These are the projects currently taking place at eSpace and within the student associations for Autumn 2023.
This info icon shows which projects are still accepting applications from students. Hover to view.
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EPFL Rocket Team
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EPFL Spacecraft Team
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Xplore
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Space Situational Awareness
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Asclepios

Space Logistics Optimisation – Python software development
Supervisor: eSpace (Mathieu Udriot/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Type of Project: Semester / Master project, 1 student
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD in January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the (new) space industry, future mission designs and operations, and who is top of the class in python coding, and familiar with object-oriented programming. Familiarity with the use of Github is a plus.
CONTEXT
eSpace is actively researching and developing methods and products in space sustainability and logistics. This large topic includes work on space debris risks, life cycle assessment of space systems, space logistics optimisation, trade-offs support and decision-making support that include sustainable aspects in the early design phase of space missions and systems.
The Technology Combination Analysis Tool (TCAT) has been developed at eSpace for ESA to model and simulate space logistics scenarios. The inputs are high level mission parameters that should be available early on during design phases. Outputs help users select the best mission architecture to fulfil the mission’s objectives, and help identify technology gaps.
The tool right now can model two logistics scenarios, active debris removal of failed satellites and constellation deployment.
PROJECT SCOPE
The scope of this project can be adapted depending on the format (semester or master project). The main goal of the project is to continue the development of the tool by adding new useful features and extend the current models.
Proposition of further development include but are not limited to interplanetary use case missions (to the Moon, Mars, etc.), improvement of the power and electrical propulsion models, refraction of the “module” structure in the code to be able to perform design optimization from mission constraints (only possible reversely for now).
OUTCOME
- A report
- A branch on Github with model improvements, adaptation to the software, or new features
- An updated UML diagram
TASKS
Phase 1 :
- Familiarisation with the current version of the tool (online and of the python code).
- Literature review about the selected model(s) improvements.
- Encapsulation of the proposed changes and identification of file to modify.
Phase 2 :
- Implementation of the changes (defined with the project supervisor after the first phase) to TCAT on a new Github branch.
CONTACT
Mathieu Udriot
Systems Engineer on Green Space Logistics
eSpace - EPFL Space Center
mathieu.udriot@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Sustainable missions to the Moon – Sustainability guidelines for lunar activities, a state-of-the-Art
Supervisor: eSpace (Mathieu Udriot/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Type of Project: Semester / Master project, 1 student
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD in January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space industry, and space exploration, especially on and around the Moon. Experience with reference management, or interest in space laws are a plus.
CONTEXT
eSpace is actively researching and developing methods and products in space sustainability. This large topic includes work on space debris risks, life cycle assessment of space systems, mitigations of environmental impacts, rating incentives, and decision-making support to include sustainable aspects in the early design phase of space missions and systems.
Lunar activities will ramp up in the coming years, and interest is growing for long duration human missions on the Moon, in-situ resources utilisation, and commercially-oriented missions. All these expected activities lead to questions regarding sustainability, to avoid the same problems faced nowadays in low Earth orbits, with so many satellites that collision risks are high, astronomical observations are threatened, and competition is exploding.
There are a few existing guidelines already and research around space laws applying to lunar resources on the surface of the Moon is growing (eg. by the Moon Village Association, Moondialogs, with the Artemis Accords, associations like Euro2Moon). eSpace would like to better understand the current expectations and missing fields regarding lunar sustainability, and prepare future research on the topic.
PROJECT SCOPE
In this project, an assessment of current sustainability guidelines for activities on and around the Moon should be performed. The goal is to map all aspects that should be considered when talking about lunar space sustainability. Especially highlighting gaps and risk “hotspots” where more research will be needed and where missions will have to be particularly careful.
OUTCOME
- A report in the form of a handbook compiling aspects and guidelines for space sustainability on and around the Moon
TASKS
- Literature review on current and future lunar activities, and on guidelines / laws / common practice by spacecraft operators and agencies.
- Development of new guidelines or extensions or adaption of existing ones, for risks not yet (fully) covered.
- Compilation of a comprehensive handbook about the space sustainability of lunar activities.
CONTACT
Mathieu Udriot
Systems Engineer on Green Space Logistics
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
mathieu.udriot@epfl.ch
Emmanuelle David
Executive Director
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
emmanuelle.david@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Adaptation of the Assessment and Comparison Tool for Environmental Impacts of Suborbital Launchers. The Case of the EPFL Rocket Team Sounding Rocket
Supervisor: eSpace (Mathieu Udriot/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Type of Project: Semester / Master project, 1 student
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD in January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space industry, environmental impacts and mitigations, and Launch Vehicle systems (including sounding rockets). Prior knowledge in life cycle assessment, or in C# and JavaScript programming languages and the use of Github are a plus.
CONTEXT
eSpace is actively researching and developing methods and products in space sustainability. This large topic includes work on space debris risks, life cycle assessment of space systems, mitigations of environmental impacts, and decision-making support tools to include sustainable aspects in the early design phase of space missions and systems.
Since 2022, eSpace and its partners have been developing a tool to rapidly and automatically assess the environmental impacts of (future) launch vehicles using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, for the European Space Agency.
The software gathers user inputs about the materials, processes, propellants, etc. used in the launcher architecture and some information about the manufacturing, logistics, mission profile, and the disposal or recovery and reuse of the parts. ACT outputs a set of impact indicators, so a user can understand its system’s footprint and compare several configurations to help trade-off and decision-making, and select equipment and parts that require ecodesign.
Inputs and outputs of the Assessment and Comparison Tool (ACT)
With the number of launches set to increase in the coming years (also suborbital ones), it’s important for launch service providers, student rocketry teams, and stakeholders in the space industry, to understand their impacts and implement mitigations where they are most efficient at reducing them.
Esa Cleanspace
PROJECT SCOPE
For now the tool is focused on assessing orbital-capable vehicles. The point of the project is to understand the objectives of the tool, define the scope, system boundaries, and make suggestions so it can better assess suborbital launchers. Then implement some of those changes in accordance with eSpace needs by programming them.
The student will be collaborating with the EPFL Rocket Team, discuss with their engineers and management team at different levels to gather information. The students’ team, in particular the competition project will serve as a test case for the project.
Finally, the student will be encouraged to exploit synergies with other credited projects happening in parallel in a “sustainability task force” set up in collaboration between eSpace and the EPFL Rocket Team.
