Offers “Airbus”

Expires soon Airbus

Master Thesis: Improvement of Data Processing for the Optical Observation of Space Debris

  • Friedrichshafen (Tübingen Region)
  • Personal services

Job description

Airbus DS GmbH

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 a final year project? Would you like to discover the work of a space engineer? Then apply now! We look forward to you joining us.

Location: Friedrichshafen
Start: April 2019
Duration: 6 months

Since the early days of spaceflight, space has become more and more crowded with active satellites and passive space debris. Over 600.000 objects >1 cm pose a risk for satellites and their mission. In order to be able to predict and avoid collisions, the orbits of objects in space must be known with sufficient accuracy. As passive debris such as rocket bodies do not have the means to determine their own orbit e.g. via GPS, their orbits must be determined through measurements. Different approaches can be used, e.g. radar measurements, telescope observations or laser tracking from ground and from space. By gathering a number of measurements of a target along its orbit one can predict and refine the object’s orbital elements over time.

The objective of the work is to further develop and improve a tool that uses real or simulated observations of space debris orbiting Earth, performs an orbit determination and estimates the error of the prediction. A baseline implementation of the tool already exists (Fortran & Python code), enabling the assessment of different observation strategies for orbit determination and their usefulness. Besides simulated measurements, an optical telescope system is used to acquire real-world measurements. The data processing environment for the telescope shall be enhanced and integrated into the overall framework.

Tasks & accountabilities

·  Enhancement of sensor simulator and implementation observation strategies

·  Augmentation of telescope sensor scheduling and command

·  Improvement of the data processing pipeline from camera image processing to orbit determination

·  Develop and implement new algorithms and methods

·  Execution and evaluation of simulated and real-world observation scenarios

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 master student within Space-Engineering, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Numerical Mathematics or similar field of study

·  Knowledge of telescope systems beneficial

·  Orbital dynamics & numerical methods

·  Programming skills (e.g. Fortran/C/Java/Python) & numerical methods

·  Beneficial are knowledge of database systems (e.g. SQL) and visualisation techniques (e.g. NASA World Wind, AGI Cesium)

·  System-oriented thinking

·  English: fluent

You are a good team player, have excellent communication skills, and are able to work independently.

Make every future a success.
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