Our team and mission

This position is based at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) - Darmstadt, Germany

The ESA Space Safety Programme Office takes care of all potential hazards from space or in space, which can impact human activities on Earth or again in space. The spectrum of tasks ranges from gathering the basic understanding of space hazards originating from our Sun, from man-made space debris, or from asteroids potentially colliding with the Earth. It also addresses basic approaches to mitigate these hazards and to implement space systems end-to-end in a sustainable and eco-compatible way. Moreover, several corner stone missions are underway to demonstrate basic methods of space weather forecasting, asteroid deflection and active space debris removal from orbit. 

In execution of these tasks, the Space Safety Office has the following entities: 

• Space Weather Office (OPS-SW) 
• Planetary Defence Office (OPS-SP) 
• Space Debris Office (OPS-SD) 
• Clean Space Office (OPS-SC) 
• Frequency Management Office (OPS-SF) 

Space Weather Office is responsible for developing the ESA Space Weather System that allow nowcasting and forecasting space weather, i.e., the enormous eruptions in the Sun that impact the environment everywhere in our solar system. When these eruptions hit the Earth, they can cause major damage in the infrastructure on the surface, damage satellites and endanger the health of the astronauts in space. Geomagnetic storms triggered by the solar events can cause blackouts in power grids, disturb satellite navigation and communication, disturb aviation, transport, and many other functions that we are used to in our daily life. Energetic particles from the solar events can also damage space probes that we have sent to other planets in the solar system. This is why Space Weather Office is developing space weather forecasting capability for other planets like Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter. Space Weather Office is also responsible for development and implementation of the satellite missions for space weather monitoring to make the space weather services to the users possible.

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Mathematical model of the impacts of space weather

The Sun is a giant sphere of hot plasma in constant change. Our Sun is an extremely dynamic object: it emits a constant flow of radiation, energetic particles, and plasma in all directions, including towards the Earth. Our planet is partially protected by its natural magnetic field but, in case of high solar activity, conditions can quickly become hazardous. The ESA Space Weather Office has gathered data that describes in detail the connections between solar activity, and our environment and technology. 

In September 1859, during solar cycle 10, a major explosion on the Sun ejected large amounts of radiation and plasma. This event produced disruptions in telegraph communication lines. The extremely energetic particles ejected by the Sun crossed all natural barriers of our planet and produced auroras visible at very low latitudes. Fortunately, our civilization did not rely at the time as much on the electric grid and telecommunications as we do today. An event of the size of the Carrington event would have catastrophic effects on our current society.  

The objective of this internship is to develop a statistical model that can provide a fast, first order of magnitude, estimation of the expected impacts of any solar energetic event on our planet. Such a model would help the Space Weather Office to identify risks in the global technological infrastructure, but will also underscore opportunities for new developments that will help to minimize such risks in the future. The intern, under the supervision of an expert from the ESA Space Weather Office, will dive into the details of the space weather system and, using the existing data, they will provide an initial version of a prediction and analysis model. 

This is a topic that requires a global view, a strategic mind, creativity, and pro-activity. The outcomes of this project will be potentially used for strategic planning of future space weather services and missions.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

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.

Background in mathematics, statistics or systems engineering is required. 

Knowledge of statistical software or a programming language would be an asset. 

Experience with data analysis or mathematical modelling would be an asset.