OUTCOME
- A report with tasks of the first phase (see Tasks):
- State-of-the-art of environmental impacts of suborbital rockets
- LCA goal, scope, system boundaries definition for the ERT case
- A branch on Github with model improvements, adaptation to the software, or new features
- An updated sequence diagram
TASKS
Phase 1:
- Literature review of life cycle assessment applied to space systems and in particular suborbital launch vehicles
- Understanding the current version of the Assessment and Comparison Tool (ACT), both online and in the code
- Following development at the EPFL Rocket Team to define the LCA goal, scope, and system boundaries, and to highlight code adaptations needed
- (optional) First test case with existing features
Phase 2:
- Implementing changes (defined with the project supervisor after the first phase) to ACT on a new Github branch.
- (master thesis) New test case with improved models and new features
- (master thesis) Investigate ecodesign options for the EPFL Rocket Team.
CONTACT
Mathieu Udriot
Systems Engineer on Green Space Logistics
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
mathieu.udriot@epfl.ch
Joachim Despature
EPFL Rocket Team President
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
joachim.despature@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Measurements of emissions (gas and particles) during propulsion tests at the EPFL Rocket Team
Supervisor: eSpace (Mathieu Udriot/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Type of Project: Semester project, 1 student
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD in January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space industry, propulsion systems, sensors, and test benches (set-up), data acquisition, and atmospheric impacts. Prior knowledge in data acquisition or measurement is a plus.
CONTEXT
eSpace is actively researching and developing methods and products in space sustainability. This large topic includes work on space debris risks, life cycle assessment of space systems, mitigations of environmental impacts, and decision-making support tools to include sustainable aspects in the early design phase of space missions and systems.
The assessment of the environmental impacts of rocket engine exhausts in the atmosphere is not yet backed by solid scientific knowledge. There is indeed no accepted method to translate the emission of a given amount of exhaust species (like CO2, CO, H2O, HCl, black carbon, or else) at high altitude into an impact (like CO2 equivalent). What can be done already is measure the emissions of propulsion systems, to understand which particles and gases are generated and exhausted by the engine and in what quantity.
Jamie D. Shutler et alli, “Atmospheric impacts of the space industry require oversight”, (August 2022), in: Nature Geoscience, volume 15, p. 598–600, www.nature.com/naturegeoscience.
The EPFL Rocket Team is developing and testing new propulsion systems, with engines using different types of propellant, and based on new design, in preparation for its future rockets. The medium-term goal of the ERT is to fly to 100 km altitude.
It is important for the EPFL Rocket Team to understand their student-developed engines, not only in terms of performance but also regarding generated emissions. Knowledge about the content of the exhaust could drive future development to select different types of propellant, change mix ratio or other design parameters, to decrease the impacts in a process called eco-design.
After first measurements during ground tests, agencies and large companies are interested to measure emissions directly in the atmosphere, to understand the chemistry that takes place at different altitude level.
PROJECT SCOPE
The main goal of the project is to prepare measurements of the exhaust gases and particles to quantify them for rocket engines used by the EPFL Rocket Team.
The test bench used by the team to perform ignition tests, and static fire tests, will probably require some adaptation to accommodate sensors needed for the measurements.
It is also in the scope to investigate the feasibility to conduct a test campaign during launches (or right after) by the EPFL Rocket Team, using any means possible (ideas include but should not be limited to: on-board sensors, air balloons, second rocket with sensors, satellite imaging, etc.).
Finally, the student will be encouraged to exploit synergies with other credited projects happening in parallel in a “sustainability task force” set up in collaboration between eSpace and the EPFL Rocket Team.
OUTCOME
- A report including:
- The state-of-knowledge regarding launchers’ exhausts
- The state-of-affair regarding sensing method for the species of interest
- A list of selected gas / particle sensors and measurement instruments adapted to the task
- Computer-Aided Drawings of the ERT’s test bench adaptations, needed for exhaust measurements
- Explanation of different in-flight measurement scenarios / systems architecture for emissions measurement, and their feasibility in the situation of the EPFL Rocket Team
- Trade-off between measurement scenarios
- Recommendations for future studies
- A comprehensive test procedure to conduct a measurement campaign
- (optional, if time allows) Results of some measurements made on the ERT propulsion system, in a format easy to use for future students
TASKS
Phase 1:
- Literature review on launchers’ exhausts depending on their propulsion type
- Searching for the best suited sensors to perform measurements of interest
Phase 2 (after ordering some sensors):
- Drawing CAD adaptation for the test bench
- Writing a test procedure to use for measurements campaign
- (optional) Implement changes on the test bench and perform sets of measurement using the sensors
Phase 3:
- Searching for the best suited sensors and measurement scenario(s) to perform in-flight data collection of emissions of interest
- Deeper investigation and systems architecture for a subset of selected potential solutions
CONTACT
Mathieu Udriot
Systems Engineer on Green Space Logistics
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
mathieu.udriot@epfl.ch
Joachim Despature
EPFL Rocket Team President
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
joachim.despature@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Life cycle inventory – standardized procedure to create new LCA datasets
Supervisor: eSpace (Mathieu Udriot/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Type of Project: Semester project, 1 student
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD in January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space industry, environmental footprint assessment, and who would like to bring a central contribution to the EPFL MAKE teams sustainability strategy. Prior knowledge with life cycle assessment, or the Activity Browser (BrightWay2) software, are a plus.
CONTEXT
eSpace is actively researching and developing methods and products in space sustainability. This large topic includes work on space debris risks, life cycle assessment of space systems, mitigations of environmental impacts, and decision-making support tools to include sustainable aspects in the early design phase of space missions and systems.
Life cycle inventory (LCI) is the second of the four phases defined in the ISO-standard to perform life cycle assessment (LCA). To simplify the inventory steps, several organization have created large databases (eg. ecoinvent) with many datasets containing the environmental impacts of different materials, processes, activities etc. Those datasets are not always sufficient to model a specific system, in particular in the space sector, with exotic materials, and very specific processes that depend each time on the mission. To try to complement the ecoinvent database, the European Space Agency has created an extension with datasets made on data collected in the European space sector.
ESA Blog: How to make environmental friendly space missions?
