15/04/2021
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From 22 March to 2 April 2021, 30 college learners from 13 different ESA Member States and Canada participated in the very first online version of ESA Academy’s Earth Observation Satellite Technique Style and design Education Program. Every afternoon, the college students went through the full layout and advancement cycle of Earth Observation (EO) satellite methods in collaboration with ARES, the Association of Retired ESA Staff.
An significant aspect of the schooling course throughout the two months was to permit the learners design and style a future generation Copernicus ocean observation technique move-by-phase, particularly the ‘Sentinel-3 Next Generation’ consisting of a pair of satellites, carrying altimetry and optical payloads, respectively.
“We have expanded and improved the lectures as perfectly as the carry out of the group challenge as in comparison to the pilot 2018 version. The major obstacle for us was to create an effective teamwork in an on the net environment, with the university student teams on one particular hand, and the trainers on the other hand, all related ‘live’ by means of sophisticated movie-conferencing and chat amenities,” discussed one of the organizers.
Immediately after the welcome and introduction session to the study course, an inspiring overview of Earth observation satellite units and an introductory lecture on distant sensing methods marked the true begin of the education program.
The following day, the students were taught the importance of beginning with observation requirements as defined by customers, and the methodology to derive technique/engineering requirements. The a variety of doable orbits and launchers for EO missions were being also discussed, adopted by the 1st team challenge session on orbit range. Making use of ESA’s SamiEdit and ESOV orbit simulation equipment, the learners learned to understand the mission parameters that drive the selection of the orbit.
Given that the initial group job session, the college students were being divided in venture groups where each and every scholar in a crew was in demand of a presented engineering subject.
In advance of the second group job session began, in which they experienced to structure the microwave instruments on board the altimetry satellite, the college students liked successive lectures on microwave remote sensing instrumentation, beginning with the electromagnetic wave principle, then progressing to the principles of radars and radiometers for quantitative Earth remote sensing.
To shut out the to start with 7 days, their very last subject matter was optical instrumentation. Lectures on fundamental space optics and optical payloads provided the learners with the crucial details to be capable to layout the ocean color instrument for the optical satellite throughout the third team job session.
“I really like how the lectures complemented beautifully our task and how the specialists were all incredibly motivated and included in the job. It was apparent that absolutely everyone concerned used a fantastic energy to enable the college students to learn as much as doable in this constrained time period of time,” says a Swiss student from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).
There were no symptoms of slowing down, as the next 7 days got underway with a lecture on danger administration and technological innovation enhancement, adopted by in-depth explanations on how EO satellites are intended and their payloads accommodated. All over this week, the learners also found how satellite factors and devices are assembled, integrated and confirmed (AIV) by tests, in addition to gaining detailed insights into the launch strategies, in-orbit verification as nicely as ground phase structure and operations principles.
The perform of creating the Sentinel-3 Future Era intensified in this second 7 days. The conclusion-to-finish method notion elaboration provided the area section design and style, interface specs, ground phase design and the functions idea definition. Students’ responsibilities consisted of many methods, ranging from e.g. calculations of mass, ability and information rate budgets to figuring out how their satellites would suit into the launcher fairing.
The remaining working day was focused to presenting the consequence of the group jobs to the ESA and ARES specialists. All groups worked challenging on their assignments and introduced their effects to the trainers, who ended up positively impressed by the higher excellent of the reached technique definitions. The students productively shown their skills to implement their obtained understanding into the design of an EO method.
“The full study course was an participating, difficult, and gratifying group expertise that taught me a whole lot about close-to-end architecture of earlier, existing and future EO place missions though supplying numerous exciting insights about all their various areas presented by passionate industry experts. A excellent encounter certain to go away attendees with further know-how of the subjects included and also with many enjoyment moments to be lived with fellow learners from all in excess of Europe and beyond!” remarkedt training course an Italian pupil from the College of Naples, Federico II.
Upon completion of the program, the pupil teams had been evaluated on the foundation of their crew work and respective satellite design. They ended up presented with a class transcript that, together with their certification of participation, may perhaps allow them to gain ECTS credit(s) from their respective universities.
To obtain far more details about future ESA Academy schooling prospects, you should examine the current chances webpage.
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