Internship within Engineering: Development of a Mission Simulator for ATHENA

Job description

Internship within Engineering: Development of a Mission Simulator for ATHENA

Airbus Defence and Space Friedrichshafen (ex Astrium SL)

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2017, it generated revenues of € 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 130,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europe's number one space enterprise and the world's second largest space business. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

Our people work with passion and determination to make the world a more connected, safer and smarter place. Taking pride in our work, we draw on each other's expertise and experience to achieve excellence. Our diversity and teamwork culture propel us to accomplish the extraordinary - on the ground, in the sky and in space.

Description of the job

Are you looking for an internship? Would you like to discover the work of a Space Engineer? Then apply now! We look forward to you joining us as an intern (m/f) (35 hours/week, flexi-time).

Location: Friedrichshafen
Start: February / March 2019

Afterwards there is the possibility for writing a thesis, upon agreement with the department.

The ATHENA – Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics – is an X-ray telescope with a focal length of 12 m. It has a mirror consisting of silicon pore optics on one side of the telescope and a payload on the other side. The payload consists of two instruments, a high-spectral resolution imager and a moderate resolution spectroscope with high count rate. The operation of the instruments is specified by scientists in the high energy astrophysics community in a science observation plan.

Internships at Airbus

Desired profile

Tasks & accountabilities

In the frame of the ATHENA study the feasibility of this science observation plan has to be assessed. The main question herein is if a spacecraft (S/C) can be built that manages to observe the targets in the observation plan in a defined timeframe. In this respect a mission simulator needs to be developed that has the right level of detail to analyse such a plan, but is still responsive (fast results in short time). Such a mission simulator needs to address among others the following design properties:

·  slew manoeuvres (slew + settling)
·  reaction wheel off-loading due to solar pressure build-up
·  dV manoeuvres for station keeping
·  power profile
·  downlink properties incl. contact times.

There exist mission simulator tool, but there is none that address all needs at once and is sufficiently responsive. Thus the task of the student would be to derive a concept for such a mission simulator according to the needs of the ATHENA study and based on existing tools. As a second step the simulator concept has to be implemented. Finally the student's task is to analyse the Athena science observation plan for different S/C designs.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company's success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Required skills

You offer:

·  Enrolled student (m/f) within Aeorspace Engineering or similar field of study
·  Required knowledge: spacecraft system design, S/C dynamics and control
·  Tools: MATLAB with Simulink
·  English: fluent