Space Resources Utilization – Purification of in-situ extracted water on the Moon

Student placement, Internship

Student Engineering science, Aerospace Engineering or similar (f/m/x)

Starting date

1 April 2022

Duration of contract

6 months

Remuneration

up to the German TVöD 5

Type of employment

Part-time

Your mission:

The Institute of Space Systems in Bremen designs and analyses future spacecraft and space missions (launchers, orbital and exploration systems, and satellites), and assesses them with regard to their technical performance and cost. It applies state-of-the-art methods of multi-disciplinary engineering in system design and analysis –for example, a computerized system for concurrent design.

The newly founded research group Synergetic Material Utilization (SMU) researches and develops technologies for In-Situ Resources Utilization (ISRU). A special focus is on the combination of those technologies with life support systems and processes in order to exploit synergies. Thus, a holistic approach for resources management during future space exploration missions is persecuted.

An essential resource to enable the exploration of the solar system is water. The SMU is studying impurities of the in-situ extracted water where the superabound Lunar Dust poses a contamination risk. Hence, laboratory experiments are running to explore the behavior of Lunar dust in aqueous solutions to ensure a reliable water treatment system. These experiments are under further development.

Specifically, for this internship the following tasks should be carried out:

  • literature research: water purification for space applications
  • literature research: Lunar raw water conditions
  • enhance the production of Lunar raw water simulants
  • support with the selection of water treatment steps

Your qualifications:

  • You are enrolled at a university as a student.
  • You study engineering science, aerospace engineering, process engineering, geology science or a similar discipline.
  • experience with water chemistry and water treatment technologies
  • ideally, chemistry laboratory work experience
  • good command of English

Your benefits:

Look forward to a fulfilling job with an employer who appreciates your commitment and supports your personal and professional development. Our unique infrastructure offers you a working environment in which you have unparalleled scope to develop your creative ideas and accomplish your professional objectives. Our human resources policy places great value on a healthy family and work-life-balance as well as equal opportunities for persons of all genders (f/m/x). Individuals with disabilities will be given preferential consideration in the event their qualifications are equivalent to those of other candidates.

DLR – Jobs & Careers – Space Resources Utilization – Purification of in-situ extracted water on the Moon