About the program
During the week you will meet and learn about the various space programs, developments and research activities at the Leiden Delft and Erasmus universities and go on a tour of space agencies, institutes and industry in South-Holland, including (among others): ESA ESTEC, SRON, TNO, AirbusDS, SBIC, Galileo Reference Centre and off course the three universities tehmselves. Starting at the NL Space Campus in Noordwijk at ESA-ESTEC, the technical heart of ESA, you will tour the cities of Leiden and Delft before returning to Noordwijk. During the week, you will meet many experts, learn about the basics and recent developments. This way you can work on your team’s challenge fully prepared.
The week also includes several fun and non-space events. You will get to know the other participants as well as learn about each other’s strengths, knowledge and approaches to problem solving. This is important because you will need to combine your strengths to work in interdisciplinary teams to solve space sector challenges that require insight and knowledge from different backgrounds. You will therefore grow many (soft)skills such as collaboration, communication and creative thinking.
To stimulate team building, socialising and networking, we have included teambuilding, workshops and collaborative activities. These are combined with project team building, networking drinks, a project presentation and an open barbecue with many networking possibilities at the end of the week.
Why apply for
the LDE NL Space Campus
Summer School?
- Connect with and meet like-minded students from different universities and the space sector
- Experience working in an interdisciplinary team to solve challenges that the space market is currently facing
- Learn about the activities, developments and challenges in the Dutch Space sector
- Broaden your network with experts from renowned companies in the space sector
- Build your CV with working in teams and on challenge proposals
- Find out how and where you can work in the Dutch space sector
What do you
need to do
to get admitted?
- Applications are open for 2nd, 3rd and 4th-year bachelor students and master students of any course that are registered at a Dutch University (of Applied Sciences)
- Apply before April 24 and dedicate your time fully during the 6 days of Summerschool
- Motivate your application and indicate which of the project topics have your interest the most
- Get selected for the summer school
- Pay a fee, which includes lunch, dinner, activities and closing party (see application process below)
- Most importantly: have fun, connect and get inspired!
Note: Participants will be selected on motivation and study background to have sufficient participants from the different backgrounds for the interdisciplinary projects.
Timetable
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities | Welcome & Start in Leiden Cubesat Teambuilding | Project/Challenge Introductions ESTEC Tour Businesscase workshop Space Business Project Kickoff | Space Law Work on Challenge | Space Engineering Space Instrumentation Class Robotics Class Work on Challenge | GRC Tour Work on Challenge Drone Class with Demonstration | Work on Challenge and Final presentations to Expert Jury BBQ and closing party |
| Visits | *PLNT *Nausolaris (Cubesat Producer) | *ESA/ESTEC *ESA BIC Startups *Space Business Innovation Center *Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Management | *Leiden University Space Law, Observatory *SRON *Airbus DS NL | *TU Delft Aerospace engineering, Robotics *TNO | *Galileo Reference Center *GNSS Center of Excellence *Unmanned Valley | *Networking with Space Businesses and Startups |
| Meals | Snacks / Dinner | Lunch / Networking / Dinner | Lunch Networking Drinks / Bites | Lunch / Dinner | Lunch / Dinner | Lunch / Networking / Dinner / Closing event |
Transport is arranged from Leiden Central Station for all activities. The programme starts on Sunday around 13:00CET and indication daily is from 09:00 till 21:00.
Challenge Topics
A key element of the Summer School is the project that you will be working on. You will be placed into a project team of 6 students with the different backgrounds (Science, Law, Engineering and Business) that you will need to find a solution to your challenge. Your team will work on the challenge during the entire week starting on day 1 with a team building exercise.
Then, during the week, you will be provided with relevant information to work on your team’s challenge with the presentations and visits of the different locations. Your team will receive some information and guidance to start your project, but it will be up to your team to find solutions and know when to ask for the relevant information from the experts during the visits.
At the end of the week, you will present your work to your peers and experts to demonstrate you understood the challenge and what solutions and innovations your team has identified to answer the challenge. When subscribing you will be asked to provide your first, second and third choice preferences. Check out the challenges with more details below to make your decision!
What needs to be done to handle or solve the Orbital debris issue?
Space Debris is becoming a serious threat for spaceflight. Managing this threat is a complex issue that not only requires technical solutions but also legislation to enforce the removal of space debris, nowadays not only belonging to governments but also private companies. Technologies to remove debris or repair satellites can make a difference, but under what conditions is there a business case for these technologies?
You will be working in a team of engineering, business and law students to determine the possible solutions to solve/reduce space debris, what legislation is needed and possible and under what circumstances there is a sufficient business case for orbital debris removal or servicing services.
How can Space (data) be used to support the UN Sustainability Goals?
Earth observation is more and more used for monitoring the Earth, understanding the climate. Over the recent year ESA, NSO and the ESA BIC programme have been investing in making sure that the data is also made available to the public in a usable format (apps, dyke monitoring etc.) The question is how can Earth observation data or other space activities can be used to support the UN sustainability goals?
You will be working with a team of engineering, science and business students to determine how Earth observation data can be used for the UN sustainability goals. You will be asked to determine what services and equipment is needed to provide the service and what the business case is behind these services.
How can the developments in space instrumentation, and optics in particular, be used for future exploration and Earth observation missions and other space systems?
The Netherlands has a rich history when it comes to observation of the stars and the Earth and the (optical) instrumentation needed for that. Space instrumentation, in combination with other developments like laser communication, Satellite IOT and CubeSats allow for new capabilities. What should be the next steps in instrumentation development and implementation?
You will be working in a team of science, engineering and business students to analyse the current capabilities of space instrumentation, space platforms and datalink. You are asked to determine what the next steps should be in instrument development but also in overall space system design in getting the data.
What opportunities are there for commercial business cases and what do the developments in laser communication, Geo positioning systems, satellite IOT systems and other market developments offer?
Since about 10 years space has entered a new era which many dub the commercial spaceflight era. Commercial space is no longer limited to the domain of launching and communication satellites. New companies are now creating commercial business or government service programmes in cargo flight and Earth observation. With a new increased interest in lunar exploration and even Mars, companies are looking into opportunities for providing services to government programmes and even full commercial programmes but the business case is sometimes difficult to build.
You will work in a team of business, law, science and engineering students to identify new potential business cases, determine if they depend on governmental programmes or can be commercial self-standing and what legal aspects should be considered.
Application Process
For the LDE NL Space Campus Summerschool 2022 participants will be ask for a short motivation and share their study background, to have sufficient participants from the different backgrounds for the interdisciplinary projects. When you send in your application, we will contact you about your application.