The EPFL Rocket Team or other space teams intend to better understand the environmental impacts of their systems. For that, several projects are foreseen to collect data about materials, processes, or activities of the teams.
Those information will serve to perform a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of the associations, help identify environmental hotspots which will guide the students to select components that need to be eco-designed. Ultimately the whole process will help reduce the footprint of the team.
Common components of a dataset [A. Ciroth, “LCA database creation: current challenges and the way forward”, 2019]
PROJECT SCOPE
This projects aims to compile the knowledge required to uniformize the data collection process and create new LCA datasets for a team like the EPFL Rocket Team.
The outcomes of the project shall be tested and adapted to their usage by other student in subsequent projects. Gaps in existing datasets to model the teams’ systems shall be identified to recommend future data collection using the newly created standardized method/procedure.
Finally, the student will be encouraged to exploit synergies with other credited projects happening in parallel in a “sustainability task force” set up in collaboration between eSpace and the EPFL Rocket Team.
OUTCOME
- A toolkit including a procedure on how to create a new LCA dataset, adapted to MAKE projects
- A report including:
- State-of-affairs on existing LCA databases, and on dataset creation
- A list of identified missing datasets for modelling the Rocket Team’s systems
- New datasets created by following the procedure and lessons learnt
- Recommendations for future data collections
- A new database on Activity Browser (BrightWay2) with the newly created datasets for the Rocket Team
TASKS
- Literature review on LCA databases and how to create new life cycle assessment. datasets to complement an inventory
- Creation of a procedure adapted to the EPFL Rocket Team
- Review of existing LCA databases
- Identification of missing datasets to emit recommendations for future data collections
- Performing data collection on materials or processes as examples for the procedure and create the datasets in Activity Browser (BrightWay2)
CONTACT
Mathieu Udriot
Systems Engineer on Green Space Logistics
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
mathieu.udriot@epfl.ch
Joachim Despature
EPFL Rocket Team President
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
joachim.despature@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Eco-design: process to reduce environmental impacts of suborbital rockets’ parts at EPFL Rocket Team
Supervisor: eSpace (Mathieu Udriot/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Type of Project: Semester project, 1 student
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD in January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space industry, the design of hardware parts, and launch vehicles’ environmental impacts reduction. Prior knowledge of systems engineering, environmental impacts, or design in any engineering topic is a plus.
CONTEXT
eSpace is actively researching and developing methods and products in space sustainability. This large topic includes work on space debris risks, life cycle assessment of space systems, mitigations of environmental impacts, and decision-making support tools to include sustainable aspects in the early design phase of space missions and systems.
Ecodesign is one of the three main axis of work at the ESA Cleanspace Office. The point is to include aspects from the environmental impacts on the ecosystems, toxicity, supply chain risks, etc. directly when designing a product / a part.
The EPFL Rocket Team is anticipating ecodesign projects in the future, once the team will have identified the environmental hotspots in their systems.
A first handbook for ecodesign in student’s associations was developed during a semester project with the support of the MAKE sustainability coach.
PROJECT SCOPE
This project will serve as a preparation for future ecodesign endeavours in space MAKE teams. The point is to expand on the ecodesign guide to create a method / toolkit that future engineering students at the Rocket Team or else can use and apply when designing new parts.
The eco-design kit must be modular enough so it can be used after a life cycle assessment in order to tackle any environmental hotspot, and help students come up with novel solutions that meet the requirements in terms of performance and of reduced footprint.
Finally, the student will be encouraged to exploit synergies with other credited projects happening in parallel in a “sustainability task force” set up in collaboration between eSpace and the EPFL Rocket Team.
OUTCOME
- Updates / revisions / recommendations / precisions based on the existing ecodesign guide for MAKE teams, specifically for space MAKE teams
- A toolkit to apply eco-design to future design endeavour by the team
- A report including:
- A state-of-the-art regarding the eco-design process
- Results of an example eco-designed part using the toolkit
TASKS
- Literature review on the state-of-the-art regarding the eco-design process (in particular in the space sector)
- Adapting the eco-design process and MAKE guide to the EPFL Rocket Team, preparation of a toolkit
- Performing an example run with the kit on a selected part to see if eco-design can be implemented (part to be defined by the student in collaboration with the team and supervisors)
CONTACT
Mathieu Udriot
Systems Engineer on Green Space Logistics
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
mathieu.udriot@epfl.ch
Joachim Despature
EPFL Rocket Team President
eSpace – EPFL Space Center
joachim.despature@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

STReAKS: Synthetic sTreak Rendering for sAtellite Kinematics and Surveillance
Supervisor: LASTRO/CVLab/eSpace (Stephan Hellmich/Andrew Price/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Type of Project: Master project (can be adapted for TP-IV)
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: January 15, 2024
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended:
- Open to coding in Python
- Interest in image rendering
- Familiarity with rendering (Blender) and camera basics (I.E. pinhole camera model) is a plus.
- Interest in computer vision or machine learning is a plus.
CONTEXT
As part of a collaborative research project between CVLab and LASTRO, we are exploring novel techniques for determining the rotational and physical properties of space debris. For this purpose, we are currently developing methods for the detection and extraction of space debris observations from large astronomical data archives. These archives contain observational data over a 10-year period and include a large amount of random satellite and space debris observations. On the astronomical images, these objects appear as characteristic streaks, most of which cross the entire detector during the several minutes of exposure time.
In order to monitor the performance of our streak detection methods, we incorporate synthetic streaks to the data before processing. This allows us to determine the detection efficiency and to verify orbit determination routines. Currently, these synthetic streaks are randomly generated features that do not reflect any information on orbit, size or shape. Improving the generation of synthetic streaks incorporating this information would make them appear more realistic and would improve our algorithm’s robustness in the analysis of real streaks.
The goal of our analysis is to obtain as much information as possible from the observed space objects. An important property that we want to determine is the rotation rate axis. This tumbling state can theoretically be obtained from the intensity profile of the observed streak. However, for certain objects or tumbling states, we might not have enough data for a robust analysis. A priori knowledge on the size and shape of the object can be used to generate synthetic data that can be used to constrain the tumbling state of the observed objects.
