The SSTC is offering a number of paid summer research internships for the 2024/25 summer. This program offers current undergraduate students an opportunity to immerse themselves in a research team conducting high quality space science and aerospace technology research.
The internships are open to current Curtin undergraduate students who have both completed at least two semesters and also have at least two semesters remaining in their course. The internships will run in-person at Curtin University’s Perth campus over 12 weeks (10 weeks of work plus a 2-week break) between November 2024 and February 2025. The program is a summer research internship, not employment. The award to successful applicants is AUD$6000. Applicants must not have held a paid SSTC or Binar Space Program summer internship previously.
As a part of the program interns are expected to:
- Meet regularly with the project supervisors,
- Apply themselves to the project full-time for 10 weeks,
- Participate in SSTC outreach events during summer and
- Deliver an end of project presentation and report in addition to the project outputs listed below.
You must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- A current Curtin undergraduate student,
- At least two semesters of your degree completed,
- At least two semesters of your degree remaining, and
- Not previously held a paid SSTC or Binar Space Program summer internship.
Applications will be assessed on merit. This assessment will be based on:
- Applicant past performance and experience,
- Applicant motivation,
- Benefit to the applicant or program, and
- Applicant suitability for the projects available.
Conditions:
- Interns are required to comply with the terms and conditions of the award.
- Payments are contingent on satisfactory progress.
- Interns may be required to sign a project participation agreement which may include provisions regarding confidential information and intellectual property.
- Interns are required to submit a copy of all project materials and work at the conclusion of the internship.
Projects
Multi thread Storage Solution for the Binar Space Program
Description: The Binar space program would like to offload the storage processing of the spacecraft to the second thread of the microcontroller. The project task will be to verify that this is possible and update our libraries and firmware (written in C++) to make the second thread process all storage commands.
Outputs: Proof of concept multithreaded storage library implemented in C++, lessons learned from implementation
Suited to: an applicant with experience or interest in computer science, software engineering or embedded software development.
Supervisors: Tristan Ward and Chelsea Tay
USB 3 Hub for Space Applications
Description: Computer vision systems on modern spacecraft such as the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS) payload on the Nova-C lander and the entry, decent, landing cameras (EDLCAMs) on the Mars 2020 mission use USB 3 interfaces and one or more USB hubs to connect multiple cameras to a single data storage unit. This project aims to create a compact and lightweight USB hub suitable for space applications to give the Binar Space Program more flexibility in the development of future Binar imaging systems for spacecraft engineering, Earth Observation and planetary science applications. The project will consist of component selection, PCB development, environmental testing and application testing.
Outputs: USB 3 hub design, prototype hub, environmental testing data
Suited to: This project is suitable for an applicant with existing electronic design and PCB design skills with an interest in high speed circuit design.
Supervisors: Jacob Cook and Dale Giancono
Earth Observation for Bushfire Impact Analysis
Description: This project is utilising ECOSTRESS imagery from the International Space Station to examine the ecological impact of bushfires. By employing in-house algorithms, the imagery will be acquired and processed to study evapotranspiration rates in natural environments across Australia, both before and after major bushfire events. The analysis aims to provide valuable data to inform sustainable management practices and enhance ecosystem recovery efforts.
Outputs: Proof of concept image processing software
Suited to: This project would be suitable for an applicant with experience or an interest in satellite data processing.
Supervisor: Dr Eriita Jones
Hardware in the Loop Attitude Control Simulator
Description: Magnetorquers are relatively weak attitude control actuators, and are overcome by gravitational torques when tested on the ground.
In this project, the intern will create a simulator in a physics engine that responds to real control inputs from the satellite to allow for attitude determination and control algorithm validation. This will involve building a simple dynamic model in a physics engine, interfacing the Binar satellite with this engine, and running hardware in the loop simulations.
Outputs: A simulation tool for Binar satellite attitude determination and control.
Suited to: A 2nd or 3rd year student with software and digital communications experience.
Supervisor: Kyle McMullan
Evaluating Titan’s Potential Biosphere
Description: This project will utilize known measurements and geophysical models to estimate the current pressure-temperature conditions in Titan’s atmosphere, surface, and subsurface, to quantify what fraction of this planetary body can potentially support bio-relevant fluids such as water, methane and ammonium, using a method developed by Dr Eriita Jones. The analysis will also compare the measured and modelled conditions on Titan to the pressure-temperature (PT) range inhabited by active life on Earth, to provide a first order assessment of Titan’s capacity for environments that could potentially support terrestrial-like microbial organisms. A new python code will be developed to implement these models.
Outputs: Proof of concept code.
Suited to: This project would be suitable for an applicant with basic planetary science or astrobiology experience or with an interest in software development to enable science.
Supervisor: Dr Eriita Jones
Automated Magnetometer Testing and Verification
Description: The Binar 1U platform is designed to be able to accommodate quick mission development cycles and launches, but requires rigorous testing to ensure all aspects of the satellite work as required. One such subsystem are the magnetorquers which control the orientation or attitude of the satellite. The applicant will develop equipment which can be used to test the magnetorquers and provide data on their performance both before and after integration into the satellite.
Outputs: 1U Magnetorquer testing equipment with hardware and software to run the testing and record results.
Suited to: Any student interested in mechatronic design and manufacturing, experience with electronics prototyping. Some programming experience would also be beneficial.
Supervisors: Hans Benz and Kyle McMullan
Searching for Bushfires Around DFN Cameras
Description: Searching for bushfire signatures from known events near DFN cameras in the Wheatbelt/Nullarbor. Did they see haze, columns of smoke, flames? If signatures exist, these can be used as ground truth observations from earth observation satellite data, and give a proof of concept for future use of DFN in bushfire warning.
Outputs: A proof of concept software tool
Suited to: Any student with experience or an interest in data science.
Supervisors: Dr Eriita Jones and Dr Ellie Sansom
Improvement of Deployable Solar Panel Manufacturing Processes
Description: The Binar 234 mission used deployable solar arrays to obtain extra power on orbit, however these were challenging to manufacture to the tolerances required. The applicant would briefly investigate potential methods of manufacturing before spending the majority of the project testing the results of manufacturing the panels with those methods.
Outputs: Recommended manufacturing method of deployable solar arrays for future CubeSats including test data.
Suited to: A student with interest in manufacturing of electrical and mechanical assemblies.
Supervisors: Kyle McMullan and Hans Benz
Student Ground Stations
Description: The BinarX Student Payload Development Program 2024-2026 is a two-year mission designed to engage high school students in the design, construction, and launch of space payloads. In addition to launching their own payloads on future Binar 1U missions, a key goal is to enable student groups to build and operate amateur radio ground stations on the SatNOGs network. These stations will track satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including Binar-2, Binar-3, and Binar-4. This hands-on experience will equip students with the skills and confidence to track the satellites that carry their payloads once the program is successfully completed.
Outputs: A user-friendly guide to help high school students and teachers independently set up and operate a SatNOGs ground station from mostly off-the-shelf components, and a step-by-step guide for students to build their own higher performance antenna.
Suited to: A student with interest STEM education or outreach.
Supervisors: Robert Howie and Meg Berry
This internship has been an amazing opportunity for me to learn industry skills and gain so much knowledge around space that I wouldn’t have gained before.
Athena Galbraith, 2024 Binar Summer Research Intern
Applications have now closed.
Applications for summer 2024/25 have now closed.
Successful and shortlisted applicants will be contacted by 11 October 2024.
Due to the expected number of applications, we are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
