Intern in the Science Engagement & Oversight Office, Constraining Io's dynamics via JUICE Astrometry
Noordwijk
- Organization: ESA - European Space Agency
- Location: Noordwijk
- Grade: Internship - Internship
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- Closing Date: 2025-11-30
Intern in the Science Engagement & Oversight Office, Constraining Io's dynamics via JUICE Astrometry
Noordwijk, NL
Location
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Our team and mission
Under the direct authority of D/SCI, the Head of the Science Engagement and Oversight Office is responsible for overseeing the scientific content of the Programme, interfacing with the scientific community and providing scientific expertise to studies, projects and missions, also in other Directorates as needed.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int
Field(s) of activity for the internship
Topic of the internship: Constraining Io's dynamics with JUICE astrometry
For the detailed topic descriptions please go to this web page:
In the coming decade, ESA’s JUICE and NASA’s Europa Clipper missions will explore Jupiter’s icy moons, with the primary goal of characterising their potential habitability. An important objective is to improve significantly our determination of the moons’ orbits. This provides essential information on the system’s long-term evolution via a better characterisation of the present orbital configuration, tidal interactions, and tidal heating rate of the moons’ interiors. While the focus of the two missions is on Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, Io is a very important moon to consider. Io is the closest Galilean moon to Jupiter and, because of the Laplace resonance, is dynamically intrincately coupled with Europa and Ganymede. Io is therefore a key driver of the energy exchange between Jupiter and the other moons, shaping the evolution of the Laplace resonance, and thus the evolution of the entire Jovian system.
Tight constraints on the orbits of Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto will primarily come from high-precision radio-science data acquired by JUICE and Europa Clipper during their flybys (and orbital phase for JUICE). With no flybys planned for Io, a significant observational gap is expected that will affect the accuracy and robustness of the orbital solution for the other Galilean moons. Your goal is to carefully review the possibility to improve Io’s orbital solution with the JUICE mission, with emphasis on astrometric imaging. Moreover, a characterisation of measurement accuracy and operation limitations will be included. You will gain first-hand experience with state-of-the-art simulation capabilities for geodesy parameters and orbit estimations, using the Tudat open-source software developed at Delft university (https://docs.tudat.space/en/latest/). In addition, you will model a range of astrometric data scenarios and directly evaluate their impact on expected uncertainties for the moons’ orbits. This project offers a unique opportunity to directly contribute to fostering synergies within the JUICE instrument suite and provide concrete recommendations for the future science planning. Last but not least, the internship may lead to co-authorship on a publication after the end of the project.
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 studying at master’s level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be 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 ESA Member State language is an asset.
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
Candidates for this position should have:
- interest in Solar System dynamics and/or planetary science.
- background in astrometry, dynamics of natural bodies, and/or orbit determination.
- programming experience in Python. The project will also offer the possibility to gain and/or improve C++ skills if the trainee so chooses (but C++ experience is neither necessary nor required).
- previous experience with the Tudat software or estimation tools in general is not required, but would be a plus.
- good English communication skills (including strong technical writing skills).
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int.
Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.
Nationality
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.