Where creative ideas turn into reality
“At the Orbital Robotics Laboratory, we see students arrive with bold concepts and leave having accomplished something ambitious and unique on their own,” comments Marti Vilella, manager of the Orbital Robotics Laboratory. “The projects they test here are not just about the technology pushing forward, but also about elevating the students’ professional careers to exciting paths.”
Laura Borella, coordinator of the ESA Academy Experiments Programme, concludes: “The ESA Academy Experiments Programme supports university student teams from concept and design to testing and execution in advanced gravity-related facilities. It emphasizes professional engineering practices, project management, risk mitigation, and funding strategies, with continuous mentorship from ESA experts.
“The programme is open to students from all academic backgrounds, not only STEM fields. Students in areas such as design, psychology, communication, or business often bring valuable perspectives that enhance the quality, usability, and outreach of the experiments, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of real space projects.
“This hands-on experience gives students unique insights into how space missions are developed and managed, complementing their academic studies with real-world application.”
More information
For up-to-date information about ESA Education initiatives, visit the ESA Learn portal.