The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering an internship in the LUNA Analog Facility Team at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Porz-Wahn, Germany, supporting the lunar surface testbed used to prepare for Moon missions. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy and set out every task, requirement and eligibility rule below.
The Internship at a Glance
The internship sits within ESA's Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate. These are the formal details of the vacancy:
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21134
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
🏛️ Directorate: Human and Robotic Exploration
📍 Workplace: Porz-Wahn, DE
🗺️ Location: EAC, Porz-Wahn, Germany
📣 Publication method: External Only
📅 Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA
The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE) is the main ESA entity in charge of supporting and coordinating efforts towards the current and the future endeavours of human spaceflight. The exploration activities are part of the strategic plans in securing a central role for Europe with respect to the global initiatives.
The strategy includes three destinations where humans will work with robots to gather new knowledge:
🌍 Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
🌙 The Moon
🔴 Mars
The Spaceship EAC Team and Its Mission
The "Spaceship EAC" initiative is investigating low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies for supporting the future cislunar space mission as well as surface activities on the Moon, as part of the Exploration Preparation, Research and Technology (ExPeRT) team.
This multidisciplinary, innovation-driven team is composed of researchers, graduate and undergraduate students and is based at the ESA European Astronaut Centre (EAC). The mission statement of "Spaceship EAC" is centred on three main pillars:
⬆️ Enhance
🔓 Enable
✨ Inspire
The LUNA Analog Facility
The Spaceship team is involved in supporting the development of ESA's new LUNA Analog Facility at EAC. The facility will serve as a central hub for lunar exploration preparations at ESA and DLR. It features a 700 sqm lunar surface testbed, facilitating the development and validation of operational concepts, astronaut training, and technology demonstrations for Moon exploration.
Additionally, the facility will showcase elements of an analogue Moon base:
🏠 A habitat/laboratory module
🌱 A closed-loop plant growth facility
Why the Team Is Recruiting
The Spaceship EAC team is continually looking for innovative applicants with skills or interests in these areas to join the team. An outline of some of the projects that the team has recently been progressing can be found on the ESA blog.
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Background and Motivation
The LUNA Analog Facility is the central hub for the preparation, validation and training for lunar surface activities and technologies. While focusing on operational concepts and mission simulations, it also allows for substantial technology testing, scientific investigations, optimisation of operational protocols and procedures, and much more.
The facility was inaugurated in September 2024 and is being used for various research and simulation activities of ESA, DLR and external partners. Those include:
🧤 Suited activities with suit simulators and dedicated EVA tools
🤖 Robotic activities concerning mobility, imaging, localisation and communications
At the same time that utilisation is ramping up, the facility is still being evolved with additional capabilities to further enhance and increase the immersion and simulation quality.
Aim of the Internship
You will support ESA's effort to evolve and to utilise the LUNA Analog Facility together with DLR as project partner. The internship project aims to support ESA's evolution and utilisation of the facility in two ways:
🛠️ Supporting the development and integration of new capabilities through the element engineering process, from requirements engineering to system design, manufacturing, testing and verification, commissioning and operations
🧪 Supporting the operations and utilisation of LUNA in campaign activities with internal and external partners
Methodology and Tasks
The internship will integrate into the existing Spaceship EAC/LUNA team at ESA and, based on interest and needs, support one or multiple of the development and utilisation activities below. Additional topics may also be identified throughout the internship period.
📋 Refinement of the concept of operations of LUNA and its application for campaign utilisation
🏗️ Habitation systems development and their integration into mission simulations
🧥 Analogue space suit evolution and operations, including tools development
🦾 Robotic or autonomous systems developments to support LUNA utilisation
🌫️ Dust monitoring and mitigation strategies for LUNA operations and future Moon missions
⛏️ Integration of research and technologies related to in-situ resource utilisation with LUNA
Expected Outcomes
Based on the actual task assignments, the outcomes of the internship will include contributions to the LUNA operations and utilisation documentation as well as procedures and training manuals.