PROJECT SCOPE
The goal of this project is to develop a tool that allows the insertion of realistic synthetic observations of space objects into astronomical images. These synthetic observations should be based on an artificial population of space objects that resembles the real population as closely as possible. This population is then used to implant synthetic streaks into real data. While the observatory location, telescope and instrument determine which objects are visible at the time of observations, object shape, observing geometry (illumination conditions), rotation, atmospheric extinction and seeing define the precise appearance of the synthetic streak.The final outcome of this project will be the synthetic population of space objects and a tool that inserts the synthetic streaks into real data.
TASKS
- Familiarization with astronomical data archives
(data products, instruments, sensors, environment that influences the appearance of space objects on astronomical images) - Implementation of a rendering engine (Blender)
- Generation of a synthetic population of space objects, incorporating orbits, shapes, sizes and rotations
- Development of a tool to implant synthetic streaks on astronomical images
CONTACT
Stephan Hellmich
Post-doc Researcher
LASTRO/eSpace
stephan.hellmich@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Validation of Detectability and Trackability metrics for the Space Sustainability Rating
Supervisor: eSpace & SSR (Adrien Saada/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Type of Project: Semester project
Duration: 14 weeks or 17 weeks
Submission of final report: TBD
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for one student with a background in Physics or aerospace engineering, interested in space sustainability. Knowledge in astronomy and Python are advised, knowledge of the STK Software would be a plus.
CONTEXT
In 2021, eSpace has been selected as the organization taking over and implementing the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR): a rating system that aims to evaluate the level of sustainability of satellite missions. Since 2023, the association is legally independent but continues collaborating with eSpace on research thematic. The SSR has been developed over the past years by a consortium of organizations including the WEF, ESA and MIT. The objective of the SSR is to push forward sustainability in the space sector and reward operators whose missions comply with the sustainability best-practises, norms and guidelines.
As it stands, the SSR encompasses six modules, one being the Detectability, Identification, and Tracking, which methodology aims at quantifying the ability of a spacecraft to be detected and tracked by a given observer on earth. The DIT module was developed by the Space enabled research group at MIT. The DIT module simulate a spacecraft using its physical properties and orbital parameters and then computes the following metrics: Optical and Radar Detectability (Visual magnitude and probability of radar detection), Optical and Radar Trackability (average pass duration, average orbital coverage, and average interval duration between passes). As the SSR started its operations, prospects on how to improve the current rating system are already foreseen, and a Python version of the DIT module code is under development, led by the Space Enabled research group at MIT.
As the module is currently computed using the STK software, a Python framework was developed and the validation of the metrics for the Python model needs to be performed. This project is a good opportunity to be advised by experienced engineers and astronomers from the EPFL Space Center, and the MIT.
Figure 1: Ground sensor network defined to perform the DIT module simulations
PROJECT SCOPE
As the validation of the DIT Python framework is under way, its implementation This SSR module focuses on two main work packages:
- WP1: Validation of the Detectability metrics
- WP2: Validation of the Trackability metrics
In order to validate a metric, a variety of space missions shall be simulated both using the STK Framwork, and using the Python framework, and correlation between the results shall be performed. In case there are significant discrepancies in the results, further actions shall be defined with MIT.
TASKS
The task definition is subject to change as this proposal was written in June 2023 and the status of the work performed at eSpace will probably evolve until the beginning of the project.
The student will:
- Understand the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) concept and methodology with an emphasis on the Detectability, Identification and Trackability (DIT) module methodology.
- General SSR methodology
- DIT Module literature review
- Familiarization with the DIT STK framework
- Familiarization with the DIT Python framework
- Identify a list of parameters that can have an impact on the simulation results and establish a list of scenarios to be tested for the validation of the different metrics. The validation of the scenarios will be supervised by eSpace and MIT. Pre-identified scenarios can include, but are not limited to:
- Different type of satellites (size)
- Different orbits (altitude and/or inclination), orbital regimes
- Different number of satellites
- Different physical properties (albedo)
- Perform the test cases, identify and report potential discrepancies per metric between the models. In case of discrepancies, dependency analysis shall be performed to identify potential causes for the discrepancies.
- In case of identified cause, a protocol for fixing the discrepancies and improve the Python code could be proposed, in collaboration with the MIT.
- Final validation of the module python framework.
CONTACT
Adrien Saada
Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) Operation Officer
adrien.saada@ssr.space
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

How does ESG and CSR regulations apply to the space sector?
Supervisor: eSpace, Emmanuelle David / Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib
Type of Project: Semester, 1 student
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD in January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space industry, and ESG and CSR governance.
CONTEXT
eSpace is actively researching and developing methods and products in space sustainability. This large topic includes work on space debris risks, life cycle assessment of space systems, mitigations of environmental impacts, rating incentives, and decision-making support to include sustainable aspects in the early design phase of space missions and systems.
In this context, we see a lot of interest in discussions on how ESG regulations and CSR can apply to the space sector and the specificities.
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is a framework used to assess an organisation's business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues.
Large companies and entities have to face their responsibilities towards society when it comes to environmental, social, or economical aspects. In recent years, many of them have started working on the definition of strategies to harmonise and reinforce their commitment in terms of corporate responsibility, for instance with corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports.
https://inkbotdesign.com/corporate-social-responsibility/
PROJECT SCOPE
In this project, an assessment on how ESG and CSR regulations apply to space companies and also how they should include the in-space specificity. In that matter, the student will be able to interact with experts working on the Space Sustainability Rating, Earth Space Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis applied to Space projects.
OUTCOME
A report compiling the literature review, the analysis of the reporting system and the gap analysis.
TASKS
- Literature review on ESG and CSR Regulations, and ESG/CSR reporting in the space industry
- Mapping of ESG/CSR reporting tools ( Global Reporting, B Corp…)
- Identify gaps and complementarities with the SSR and the Space Sector specificities.
CONTACT
Emmanuelle David
Executive Director
eSpace - EPFL Space Center
emmanuelle.david@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Characterize the satellite and orbital debris detection efficiency of CHEOPS
Supervisor:LASTRO/eSpace (Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib/Stephan Hellmich)
Type of Project: Semester project TP-IV
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: September 19-December 22)
Submission of final report: January 15
Final Presentation: TBD
Prerequisites: open to coding in Python
CONTEXT
The CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS) is a partnership between the European Space Agency and Switzerland. It is the first S-class mission in the ESA Science Programme. CHEOPS has been flying on a Sun-synchronous low Earth orbit since December 2019, collecting millions of short-exposure science images in the visible domain to study exoplanet properties.
