20 May Call for Applications: Earth Observation Satellite System Design Training Course 2026

The African Space Agency (AfSA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) jointly invite applications from African students and early-career professionals for the Earth Observation Satellite System Design (EOSSD) Training Course. This initiative is organised as part of the broader Africa-EU Space Partnership Program to strengthen collaboration in space activities and build capacity for the next generation of space professionals.

Course Overview

Earth Observation (EO) satellites are vital for a sustainable future, enabling the monitoring of vegetation, water resources, natural disasters, and climate evolution. This practice-oriented course offers participants a unique opportunity to learn the end-to-end design process of an EO satellite system—from defining mission requirements to ground segment operations and in-orbit validation.

Led by seasoned experts from ESA and the Association of Retired ESA Staff (ARES), the training features an engaging learning environment with direct insights into flagship missions like BIOMASS and Copernicus.

The Experience: Hands-on Group Project

A core component of the course is a collaborative group project where students work in teams to solve a step-by-step system design challenge. Participants will take on specific engineering roles, such as:

• System Lead Engineer
• Microwave Payload Engineer 
• Optical Payload Engineer
• Satellite Engineer (Platform & Subsystems)
• Ground Segment & Operations Engineer

Programme:

• Title: Earth Observation Satellite System Design Training Course 2026
• Format: Two-week hybrid course
  • Week 1 (Onsite): 28 September – 02 October 2026 at ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Facility, ESEC-Galaxia, Belgium.
  • Week 2 (Online): 05 – 09 October 2026.
• Details: More information is available here; however, applications should be submitted here for Africans

Eligibility

This call is open exclusively to African nationals. Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old. The African Space Agency will consider applications only from:

• University students enrolled for the year 2025-2026 in a Bachelor’s (i.e., BSc or equivalent), Master’s (i.e., MSc or equivalent), or a Doctoral (i.e., PhD or equivalent) degree programme with a background in engineering or science with a solid foundation in mathematics and physics; OR
• Early-career professionals with no more than two years of professional experience, endorsed by their institutions.

Requirements

• A letter of endorsement/recommendation from the applicant’s institution/academic supervisor is mandatory and must confirm the institution’s support for the candidate’s participation in the training.
• The course will be conducted in English; therefore, participants should have a good level of understanding of English.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: 19 June 2026, 23:55 (UTC+3)
• Notification of Selection: 03 July 2026

Application Details

Interested candidates must submit their applications here. Email submissions will not be considered.

AfSA will oversee the selection of 15 participants from Africa, along with 5 candidates on a reserve list, ensuring regional representation and gender balance.

AfSA will cover all participation-related costs, including visa fees, travel insurance, air tickets, and a daily subsistence allowance for the duration of the event.

ESA covers: Accommodation at the Mercure Hotel (Han-sur-Lesse), local transportation between the hotel and training centre, and meals (Monday morning to Friday lunch).