andøya Space launch site in northern Norway.

The call for applications was open until the 9th of October 2022 23:59 CEST.

From November 2022 to February 2023, the selected candidates will take part in an online course where they have the opportunity to learn the necessary theoretical background for the rocket campaign – both from an engineering and scientific perspective. Topics covered include among others rocket dynamics, atmospheric and aurora physics, soldering, and telemetry. 

The launch campaign is planned to take place around March 2023*. The students will travel to Andøya Space, north of the Arctic Circle, where they will put their knowledge into action. In a week filled with additional training and hands-on work, the participants are split into teams and have the chance to work on the Andøya Space Education telemetry station, the rocket’s payload section or several sensor experiments. They build, test, and finally launch their own sounding rocket. During the campaign, students work in close collaboration with experts from Andøya Space and ESA and take over typical tasks of personnel involved in sounding rocket launch campaigns.

The unique opportunity is aimed at bachelor-level students early in their studies and will give them an introduction to space science and technology, with an aim to ‘fill the gap’ between Secondary school activities, such as CANSats, and more advanced space-education programmes such as REXUS/BEXUS. Participation in this programme will elevate participants’ understanding and appreciation for the space industry and encourage them to pursue further opportunities within their studies or careers related to space.

While an understanding of some higher-level mathematics is required, candidates from any background are encouraged to apply. However, they should demonstrate a strong interest in the space industry, space science or technology.

Read more information on the ESA Education Fly a Rocket! website, check if you fulfil our eligibility criteria and apply here.

Successful applicants will have the costs for travel (up to a ceiling), accommodation, and participation in the campaign covered by the organisers.

The Fly a Rocket! programme is offered under an agreement between the ESA Education office, Andøya Space Education and the Norwegian Space Agency (Norsk Romsenter). 

Notes:
For more information, applicants can contact flyarocket @ esa.int

*The programme partners reserve the right to postpone or cancel elements of the programme, including the campaign, without prior notice.