A small yet increasing fraction of CHEOPS images show linear streaks caused by satellites and orbital debris crossing the field of view. CHEOPS’ orbit is indeed particularly favorable to serendipitously detect objects in its vicinity as the spacecraft rarely enters the Earth’s shadow, sits at an altitude of 700 km, and observes within 60 degrees of the anti-Sun direction. Objects crossing the field of view are therefore illuminated nearly all the time with small phase angles relative to the Sun making them as bright as they can ever be. This observing configuration is quite powerful and it is complementary to optical observations from the ground.
In order to characterize the population of satellites and orbital debris observed by CHEOPS, all and every science images acquired over the past 3 years have been scanned with a Hough transform algorithm to identify the characteristic linear features that these objects cause on the images. This led to the detection of numerous satellites and orbital debris observations in the CHEOPS data which are currently analyzed.
PROJECT SCOPE
This project is intended to assess the completeness level of the detections obtained with the currently used detection algorithm and to determine the limiting magnitude to which CHEOPS is sensitive to space debris. Therefore, the detection efficiency of the algorithm needs to be evaluated. This can be done by inserting synthetic streaks with defined brightness and random orientations to the raw data and analyzing how the detection rate drops with decreasing brightness of the synthetic streaks
TASKS
- Familiarization with the CHEOPS data and the streak detection algorithm
- Implementation of a tool to insert synthetic streaks
- Evaluate the detection efficiency of the streak detection algorithm
CONTACT
Stephan Hellmich
Post-doc Researcher
LASTRO/eSpace
stephan.hellmich@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Complete the CHEOPS serendipitous satellite observation dataset
Supervisor:LASTRO/eSpace (Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib/Stephan Hellmich)
Type of Project: Semester project TP-IV
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: September 19-December 22)
Submission of final report: January 15
Final Presentation: TBD
Prerequisites: open to coding in Python
CONTEXT
The CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS) is a partnership between the European Space Agency and Switzerland. It is the first S-class mission in the ESA Science Programme. CHEOPS has been flying on a Sun-synchronous low Earth orbit since December 2019, collecting millions of short-exposure science images in the visible domain to study exoplanet properties.
A small yet increasing fraction of CHEOPS images show linear streaks caused by satellites and orbital debris crossing the field of view. CHEOPS’ orbit is indeed particularly favorable to serendipitously detect objects in its vicinity as the spacecraft rarely enters the Earth’s shadow, sits at an altitude of 700 km, and observes within 60 degrees of the anti-Sun direction. Objects crossing the field of view are therefore illuminated nearly all the time with small phase angles relative to the Sun making them as bright as they can ever be. This observing configuration is quite powerful and it is complementary to optical observations from the ground.
In order to characterize the population of satellites and orbital debris observed by CHEOPS, all and every science images acquired over the past 3 years have been scanned with a Hough transform algorithm to identify the characteristic linear features that these objects cause on the images. This led to the detection of numerous satellites and orbital debris observations in the CHEOPS data which are currently analyzed.
PROJECT SCOPE
This project is intended to crosscheck the detections using the orbital information of the satellite and debris population. Combining the spacecraft location and its pointing vector for each individual image that has been taken with the orbital elements of the space object population at the observation epoch, possible satellite observations can be identified. By cross matching these identifications with the actual detections produced by the Hough transform algorithm, possibly missed observations can be found. This will help to further assess the detection efficiency of the detection algorithm and also to complete the dataset of serendipitous satellite observations from CHEOPS.
TASKS
- Familiarization with the interface to the CHEOPS data and the streak detection algorithm
- Assembling a list of possible satellite observations and cross match it with the detections found with the Hough algorithm
- Extracting the image data of these observations from the CHEOPS archive
- Analyze the data to find possibly missed steaks
CONTACT
Stephan Hellmich
Post-doc Researcher
LASTRO/eSpace
stephan.hellmich@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Development of a Dark and Quiet Skies module
Type of project: Master Thesis or semester project
Supervisor: eSpace (Adrien Saada/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Duration: 14 Weeks (Official start-end date: September 19 2023 – December 22 2023)
Report Submission: January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD in January 2024
Recommended: This project is suitable for one or two students with a background in Physics or aerospace engineering, interested in space sustainability. Knowledge in astronomy and Python would be a plus.
CONTEXT
In 2021, eSpace has been selected as the organization taking over and implementing the Space Sustainability Rating, a rating system that aims to evaluate the level of sustainability of satellite missions. It has been developed over the past years by a consortium of organizations including the WEF, ESA and MIT. The objective of the SSR is to push forward sustainability in the space sector and reward operators whose missions comply with the sustainability best-practises, norms and guidelines.
As the SSR started its operations in 2022, prospects on how to improve the current rating system are already foreseen. In that regard, a strong interest from the space community towards assessing the impact of space missions on the astronomical observations was noticed by the SSR Team. In July 2022, an eSpace intern started the development a new SSR module on the “Dark and Quiet Skies”. The development of this new module is supervised by eSpace, and is supported by several organizations with the appropriate technical expertise such as the CPS Policy Hub (a group co-led by representant of the IAU, ESO) and MIT. This project is a good opportunity to be advised by experienced engineers and astronomers from SKAO, IAU, ESO, MIT, ITU.
As it stands, the SSR encompasses several modules, and particularly one on Detectability, Identification, and Tracking, which methodology overlaps with the potential development of this new module. The DIT module was developed by the Space enabled research group at MIT.
PROJECT SCOPE
The development of the module “Dark and Quiet Skies” has followed several development steps, including a literature review, the definition of a scoring function for the optical part of the module, as well as a radio-interference quantification script. The proposed project aims at continuing the developments that took place during last semesters. This project is part of “Phase IV” of the development and shall leverage the work performed in Phases I, II and III. This SSR module focuses on two main work packages:
- WP1: Dark Skies (impact on optical observations)
- WP2: Quiet Skies (impact on radio observations)
The focus of this project can be on either on one of those aspects, or both, depending on the student background and the number of applicants (possibility to have one student per work package).
TASKS
The task definition is subject to change as the project goes.
The student(s) will:
- 1. Understand the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) concept and methodology with an emphasis on the Detectability, Identification and Trackability (DIT) module methodology.
