Hello,
We are looking for 2 highly motivated European students to develop, during this Summer, a relatively small piece of software to the highest space standards, based on its (already developed) architectural design. A full test bed is available. A first version of the code is meant to be finished and tested by October, and should be operational in space in
2007. The internship will start ASAP (July 1st preferred), location near Leiden, The Netherlands (Delta-Utec and ESTEC, the European Space research & Technology Centre). The funding is 600 euro per month. Period July till October, duration 3 months, can be extended to 6 months, which is preferred.As you may know, YES2 is a small but highly innovative and visible space experiment, that is currently being designed and built by students from all over Europe for the European Space Agency, lead by Delta-Utec (
The exciting and ambitious objective of YES2 is to deliver an innovative re-entry capsule, Fotino, accurately to the ground using a 30 km, 5 kg tether (cable) that is deployed in space, and slings the capsule back to Earth, much like David's slingshot toward Goliath.
The YES2 design consists of 3 major pieces:
1- the tether deployer: FLOYD. A PC104 receives telecommands and sends telemetry and controls the deployment by controlling a stepper motor, based on length information coming from optical sensors. The PC104 communicates with EGSE (Electrical Ground Support Equipment), RS422 for data, a UHF receiver, and a stepper driver. 2- the Fotino re-entry capsule. 3- the mechanical and data acquisition support system, MASS, which is attached to Fotino until shortly before re-entry. It contains a microcontroller that collects data from sensors and GPS and forwards it to a UHF transmitter. This microcontroller also controls the release of Fotino into a re-entry trajectory based on a timer.Job description and requirements
- Job 1: Programming and testing the FLOYD PC104 code (C/C++), RTOS: QNX+High availability manager, plus EGSE software. A functional breadboard running DOS is available, including all algorithms and relevant parameters. Requirements, architectural design and test plan for the flight version is available as well, as developed by a previous student. Experienced in C, C++; RTOS experience is requested, QNX and/or electronics know-how is a pre.
- Job 2: Overviewing all YES2 software developments, documentation, testing and verification of applicable ESA standards. Experienced in SW, interest in space standards and quality control. You are likely to work also on the coding itself in co-operation with the other team members, especially Job 1.
- You will work in a local and close international team of about 10 excelling students and young engineers, in a professional space environment, with experts in your field within reach. Of course a co-operative and communicative spirit is required, as well as good knowledge of English. Because the experts are usually busy and the remainder of the team has other responsibilities, a high degree of pro-activeness, initiative and self-management is required. You must be meticulous and self-critical, and communicate uncertainties/problems effectively to the team leaders.
- The infrastructure with the rest of the YES2 team (spread over various universities in Europe and Russia) is well developed. The software team is small, 4 people in all (including Job 1 & 2) and fully located in Leiden/ESTEC, but you will interface with many students, locally and/or through our web tools, Interface Document, meetings and teleconferences.
- Job 2 will be part of the 4 people strong "Tiger Team" at ESTEC, a core group of students that oversees the development and quality of all aspects of YES2. The design of YES2 is largely finished and many breadboards and tests have been performed, but ESA standards have not yet been reached. The Tiger Team is lead tightly by an ESTEC young graduate.
- Time-out for exams etc. is acceptable, if communicated well in advance.
- The working environment is generally experienced as fun, rewarding, professional and inspiring. It is a great first (or second!) step and opening into the space world. A lot of hands-on work is going on in YES2 now, so much to see, and ESTEC of course has many other interesting projects running.
More information? Send your CV and telephone number to Michiel Kruijff whose contact details can be found on the website