You will be directly involved in the LUNA operations, work with actual hardware and interface with scientific investigations in LUNA, which could lead to production or contributions to publications and conference presentations.
Why LUNA Matters: Relevance
As ESA, NASA, and international partners plan sustainable human presence on the Moon, LUNA will be instrumental to prepare and bring together European expertise for lunar science, technology development, astronaut and operator training, and lunar mission operations.
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. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.
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.
Desired Assets and Interview
During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. The vacancy lists one desired asset:
🔧 Knowledge and background in analogue activities, operations and hardware testing
When the Internship Starts and How Long It Lasts
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, an internship lasts between 3 and 6 months and starts from February 2027. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
Behavioural Competencies
The vacancy lists the following ESA core behavioural competencies:
🏁 Result Orientation
⚙️ Operational Efficiency
🤝 Fostering Cooperation
💬 Relationship Management
🔄 Continuous Improvement
🔭 Forward Thinking
For more information, the vacancy refers to the ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook.
Eligible Nationalities
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.
Selection Tests and Export Control
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.
Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Application Limit
According to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships, one candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 vacancies.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. It welcomes applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.
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 you can contact ESA by email using the address in the Links section below.
Important Information
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. The vacancy does not state a stipend or allowance; our guide to paid internships abroad explains how funded traineeships work. You can find more opportunities like this in the internships and traineeships section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the LUNA Analog Facility Team internship based?
The internship is based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Porz-Wahn, Germany, within ESA's Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate.
What is the deadline to apply?
The closing date is 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
What is the LUNA Analog Facility?
LUNA is ESA's lunar analog facility at EAC, run together with DLR. It features a 700 sqm lunar surface testbed for developing and validating operational concepts, astronaut training and technology demonstrations for Moon exploration, and it will also showcase a habitat/laboratory module and a closed-loop plant growth facility.
What will I work on during this internship?
You will support the development and integration of new LUNA capabilities, from requirements engineering to commissioning and operations, and the operations and utilisation of LUNA in campaign activities with internal and external partners. Based on interest and needs, you support one or several of six activity areas, from concept of operations to in-situ resource utilisation.
Which topics can I support?
The vacancy lists concept of operations and campaign utilisation, habitation systems, analogue space suit evolution and tools, robotic or autonomous systems, dust monitoring and mitigation, and in-situ resource utilisation. Additional topics may be identified during the internship.
What will I produce?
The outcomes include contributions to the LUNA operations and utilisation documentation, procedures and training manuals. You will also work with actual hardware and interface with scientific investigations, which could lead to contributions to publications and conference presentations.
Who can apply for this internship?
You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year at Master's level, and you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship. Applications are only considered from nationals of the 27 States named in the vacancy.
Which nationalities are eligible?
Applications are only considered from nationals of the 27 States named in the vacancy, from Austria and Belgium to Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The full list is in the Eligible Nationalities section above.
When does the internship start and how long does it last?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, an internship lasts between 3 and 6 months and starts from February 2027, with the exact start date agreed with the ESA tutor.
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.
Do I need experience with analogue missions?
Knowledge and background in analogue activities, operations and hardware testing is listed as an asset, not as a requirement.
How many ESA internship vacancies can I apply for?
One candidate can apply for a maximum of 2 vacancies, according to ESA's announcement of its 2027 student internships.
Is the internship paid?
The vacancy does not state a stipend or allowance.
What happens during the selection process?
Your motivation for applying to the role will be explored during the interview. ESA may also ask applicants to undergo selection tests, and applicants must be eligible to access information, technology and hardware subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Full vacancy and application (Apply now): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Porz-Wahn-Intern-in-the-LUNA-Analog-Facility-Team/1452999533/
📘 ESA Student Internships 2027 announcement: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
🌐 ESA website: http://www.esa.int
📧 ESA student internships contact (diversity and accessibility questions): ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
