The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering an internship in the Planetary Defence Office of its Space Safety Programme at ESRIN in Frascati, Italy, where you will join the observers team at the Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre and assess the Flyeye telescope survey with a simulation tool. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST, and the role is open to university students who are nationals of ESA's participating states. At Youth Works Hub we went through the full vacancy and set out every task, requirement and selection detail below.
The Vacancy at a Glance
This internship is part of the Operations directorate and is based at ESRIN in Frascati. These are the formal details of the vacancy:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21072
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Operations
📍 Workplace: Frascati, IT
🏢 Location: ESRIN, Frascati, Italy
📣 Publication method: External Only
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
The ESA Space Safety Department
The ESA Space Safety Department takes care of all potential hazards and threats from space or in space which can impact human activities, infrastructure or related applications. Its tasks range from gathering a basic understanding of space hazards originating from our Sun, from human space debris, or from asteroids potentially colliding with the Earth, to basic approaches for mitigating these hazards and implementing space systems end-to-end in a sustainable and eco-compatible way.
Several cornerstone missions are also underway to demonstrate basic methods of space weather forecasting, asteroid deflection and active space debris removal from orbit.
The Eight Offices Within Space Safety
To carry out these tasks, the Space Safety Department has the following entities:
🚀 Mission Implementation Division (OPS-SM)
🗂️ COSMIC Project Management Office (OPS-SC)
☀️ Space Weather Office (OPS-SW)
☄️ Planetary Defence Office (OPS-SP)
🛰️ Space Debris Office (OPS-SD)
♻️ Clean Space & Circular Economy Office (OPS-SY)
📡 Frequency Management Office (OPS-SF)
🧭 Programme Coordination Office (OPS-SX)
What the Planetary Defence Office Does
The Planetary Defence Office (PDO) addresses the prediction and detection of the potential impact of a near-Earth object. For NEO monitoring, the vacancy defines three information needs:
📍 knowledge of the current and future positions of all NEO objects above a given size threshold or risk level, in particular their minimum fly-by distance to the Earth and the time of this event
⚠️ maintaining awareness of collision risks with the Earth
🔐 access to verifiable, dependable, timely data with integrity and known accuracy
The Office's Seven Top-Level Tasks
The top-level tasks of the Planetary Defence Office are:
📣 1. Issue NEO impact warnings and news releases
🗄️ 2. Provide direct access to data in the NEO database
🔑 3. Provide access to data in the NEO database available only via registration
🔭 4. Perform additional observations
🚨 5. Provide high priority information
📚 6. Provide educational and outreach material
🧰 7. Provide user tools
Three Pillars and Five Areas of Expertise
The PDO is structured along three vertical pillars, each covering a different activity area:
👀 observation
📰 information provision
🛡️ mitigation
The vacancy lists the following domains of the department's expertise:
🏗️ ground Station Engineering
🌀 flight Dynamics and Mission Analysis
💾 mission Operations Data Systems Engineering
🧮 navigation Support
🔌 multi-Mission Infrastructure, Ground Segment Integration and Testing
Your Place at the Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre
You will join the observers team at the Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre, contributing to work that helps shape how one of Europe's planetary defence assets is used.
The Flyeye network will be the first European telescope survey network dedicated to searching for imminently impacting near-Earth objects. It combines multiple telescope units to scan the sky for asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth. The first unit, Flyeye-1, is currently being commissioned, and a second unit, Flyeye-2, has passed its Critical Design Review and will shortly join the network.
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The Research Questions Behind the Project
You will engage with Sorcha, an open-source, modular survey simulator originally developed for the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), and adapt it to model the Flyeye network. With this tool you will explore four questions:
📊 how current discovery-rate predictions compare against real performance data
↔️ whether the network should prioritise depth or width in its observing strategy
🤝 how well Flyeye complements LSST's own coverage
🔗 how best to operate Flyeye-1 and Flyeye-2 together, a configuration that has not previously been simulated
Your Activities
Your activities will include:
🔍 reviewing the architecture of the survey simulator and its existing use for LSST
⚙️ building a Flyeye-specific configuration covering telescope parameters, cadence, field footprint and network geometry
📈 characterising the network's discovery performance
🧪 running comparative simulations to test different observing strategies, such as prioritising survey depth versus sky coverage
🌌 assessing how Flyeye's coverage could best complement that of LSST
🔄 modelling how the network's telescope units can best be operated together
Optional Extensions of the Project
Depending on your interests, there may also be scope to extend the project. The vacancy gives two examples:
🌙 investigating how best to scale exposure time to adapt to sky background conditions
🧵 evaluating Heliolink, a tracklet-linking approach, and its applicability to Flyeye data
What You Take Away From the Internship
Through this internship, you will gain hands-on experience with a simulation tool used across the wider planetary defence and astronomy community. You will also get direct exposure to how survey strategy decisions are made operationally, and the opportunity to contribute to the planning of Europe's next-generation planetary defence network.
