The European Space Agency (ESA) is recruiting an intern for the Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Section of its Mechanical Department at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands. Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy: the internship is about sintering lunar soil simulant and supporting experiments that extract oxygen from it by molten salt electrolysis.
ESA Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Internship: Key Facts
🆔 Job Requisition ID: 21044
🎓 Type of appointment: Intern
💼 Directorate: Technology, Engineering and Quality
🏙️ Workplace: Noordwijk, NL
📍 Location: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands
🌐 Publication method: external only
🏷️ Vacancy title as published: Intern in the Mechanical Department - Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Section
⏳ Closing date: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
Your Team and Mission: Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation
The Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Section is part of the Optics, Robotics and Life Sciences Division. The team works in the area of life support technologies for human spaceflight, In Situ Resource Utilisation, planetary protection and small payload development for planetary missions, like the Moon and Mars.
The team does technology development for future missions and also supports flight projects under implementation. In this context it works on In Situ Resource Utilisation processes, with a focus on molten salt electrolysis.
Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website.
Field of Activity: Oxygen From Lunar Soil Simulant
Currently, experiments on oxygen production using molten salt electrolysis are being performed in the ESTEC laboratories.
These experiments reduce the samples to extract the oxygen and turn the samples into metallic powders, potentially suitable for additive manufacturing. Although these electrochemical experiments can use powder material, a sintered block is preferred.
The whole process poses many challenges in terms of material and electrolyte stability, process efficiency and yield, sintering process parameters and optimisation.
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What You Will Do During the Internship
In this internship, you are expected to:
🌕 Learn about the lunar materials and environment
🪨 Learn about the lunar soil simulants and variations to actual lunar soil
🔋 Learn about existing processes in the field of In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU)
🔥 Develop a comprehensive procedure to sinter lunar soil and lunar soil simulant
🔬 Characterise lunar soil simulant before and after sintering by SEM/EDX, XRD, XRF and X-Ray Tomography
⚗️ Support the electrochemical experiments extracting the oxygen from the sintered lunar soil simulants
You will also be immersed in the ESA environment, which includes space mission preparation and experimentation.
Behavioural Competencies
ESA assesses candidates against its Core Behavioural Competencies. The vacancy lists these six:
🎯 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.
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 and 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.
The vacancy lists knowledge of Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering as an additional requirement.
Experience with molten salt electrolysis and high-temperature materials is an asset.
Which Nationalities Can Apply?
Please note that 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.
Applicants from Canada as a Cooperating State can apply as well as those from Bulgaria, Croatia and Malta as European Cooperating States (ECS).
Duration, Start Date and Application Limit
According to ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships, an internship lasts 3 to 6 months and starts from February 2027 onwards. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
A candidate can apply for up to two ESA internship opportunities.
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.
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.
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. The contact email for this is listed at the end of this post.
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 an allowance for this internship.
Find more opportunities like this in our internship and traineeship listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the ESA Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation internship take place?
The internship is based at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, within the Mechanical Department. The directorate is Technology, Engineering and Quality, and the section is part of the Optics, Robotics and Life Sciences Division.
What is the internship about?
It is about sintering lunar soil and lunar soil simulant and supporting experiments that extract oxygen from the sintered simulants by molten salt electrolysis. The experiments are performed in the ESTEC laboratories.
What does the Life Support and Physical Sciences Instrumentation Section do?
The team works on life support technologies for human spaceflight, In Situ Resource Utilisation, planetary protection and small payload development for planetary missions, like the Moon and Mars. It develops technology for future missions and supports flight projects under implementation.
What will I work on during the internship?
You are expected to develop a comprehensive procedure to sinter lunar soil and lunar soil simulant. You would characterise the simulant before and after sintering by SEM/EDX, XRD, XRF and X-Ray Tomography, and support the electrochemical experiments that extract oxygen from the sintered material.
What will I learn?
You will learn about the lunar materials and environment, about lunar soil simulants and how they vary from actual lunar soil, and about existing processes in the field of In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU). You will also be immersed in the ESA environment, including space mission preparation and experimentation.
Why is a sintered block preferred for the experiments?
The vacancy says the electrochemical experiments can use powder material, but a sintered block is preferred. The process as a whole poses challenges in material and electrolyte stability, process efficiency and yield, and sintering process parameters and optimisation.
Who is eligible to apply?
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. You must also be a national of one of the States listed in the vacancy.
Which background is expected?
The vacancy lists knowledge of Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering as an additional requirement. Experience with molten salt electrolysis and high-temperature materials is an asset.
Which languages do I need?
The working languages of ESA 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 is the internship and when does it start?
According to ESA's 2027 student internships announcement, internships last 3 to 6 months and begin from February 2027 onwards. The exact start date is agreed with the ESA tutor.
How many ESA internships can I apply for?
A candidate can apply for up to two ESA internship opportunities, according to ESA's announcement for the 2027 student internships.
What happens after I apply?
The Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. Applicants must also be eligible to access information, technology and hardware subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.
Does the vacancy mention a stipend?
The vacancy does not state an allowance for this internship. ESA notes that the information on its careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication but is not intended to be exhaustive.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET/CEST.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply now (ESA vacancy 21044): https://jobs.esa.int/job/Noordwijk-Intern-in-the-Mechanical-Department-Life-Support-and-Physical-Sciences-Instrumentation-Section/1452884333/
📰 ESA Student Internships 2027: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Student_Internships_2027_are_now_open
🌌 ESA website: https://www.esa.int
📧 Contact for disability support: ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int