- 2. Review past work that was performed on the development of the Dark and Quiet Skies module. Particularly, the student should:
- Understand the pre-identified structure of the module
- WP1 impact on optical astronomy:
- Understand the DIT Python Framework that allows to model ground stations, propagate a satellite and compute its visual magnitude from the modelled ground station.
- Get familiar with the predefined scoring function and sensitivity analysis performed
- Understand the current limitations in the development
- WP2 impact on radio astronomy:
- Understand the existing regulatory framework (mainly ITU-R regulations), read the pre-identified questionnaire inputs
- Understand the radio frequency interference quantification method defined in previous steps and its current limitations
- 3. Based on the literature review and the work already achieved, the student will:
- WP1 Dark Skies:
- Perform calibration and validation of the existing scoring formula defined in Phase III: The student will be expected to perform large scale testing using publicly available data from satellites.
- Validate the fine-tuning by organising a panel with interested partners astronomers (contact facilized by the SSR team).
- Optional: Work on the “aggregated score” allowing to account for the impact of satellite fleets, accounting for the total data loss on a given optical telescope. This step will require more literature review but will allow the student to perform new developments on the module.
- WP2 Quiet Skies
- Model:
- Continue the development of the python framework by implementing real data from radio telescope and satellites allowing to validate the radio frequency quantification model.
- Discuss the future applicability in the rating system
- Define a scoring formula based on the interference quantification (how to go from the quantification to a rating score).
- Validate the scoring methodology using real satellite data and discuss its rationale with panel of expert astronomers
- Questionnaire (optional):
- Draft a list of the guidelines and best practises to avoid/mitigate radio interference. The student shall get familiar with ITU regulations for this particular task.
- Model:
- WP1 Dark Skies:
- 4. Propose a connexion methodology between the newly formulated module with the rest of the SSR.
CONTACT
In case this project is of interest, please contact Adrien Saada, Space Sustainability Rating Operation Officer: adrien.saada@ssr.space
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Development of a Radar Cross Section (RCS) computation script in Python for Space Sustainability Rating
Type of project: Master Thesis or semester project
Supervisor: eSpace (Adrien Saada/Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib)
Duration: 14 Weeks (Official start-end date: September 19 2023 – December 22 2023)
Report Submission: January 2024
Final Presentation: TBD in January 2024
Recommended: This project is suitable for one student with a background in Physics or aerospace engineering, interested in space sustainability. Knowledge in astronomy, Python, MATLAB Antenna toolbox would be a plus.
CONTEXT
In 2021, eSpace has been selected as the organization taking over and implementing the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR): a rating system that aims to evaluate the level of sustainability of satellite missions. Since 2023, the association is legally independent but continues collaborating with eSpace on research thematic. The SSR has been developed over the past years by a consortium of organizations including the WEF, ESA and MIT. The objective of the SSR is to push forward sustainability in the space sector and reward operators whose missions comply with the sustainability best-practises, norms and guidelines.
As it stands, the SSR encompasses six modules, one being the Detectability, Identification, and Tracking, which methodology aims at quantifying the ability of a spacecraft to be detected and tracked by a given observer on earth. The DIT module was developed by the Space enabled research group at MIT. The DIT module simulate a spacecraft using its physical properties and orbital parameters and then computes the following metrics: Optical and Radar Detectability (Visual magnitude and probability of radar detection), Optical and Radar Trackability (average pass duration, average orbital coverage, and average interval duration between passes). As the SSR started its operations, prospects on how to improve the current rating system are already foreseen, and a Python version of the DIT module code is under development, led by the Space Enabled research group at MIT.
PROJECT SCOPE
The very first step of the computation of the DIT modules uses satellite dimensions to estimate a Radar Cross Section (RCS). This part of the computation is currently done using the MATLAB Antenna toolbox.
Further development of the SSR methodology will need to use a more integrated framework, possibly in Python. The goal of this semester project is then to be able to develop a RCS computation methodology based on the existing MATLAB framework.
TASKS
The task definition is subject to change depending on the student’s background and as the project goes.
The student will:
- 1. Literature Review: Understand the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) concept and methodology with an emphasis on the Detectability, Identification and Trackability (DIT) module methodology and associated tools:
-
- General SSR methodology
- DIT Module literature review
- MATLAB Antenna toolbox
- Familiarization with the DIT RCS computation using MATLAB
- 2. Development: Reverse-engineer the computation method and develop a python framework allowing to:
-
- Input satellite shape and dimensions
- Read a CAD file (optional) and use it to generate the satellite’s dimensions
- Generate a 3D mesh of the model (optional)
- Compute RCS values at different azimuth angle (Power-averaged and Decibel-averaged)
- Plot the RCS values in a polar plot (optional)
- Different physical properties (albedo)
- 3. Validation: Perform test cases, identify and report potential discrepancies between the developed model and the existing MATLAB framework. In case of discrepancies, dependency analysis shall be performed to identify potential causes for the discrepancies and explanation on which models is the most accurate.
- 4. In case of identified cause, a protocol for fixing the discrepancies and improve the Python code could be proposed, in collaboration with the MIT.
- In case this project is of interest, please contact Adrien Saada, Space Sustainability Rating Operation Officer: adrien.saada@ssr.space
CONTACT
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Martian exploration with an airship
Supervisor: eSpace (Pr. Jean-Paul Kneib), Mars Society Switzerland, Pr. Claude Nicollier
Type of Project: Minor, Semester, or Master thesis, 1-3 students
Duration: 14 weeks or 17 weeks
Submission of final report: TBD
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: general knowledge of space systems, interest and experience in systems engineering (1st project), knowledge in material science and space mechanisms (2nd project), knowledge of spacecrafts CDH and ADCS (3rd project).
CONTEXT
Using an airship on Mars would be a way of bridging the gap with existing means of exploration (orbiters and rovers) in terms of travelled distances and observable features. Due to Mars’ extremely thin atmosphere, a very voluminous envelope is necessary to generate enough buoyancy to carry a payload. Moreover, using a form of propulsion is required in order to have some control over the observed zones, which in turns adds significant mass. The main challenge is thus to keep the airship’s mass and volume within a feasible range, in terms of materials, transport and deployment, while keeping sufficient performance to provide useful observation capabilities.
