A contribution by Niklas Wenzel for the project “Was DA los?!” by students at h_da
Federico controls satellites for the European Space Agency – from Darmstadt. How can I get into an international organization after my studies?
When I get off the tram at the "Maria-Goeppert-Straße" stop, there's not a building in sight. Only after walking a few hundred meters do I spot a large office complex and several national flags fluttering in the breeze. This must be it. At first glance, the complex seems large but rather unassuming: one old office building after another. As I walk closer to the entrance, I can see a large sign with "ESA" (European Space Agency) written on it in blue. Here, not far from Darmstadt's main train station, is the Operations Centre of the European equivalent of NASA. "When I first entered the campus, it immediately felt very special," says Federico, who only wants to be identified by his first name. "It was really cool to walk through the gates with the big ESA logo for the first time. This is where ESA missions are launched."
From live streams to the control center
Federico is 26 years old and works as a Spacecraft Operations Engineer at the ESA. After a year-long internship in Madrid, this is his first permanent position, directly with an international organization. "Together with a team, I'm always tracking a mission. We monitor it and make decisions about its progress." As Federico shows me around the site, I can feel his enthusiasm for space travel. "About ten years ago, I watched a lot of live streams of various ESA missions," he tells me. "I was so fascinated that I wanted to study aerospace engineering myself." He did just that in Italy, where he grew up. "To be honest, my path was pretty standard. After my internship at the satellite manufacturer FOSSA Systems in Madrid, I simply applied for an open position at the ESA and got the job." No connections, no tips, no special entrance tests. "Of course, there's a lot of competition for such an interesting job, but all in all, the application process was very standard," says the aerospace engineer.
Rosetta: A milestone in comet research
After a lengthy tour of the grounds, we stop in front of a life-size model of a space probe. "That's Rosetta," says the 26-year-old. The mission's special milestone: The lander "Philae" was the first probe to touch down on a comet's surface. "Rosetta was a pretty big deal for ESA," he says. "This probe has given us a lot of new insights into comets and their role in the formation of the sun and planets." Federico then leads me to his office. Complex data displays are running on several screens. Afterward, we walk past the main control room. This is where the launches of ESA missions are controlled. "This is where my best memories of working at ESA so far were made," Federico tells me. "Every launch is a huge event. There's minutes of silence from the moment the rocket starts its engines until it's in space and the satellite separates. If everything goes well, there's a huge roar of jubilation. It's always very emotional."
Why Darmstadt, of all places?
It's only now that I truly understand the international significance of the ESA. Why is its control center located in a relatively small city like Darmstadt? "To be honest, I don't really know," Federico says with a smile. "But I really like Darmstadt. It's not the most beautiful city at first glance, but you can easily get everywhere by bike, which I really appreciate. And if you know where to look, you can find some truly lovely spots." In fact, the decision to locate in Darmstadt was no accident: the European Space Research Organisation, a predecessor of the ESA, was already based here in 1962. This existing infrastructure, combined with the proximity to the technically oriented Technical University of Darmstadt, made the city an ideal location for the new control center.
Coffee, colleagues and community
After visiting more offices with even more screens and spreadsheets, the tour is drawing to a close. We grab a cappuccino in the cafeteria. Federico runs into some of his colleagues there. He seems to get along well with many of them. "Yes, the work atmosphere is great. It's a very international bubble, which I really like. My friends here come from all over Europe. We also do a lot together in our free time; sometimes the ESA organizes game nights or trips to the Christmas market." I get the impression that Federico is genuinely happy with his job at the ESA, and the environment is just right for him.
Finally, he would like to offer some advice to other aerospace engineering students: "Sometimes it's easier than you think to get into a company like this. You just have to try. ESA offers many entry-level opportunities, such as internships. Anyone who wants to work in this field shouldn't be intimidated by big names. Just apply. That's what I ended up doing."
I'm impressed by how naturally Federico has pursued his path and by the potential Darmstadt holds. Those who want to work in a major industry don't necessarily have to move to a metropolis – sometimes a bike path through Darmstadt leads directly to an international company.
This article was created as part of the "Was da los" project – a student-run newsroom run by students of the Online Journalism program at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da). DA.news supports the project and publishes selected articles on its platform. Further information and articles can be found here and at: www.was-da-los.de