You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with members of the LSST team.
Duration and Start Date
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an ESA internship lasts 3 to 6 months. Internships start from February 2027 onwards, and the exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
Who Can Apply: Education
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. You must also be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
Skills and Background Wanted
The vacancy lists the following additional requirements:
🎓 a degree track in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, planetary science, or a related field
🐍 solid Python programming skills, including working with scientific libraries (numpy, pandas, astropy)
🪐 basic familiarity with orbital mechanics and solar system dynamics
🗃️ comfort working with large datasets, and running and interpreting simulations
💻 a good knowledge of a scripting or programming language, preferably Python
🧠 ability to work independently on an open-ended research question
The following are listed as assets:
☄️ familiarity with near-Earth object science or planetary defence concepts
📉 experience with data visualisation and statistical analysis
🌠 a background in celestial mechanics, which is a valuable asset for this role
Language 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.
Which Nationalities Can Apply
Applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, 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.
🍁 Cooperating State: applicants from Canada can apply as well
🤲 European Cooperating States (ECS): applicants from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta can apply as well
Behavioural Competencies
Six behavioural competencies are listed. For more information, the vacancy refers candidates to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
🎯 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🫱 Fostering Cooperation
🧩 Relationship Management
🔄 Continuous Improvement
🔭 Forward Thinking
Selection: Motivation Interview and Tests
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. During the recruitment process, the Agency may also request applicants to undergo selection tests.
How Many Vacancies You Can Apply For
ESA's 2027 student internship announcement states that a candidate can apply for a maximum of two vacancies.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness at ESA
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
Support for Applicants With Disabilities
At the Agency diversity is valued, and people with disabilities are welcome. Whenever possible, ESA seeks 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, and its contact address is listed in the Links section below.
A Note on the Published Conditions
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.
Applying Through the Official ESA Careers Page
Applications go through ESA's own careers website, and the full vacancy text is published there. You can find more opportunities like this one in the internships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Flyeye telescope survey internship based?
The internship is based at ESRIN in Frascati, Italy, within ESA's Operations directorate. You will join the observers team at the Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre.
What will I work on during the internship?
You will adapt Sorcha, an open-source survey simulator originally developed for LSST, to model the Flyeye network. You will build a Flyeye-specific configuration, characterise the network's discovery performance and run comparative simulations of different observing strategies.
What is the Flyeye network?
The Flyeye network will be the first European telescope survey network dedicated to searching for imminently impacting near-Earth objects. Flyeye-1 is currently being commissioned, and Flyeye-2 has passed its Critical Design Review and will shortly join the network.
Which skills do I need?
You need a degree track in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, planetary science or a related field, solid Python skills with numpy, pandas and astropy, and basic familiarity with orbital mechanics. You should be comfortable with large datasets and with running and interpreting simulations.
Who can apply?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a Master's level course. You must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the whole duration of the internship.
Which nationalities can apply?
Applications are only considered from nationals of ESA's participating states: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, 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, Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta can apply as well.
Which languages do I need?
The working languages of the Agency are English and French, and a good knowledge of one of them is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.
How long does the internship last?
According to ESA's 2027 student internship announcement, ESA internships last 3 to 6 months and start from February 2027 onwards. The start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
Can I work with the LSST team?
Yes, the vacancy states that you will have the opportunity to collaborate with members of the LSST team. The project also explores how Flyeye's coverage could best complement LSST's own coverage.
How many internship vacancies can I apply for?
A candidate can apply for a maximum of two vacancies, according to ESA's 2027 student internship announcement.
Does the vacancy mention an allowance?
The vacancy page does not state any allowance or stipend. It also does not mention Erasmus+.
What happens after I apply?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests during the recruitment process. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.
What is the application deadline?
The closing date is 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026 (23:59 CET/CEST)
Links
🔗 Job description and application: https://jobs.esa.int/job/Frascati-Intern-in-the-Space-Safety-Programme-Planetary-Defence-Office-Assessing-Flyeye-Telescope-Survey/1452797033/
🌐 European Space Agency: http://www.esa.int
🛰️ ESA Student Internships 2027 announcement: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
📨 ESA Human Resources (disability support and recruitment assistance): ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