PROJECT SCOPE
Feasibility studies performed by students in partnership with the Mars Society Switzerland during the last three years showed the Martian airship concept to be promising and led to participation to two major space conferences. The goal is now to finish studying the missing aspects’ feasibility in order to close the preliminary conception phase and conclude on the strengths and shortcomings. To advance towards this goal, one or more of the following topics need to be investigated in more depth.
TASKS
All tasks are open for discussion, but the three main objects of study are:
- System engineering of the airship (Master project preferred):
Previous studies highlighted the difficulties associated with the project, especially regarding the envelope. As a first stage, you will need to get a good understanding of the current overall system and its difficulties. Then, the results from the previous studies need to be gathered in order to update the entire system’s design and make sure everything is coherent. To benefit from a denser atmosphere, changing the operation zone is currently considered. The zone of interest being at a higher latitude than the previous one, it is also colder in winter and has less solar irradiance, the existing sizing should hence be adjusted accordingly. In a second stage you will define the gondola’s architecture and size it in accordance with the other subsystems (envelope, propulsion, power) to complete the design. The change of operation zone to a higher latitude may allow positioning the solar panels under rather than atop the balloon which obviously will have general consequences on EDL and on deployment that should be considered.
- Transport, transit, and deployment of the airship (Semester project):
Several solutions to deploy the airship were investigated during the past semester but none selected yet. In particular, demonstrating that the airship could effectively be stowed to fit within a fairing and safely deployed is a key point. Presently, on account of the limited launch windows, the airship might have to wait several months for the wanted Martian season to come before being put in operation. Studying the survivability of the various components in orbit and on the ground is therefore important. The problem might change in case the operation zone is modified, in particular since the atmosphere density will change. Comparing the inflation time and overall opportunities offered by a couple of different locations would therefore help selecting the final operation zone. Finally, an estimation of the airship’s lifetime should also be performed.
- Airship operations, avionics and data handling (Semester project):
The airship is not intended for a single use but thought as a general platform for scientific surveys. Relevant reference instruments should be selected in order to estimate the amount of data they generate and how to process it. The sensors and avionics necessary for partial autonomy of the airship also need to be defined. Finally, a trade-off analysis of the communication strategies with Earth, be it to send scientific data, telemetry or receive commands, should be performed.
CONTACT
Romeo Tonasso
romeo.tonasso@gmail.com
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.

Space Situational Awareness
Click HERE to visit SSA’s projects page.

Asclepios
Click HERE to visit Asclepios’s projects page.

Innovations in Satellite Tank Production (a Gruyere Space Program project)
Supervisor: TBD
Type of Project: Semester or Master project, 1 or more students
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space industry, and the use of Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) in difficult environments. The student would like to bring a central contribution to the Gruyère Space Program and the Space propulsion domain. Solid academic knowledge of materials is a plus.
CONTEXT
Gruyère Space Program is a student-led initiative dedicated to advancing aerospace technology. Our team focuses on various aspects of aerospace engineering, from propulsion systems to Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) algorithms. Our flagship project, the "Colibri" rocket, is a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology. Standing at 2.5 meters tall and weighing 100 kg, Colibri is designed for Vertical Take-off and Vertical Landing (VTVL), representing a significant milestone in European aerospace.
PROJECT SCOPE
This 14-week research project, conducted in collaboration with the Gruyère Space Program, is focused on exploring the feasibility and design aspects of utilizing additive manufacturing (AM) for satellite tank production. The aim is to provide a foundational understanding of the potential benefits and challenges of applying AM to this specific satellite component.
OUTCOME
- Feasibility Research: A comprehensive research report outlining the feasibility of using AM for satellite tank production, considering material compatibility, structural requirements, and basic cost implications.
- Material Exploration: Investigation into available AM materials suitable for satellite tanks, with a focus on their mechanical properties, thermal stability, and cost-effectiveness.
- Process Design Overview: A high-level overview of the AM process for satellite tank manufacturing, including key steps and considerations.
- Research Findings: A summary of the research findings related to the potential advantages and limitations of employing AM for satellite tanks.
TASKS
- Literature Review: Conduct a concise literature review to gather information on the current state of AM in satellite component manufacturing.
- Material Investigation: Research available AM materials and their suitability for satellite tanks, with an emphasis on fundamental characteristics.
- Process Overview: Develop a simplified outline of the AM process for satellite tank production, highlighting key stages and requirements.
- Cost Analysis: Provide a basic cost analysis that compares the potential cost-effectiveness of AM with traditional manufacturing methods.
This research project acknowledges the limited timeframe of 14 weeks and aims to provide an introductory understanding of the research and decision-making processes related to the use of additive manufacturing for satellite tank production.
CONTACT
Julie Böhning
Co-Founder Gruyère Space Program
julie.bohning@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Satellite Thruster Technology Studies (a Gruyere Space Program project)
Satellite Thruster Technology Studies
Supervisor: TBD
Type of Project: Semester or Master project, 1 or more students
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space industry, and the use of Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) in difficult environments. The student would like to bring a central contribution to the Gruyère Space Program and the Space propulsion domain. Solid academic knowledge of materials is a plus.
CONTEXT
Gruyère Space Program is a student-led initiative dedicated to advancing aerospace technology. Our team focuses on various aspects of aerospace engineering, from propulsion systems to Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) algorithms. Our flagship project, the "Colibri" rocket, is a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology. Standing at 2.5 meters tall and weighing 100 kg, Colibri is designed for Vertical Take-off and Vertical Landing (VTVL), representing a significant milestone in European aerospace.
PROJECT SCOPE
This 14-week research project, in collaboration with the Gruyère Space Program, focuses on comprehending the challenges associated with satellite thrusters and exploring potential solutions. Additionally, it aims to investigate the relevance of utilizing additive manufacturing (AM), particularly Metal AM, for these thrusters.
OUTCOME
- Feasibility Research: Produce a comprehensive research report evaluating the feasibility of employing Metal AM, for satellite thruster components. This assessment should consider material compatibility, structural requirements, and preliminary cost implications. The study should be done for various green propellants.
- Material Exploration: Investigate the available materials in Metal AM for satellite thrusters, emphasizing their mechanical properties, thermal stability, and cost-effectiveness.
- Process Design Overview: Provide a high-level overview of the Metal AM process as it pertains to satellite thruster manufacturing. Highlight key steps and considerations.
