These are the projects currently taking place at eSpace and within the student associations for Autumn 2025.
Whether you want to find a project or propose one, make sure to check the guidelines of your section first.
Each section has its own rules for semester projects that will apply by default.
The master project guidelines are the official rules for the entire EPFL.
The ClearSpace Prize honors an EPFL student whose semester project or Master’s thesis shows excellence and advances research in space sustainability.
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Advanced planetary imaging via low-noise SPAD detection
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Improve accuracy of reentry trajectories
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Robotic Fiber Positioner Module Testing
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EPFL Rocket Team
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EPFL Spacecraft Team
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Xplore
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Asclepios
Advanced planetary imaging via low-noise SPAD detection
- Supervision: LUMES/LASTRO/eSpace (Prof. Fabrizio Carbone/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib/Stephan Hellmich) with external support from UniGE
- Type of Project: Master thesis project
- Duration: 26 weeks (Official start/end date: TBD)
- Submission of final report: TBD
- Final Presentation: TBD
- Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in optical design, telescope instrumentation and astronomy.
CONTEXT
The laboratory for ultrafast microscopy and electron scattering (LUMES) at the EPFL, in collaboration with the EPFL Laboratory of Astrophysics, EPFL Space Center and the University of Geneva, proposes a master thesis project titled “Advanced planetary imaging via low-noise SPAD detection”. The project aims at optically configuring TELESTO, a visible light 60 cm aperture reflector telescope at the observatory of Geneva in Versoix to perform planetary imaging with a new detector offering unprecedented signal to noise ratio and very high frame rates. Such a detector, based on the SPAD technology, has 10 microns-sized pixels, thus requiring the extension of the telescope focal by optical refractive tools (Barlow lens). The project is expected to last six months, a compensation for the living costs is also foreseen.PROJECT SCOPE
The student is expected to learn the basics of ray tracing optics (Opticad, Zemax) and design and test the proper combination of focal extender and filters for the specific camera. They are also expected to install the new detector and develop a basic image acquisition software. Finally, the student will perform test observations with the new detector on planets and potentially the sun and satellites in Low-Earth Orbit.TASKS
- Familiarize yourself with ray tracing software and TELESTO
- Develop a suitable configuration for installing the SPAD detector
- Commission the instrument on the telescope
- Develop basic image acquisition software
- Perform test observations
CONTACT
Dr. Stephan Hellmich Post-doc researcher stephan.hellmich@epfl.chSTATUS OF THE PROJECT
Improve accuracy of reentry trajectories
Type of Project: Master thesis project
Duration: 18/26 weeks (Official start/end date: TBD)
Submission of final report: TBD
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in orbital mechanics, atmospheric modelling and space sustainability.
CONTEXT
During the last five years, the number of satellites in orbit has dramatically increased due to the satellite mega constellations that are currently installed in low Earth orbit (LEO). The high pace in the development of new satellite communication technologies results in mega constellation satellites being frequently replaced which in turn leads to the number of objects that reenter Earth’s atmosphere significantly increases. To reduce ground casualty risks, the satellites are designed for optimal demise which results in almost the entire mass of the satellites being dispersed in the atmosphere. The substances released during the demise have consequences that need to be quantified in order to understand the implications of the increasing number of reentries. This project aims to improve the accuracy of reentry trajectories to enable dedicated observations of satellite demise that are required to quantify the implications on the atmosphere.
PROJECT SCOPE
Most reentries are uncontrolled which means that the exact location is not known and makes dedicated observations of the breakup and demise impossible. During the last few orbits, the trajectory of a LEO satellite is increasingly influenced by atmospheric drag. Precise propagation of the trajectory thus relies on information of the shape and attitude of the satellite as well as timely atmospheric data on density and wind speeds in the atmosphere. This project aims to incorporate this information in orbit propagation to increase the accuracy of the predicted reentry location. It is planned to implement these capabilities as into the open-source astrodynamics library “TU Delft Astrodynamics Toolbox” Tudat[1] , developed at TUDelft. Tudat already contains basic functionality to consider object shape and attitude as well as information on the atmosphere using the NRLMSISE-00[2] global reference atmospheric model. The main objective of this project is to implement a more accurate atmospheric model that can incorporate real-time weather data and provides more comprehensive data required to determine the precise reentry point.
TASKS
- Familiarize yourself with Tudat
- Perform a literature review of available atmospheric models that can be implemented
- Identify and implement the most suitable model
- Setup an orbit propagation example with shape and attitude dependent drag and lift coefficients
- Use data from historic reentry events to evaluate the new method
REFERENCES
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsse.2023.11.009
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2022.108077
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ea001321
CONTACT
Dr. Stephan Hellmich
Post-doc researcher (LASTRO & eSpace)
stephan.hellmich@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT
Robotic Fiber Positioner Module Testing
- Supervisor: prof. Jean-Paul Kneib
- Type of Project: Master’s project
- Duration: 4 months (start in Spring 2026, start date flexible)
- Submission of final report: 4 months after start of the project, per Master’s thesis duration
- Final Presentation: TBD
- Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in astronomy, robotics, astrophysics instrumentation and high precision systems. The student should have good knowledge and experience in Python.
CONTEXT
The robotic fiber positioners require extensive testing in order to ensure compliance to requirements, which is one of the main tasks of Astrobots. More info on Astrobots can be found here.
Figure 1: MOONS focal plane filled with robotic positioners
Source: Steven Beard et al., Control and Collision Avoidance with the MOONS Fibre Positioners, UK Astronomy Technology Centre.
https://indico.esrf.fr/event/4/contributions/125/attachments/44/145/Steven_BEARD_FibrePosititionerControl_EIRO_Forum_01_06_22.pdf
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Accuracy testing: adaptation of existing code to new positioners
- XY tests under different speed and current conditions
- Thermal cycling test: mimic on-site temperature variation conditions, thermal cycling
- Use of “collision avoidance” to isolate positioners individually
- Lifetime test: application and adaptation of collision avoidance for positioners lifetime testing
- Collision test
The exact tests will be defined by discussion with the student.
REQUIRED PROFILE
- M.Sc. in microengineering, robotics, computer science or similar
- Good Experience and proficiency with Python
- Proficiency in GitHub version control
- Attention to detail, carefulness working with fragile robotic systems
- Ability to write well-structured and modular code
- Proactive, problem-solving skills
Starting time would be spring 2026, but is flexible (can be earlier, but not too late).
CONTACT
STATUS OF THE PROJECT
EPFL Rocket Team
Click HERE to visit the EPFL Rocket Team’s projects page.
EPFL Spacecraft Team
Click HERE to visit the EPFL Spacecraft Team’s projects page.
Xplore
Click HERE to visit Xplore’s projects page.
Asclepios
Click HERE to visit Asclepios’s projects page.