Master's Thesis: Performance Model for the paired flying satellites of the Next Generation Gravity Mission (d/f/m)

Job Description:

In order to support the AOCS, GNC & Flight Dynamics department, Airbus Defence and Space is offering a

Master's Thesis: Performance Model for the paired flying satellites of the Next Generation Gravity Mission (d/f/m)

You are looking for a master thesis and want to get to know the work of a control aerospace engineer (d/f/m)? Then apply now! We look forward to you supporting us in the AOCS, GNC & Flight Dynamics department as a master student (d/f/m)!

• Location: Friedrichshafen

• Start: 1st May 2026

• Duration: 6 months

Department

The AOCS, GNC & Flight Dynamics department is the center of competence in Airbus for attitude and orbit control systems (AOCS), Guidance/Navigation/Control (GNC), flight dynamics, and control engineering for all kinds of spacecraft. This includes among others modeling, design, synthesis, and verification & validation of the AOCS/GNC systems.

Thesis Context

Spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) offer numerous benefits due to their proximity to the Earth’s surface and play a crucial role in Earth observation, weather forecasting or scientific research. The Next Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM) will specifically improve our knowledge about the Earth’s gravity field with enhanced gravity gradient measurements. It consists of two identical satellites flying in formation and measuring their range variations (precision to a nanometer level) over the orbit, as well as the non-gravitational accelerations acting on them.

The dynamic interaction between the two paired spacecraft together with the entire range of internal noises and environmental disturbances (atmospheric drag, gravity and magnetic fields, thermo-elastic distortions etc...) acting on them increases the simulation time of the non-linear system exposed to these effects. While the dimension of the whole control system also scales up, modern robust control techniques have the capability to take parametric uncertainties into account and identify system performance drivers as well as worst-case combinations of parameters.

This thesis focuses on identifying system performance drivers in order to support the system performance analysis by complementing the traditional high-fidelity Monte-Carlo simulation campaigns analyses. This will be achieved by deriving a robust model of the system, i.e. an adequate linear analytical model of both spacecraft in their environment including parametric uncertainties. Such a deterministic model is obtained from the linearisation of the non-linear dynamics equations, combined with a very good physical understanding and the quantification of the uncertainties in the system. The complexity of the resulting model shall be high enough to enable the assessment of stability and performance, but low-enough to avoid numerical difficulties. This well-balanced model will serve as a preparation for the worst-case analysis and as a cross-validation of the performance computed with the non-linear time-domain simulator.

Your location

At the Airbus site in Friedrichshafen you will be working on innovation where others spend their holidays. Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Constance while having lunch in our canteen. And after work, join one of our many corporate sports groups to go running, sailing or skiing.

Your benefits

• Attractive salary and work-life balance with a 35-hour week (flexitime).

• International environment with the opportunity to network globally.

• Work with modern/diversified technologies.

• At Airbus, we see you as a valuable team member and you are not hired to brew coffee, instead you are in close contact with the interfaces and are part of our weekly team meetings.

• Opportunity to participate in the Generation Airbus Community to expand your own network.

Your tasks and responsibilities

• Understanding of the dynamical behaviour of the paired spacecraft of the Next Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM) mission as formation flying spacecraft using a system of nonlinear/linear equations of motion.

• Familiarisation with the description/ formulation of robust models and probabilistic uncertainties.

• Derivation and implementation of a robust model for NGGM.

• Application of derived robust model for robustness and sensitivity analysis of NGGM in science operation.

• Documentation of the Master's Thesis.

 Desired skills and qualifications

• Enrolled fulltime student (d/f/m) as Aerospace Engineering Master or similar field of study.

• Very good knowledge of MATLAB / Simulink.

• Very good knowledge of dynamics modelling and robust control.

• Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

• Structured, independent, and proactive way of working.

• English (fluent) mandatory..

 

Please upload the following documents: cover letter, CV, relevant transcripts, enrollment certificate. 

Not a 100% match? No worries! Airbus supports your personal growth.

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This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Defence and Space GmbH

Employment Type:

Final-year Thesis

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Experience Level:

Student

Job Family:

Vehicle Mission & Control <JF-EN-EU>

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