- Research Findings: Summarize the research findings concerning the potential advantages and limitations of utilizing Metal AM for satellite thrusters.
TASKS
- Literature Review: Conduct a focused literature review to gather insights into the current applications of Metal AM in aerospace, especially satellite component manufacturing.
- Material Investigation: Research the suitability of Metal AM materials for satellite thrusters, paying close attention to fundamental material properties.
- Process Overview: Develop a simplified outline of the Metal AM process for satellite thruster production, outlining critical stages and requirements.
- Cost Analysis: Undertake a basic cost analysis comparing the cost-effectiveness of Metal AM with conventional manufacturing methods for satellite thrusters.
This research project acknowledges the time constraint of 14 weeks and aims to provide foundational knowledge related to satellite thruster challenges, existing solutions, and the potential benefits of Metal Additive Manufacturing within this context.
CONTACT
Julie Böhning
Co-Founder Gruyère Space Program
julie.bohning@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

CFD Analysis of Space Propulsion Systems (a Gruyere Space Program project)
Supervisor: TBD
Type of Project: Semester or Master project, 1 or more students
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project is suitable for a student interested in the space propulsion and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The student will play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of thermal dynamics in space-bound engines. Solid academic knowledge in fluid dynamics and simulation methods is a plus.
CONTEXT
Gruyère Space Program is a student-led initiative dedicated to advancing aerospace technology. Our team focuses on various aspects of aerospace engineering, from propulsion systems to Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) algorithms. Our flagship project, the "Colibri" rocket, is a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology. Standing at 2.5 meters tall and weighing 100 kg, Colibri is designed for Vertical Take-off and Vertical Landing (VTVL), representing a significant milestone in European aerospace.
PROJECT SCOPE
This 14-week semester project, in collaboration with the Gruyère Space Program, focuses on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations for a space-bound engine. This project aims to model an existing engine and simulate its thermal implications in the space environment. You will collaborate closely with our experienced team members who have designed the engine and will be testing it during the semester. The simulation results will be compared with real-world data to validate the accuracy of the models.
Outcome & Tasks
- CFD Modeling: Utilize state-of-the-art CFD software to create detailed models of the space engine, considering its geometry, materials, and operating conditions.
- Thermal Simulations: Conduct thermal simulations to analyze and predict the behavior of the engine in the extreme conditions of space, including heat dissipation and thermal stress.
- Data Analysis: Interpret simulation results and compare them with real-world test data to assess the accuracy and reliability of the models.
- Collaboration: Work closely with our engineering team to understand the engine's design and testing process, incorporating their expertise into the CFD simulations.
- Documentation: Maintain clear and comprehensive documentation of simulation methodologies, parameters, and results.
Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- Strong academic background in fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and computational methods.
- Experience with CAD software for geometry preparation.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
Benefits
- Gain practical experience in aerospace engineering and CFD simulations.
- Work on a real-world project with the potential for direct impact.
- Collaborate with a passionate and experienced team of aerospace enthusiasts.
- Opportunity to see the practical application of your simulation work through engine testing.
CONTACT
Julie Böhning
Co-Founder Gruyère Space Program
julie.bohning@epfl.ch
STATUS OF THE PROJECT

Exploring Thermal Dynamics in Space Propulsion Systems (a Gruyere Space Program project)
Supervisor: TBD
Type of Project: Semester or Master project, 1 or more students
Duration: 14 weeks (Official start/end date: Sep. 19th – Dec. 22nd 2023)
Submission of final report: TBD
Final Presentation: TBD
Recommended: This project suits a student with an interest in the space industry and a fascination with the intricacies of designing and understanding the thermodynamics of space propulsion engines. A solid foundation in materials science or thermodynamic is advantageous.
CONTEXT
Gruyère Space Program is a student-led initiative dedicated to advancing aerospace technology. Our team focuses on various aspects of aerospace engineering, from propulsion systems to Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) algorithms. Our flagship project, the "Colibri" rocket, is a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology. Standing at 2.5 meters tall and weighing 100 kg, Colibri is designed for Vertical Take-off and Vertical Landing (VTVL), representing a significant milestone in European aerospace.
PROJECT SCOPE
This 14-week research endeavour, conducted in collaboration with the Gruyère Space Program, is dedicated to comprehending the complexities of space propulsion engine design and unravelling the thermodynamics governing these engines.
OUTCOME
- Comprehensive Thermodynamic Analysis: Compile an exhaustive research report delving into the thermodynamic challenges associated with space propulsion systems. Evaluate the feasibility of existing solutions and potential innovations, considering factors such as material compatibility, structural requirements, thermal aspect, microgravity, and eco-friendly propellants.
- Material Investigation: Investigate the spectrum of materials employed in space propulsion systems with a keen focus on their mechanical properties, thermal stability, and cost-effectiveness. Examine the materials' compatibility with the extreme conditions of space travel.
- Process Overview: Provide a high-level overview of the manufacturing processes employed in space propulsion systems. Highlight critical phases and considerations in the context of thermodynamic challenges.
- Research Findings: Summarize research findings concerning both the advantages and limitations of current approaches to address thermodynamic challenges in space propulsion systems. Include insights on potential advancements in this field.
TASKS
- Literature Review: Conduct an extensive literature review, delving into the existing body of work within the field of thermal analysis for space propulsion systems. Focus on recent developments and their relevance to aerospace engineering, particularly in the context of space propulsion.
- Material Investigation: Undertake an investigation into the suitability of various materials for thermal management in space propulsion systems. Scrutinize fundamental material properties and their implications in mitigating thermodynamic challenges.
- Process Overview: Develop a streamlined outline of the thermal analysis processes employed in space propulsion systems. Highlight the crucial stages and prerequisites necessary for effective thermal management.
- Cost Analysis: Perform a basic cost analysis aimed at comparing the cost-effectiveness of different thermal management techniques in space propulsion systems. Evaluate the feasibility of innovative approaches in terms of cost and effectiveness.
This research project is mindful of the 14-week timeframe and aims to establish a foundational understanding of the thermal challenges and potential solutions within the realm of space propulsion systems. Special emphasis will be placed on exploring the advantages of cutting-edge thermal management methods.
CONTACT
Julie Böhning
Co-Founder Gruyère Space Program
julie.bohning@epfl.ch