Intern in the Exploration Technologies for Human Spaceflight, Lunar Regolith

Our team and mission

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 European Exploration Envelope Programme (E3P) is integrating the ESA activities in this field to ensure a single exploration process. The strategy includes three destinations where humans will work with robots to gather new knowledge: Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the Moon, and Mars.

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 composed by researchers, graduate and undergraduate students is based at the ESA European Astronaut Centre (EAC). The mission statement of “Spaceship EAC” is centered on three main pillars: enhance, enable and inspire. The founding idea behind this initiative is indeed to enhance the capabilities of EAC via exploiting the spaceflight experience of the centre to develop and validate new operational concepts and valuable technologies in support of lunar human exploration scenarios. A pragmatic and research focused approach is adopted, and knowledge acquired is disseminated within ESA, partners and the relevant scientific community.

Within Spaceship EAC, we have a number of fields where we carry out different projects. These fields are:

• Demonstrating disruptive technologies such as Virtual/Augmented Reality, collaborative robotics and their potential use cases for exploration;
• Investigating novel concepts in the domain of Space Resources/In-Situ Resource Utilisation, to enable sustainable human exploration;
• Using advanced manufacturing methodologies, such as additive manufacturing, for projects within the centre and for space exploration;
• Supporting the development of the LUNA analogue test facility at EAC;
• Developing new ideas around medical technologies, for example, using machine learning techniques to support long term exploration;
• Topics related to ‘off world living’, e.g. human factors, design and concept illustration;
• Crew Health and Performance Technologies and Knowledge build up.

Additionally the Spaceship team is involved in supporting the development of our new LUNA facility at EAC. This 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, such as a habitat/laboratory module, and a regenerative energy system among others.

We are continually looking for innovative applicants with skills or interests in these areas to join the Spaceship EAC team. An outline of some of the projects that we have recently been progressing can be found at the ESA blog.

For more information on Spaceship EAC internships

please look at the Spaceship EAC blog (Spaceship EAC – ESA –Exploration).

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Spaceship EAC/LUNA Utilisation: Lunar Dust Toxicity Assessment – From Simulants to Surface Operations

The team member will support ESA’s effort to assess risks of exposure to toxic Lunar Regolith and will support the agency’s risk mitigation strategies.

1. Background and Motivation
The Apollo missions revealed an unresolved health risk that remains critical for future lunar exploration: lunar dust. Described by astronaut Harrison Schmitt as causing “lunar hay fever,” the fine, abrasive particles of lunar dust (LD) affected all crew members during their exposure. LD’s sharp morphology, reactive surface chemistry, and the absence of consistent weathering processes on the Moon make it potentially hazardous to human health, especially through inhalation and ocular contact. While studies have shown that lunar soil simulants can cause cell damage in laboratory settings, a full toxicological profile of real lunar regolith remains incomplete. With the LUNA facility now operational as ESA and DLR’s analog platform, there is a timely opportunity to investigate this issue more comprehensively.

2. Objectives
This internship project aims to support ESA’s overarching lunar health and safety strategy by:

• Comparing potential toxicity levels across different lunar regions based on literature and sample return data.
• Identifying health risks and recommending mitigation strategies including technologies and operational procedures for future lunar missions.

3. Methodology

• Simulant Exposure Assessment:
  
  • Conduct in situ exposure simulations in the LUNA facility using lunar regolith simulants and using candidate technologies for actual Lunar surface explorations.

• Literature Review & Data Synthesis:
  
  • Systematically review published toxicity studies and historical data from Apollo and Luna missions.
  • Compare mineralogical and chemical properties of regolith from different landing sites and infer likely toxicity profiles.

• Risk Identification & Mitigation Proposal:
  
  • Summarize acute and chronic risks based on particle size, morphology, and chemical reactivity.
  • Propose countermeasures such as suit decontamination protocols, advanced air filtration, and interior habitat dust barriers.
  • Explore possible pharmaceutical or procedural interventions to reduce inflammation or oxidative effects.

4. Expected Outcomes

• A comparative matrix of site-specific toxicity indicators based on available regolith data.
• A set of evidence-based health protection recommendations for ESA’s lunar mission.
• A peer reviewed science paper summarizing the results of this project.

5. Relevance
As ESA, NASA, and international partners plan sustainable human presence on the Moon, addressing the risk of lunar dust exposure is a prerequisite for crew safety. This project will directly inform design decisions for future surface systems and health monitoring strategies, contributing to ESA’s leadership in safe, long-duration exploration.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of a university course at Master’s level and you need to remain enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

Knowledge and background in Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and/or Human Physiology are considered an asset.

Additional skills required:

• Advanced biomechanical engineering knowledge.