As part of the ESA Directorate of Space Transportation (STS), the Future Space Transportation team (STS-F, including the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme – FLPP) is leading the maturation of the required technologies, demonstrators and enabling capabilities for future space transportation systems.

It is therefore responsible for:

• Conducting system studies and establishing Technology Roadmaps based on strategy-driven guidelines;
• Supporting the assessment of proper coherence of all technologies related to space transportation systems and products, including technology policy and harmonization;
• Preparing new elements and follow-on activities of the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP);
• Leading the implementation of the FLPP Technology Roadmaps, including the maturation of key technologies for future space transportation (Avionics & GNC, Structures Materials and Processes, Propulsion and Modelling & Simulation) and development of demonstrators (such as Prometheus and Themis)

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Launcher Propulsion Technology Maturation Project Support

Your key tasks will be:

• Support to the THRUST! Initiative – management support for ongoing projects;
• Support to the FIRST! Propulsion Initiative – support for project implementation and subsequently project management, organization of on-line and in-person events as needed;
• Identification of best practices and improvements in Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) open competition procurement actions, with a focus on improving the connection between investors and technology providers/primes;
• Technical analysis of proposals according to FLPP criteria and procedures, with a large part in liquid propulsion;
• Management and regular update of FLPP databases, namely of technology evaluation/roadmapping and European space companies intelligence gathering, with a focus on new space companies in Europe with a significant activity in propulsion;
• Support to FLPP knowledge management processes.

Required Qualifications 

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.

The following are an asset:

• Knowledge and background in space, specifically launcher, propulsion;
• Knowledge of Technology Readiness levels and project life cycles;
• Knowledge of Investor/Venture Capital in the NewSpace Economy context.