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Master Thesis Student (f/m/x) - Laser Occultation Measurements in Optical Inter-Satellite Links
Job Description
Req ID:  1732
Place of work:  Oberpfaffenhofen
Starting date:  01.07.2025
Career level:  Student research project and final thesis
Type of employment:  Part time, Full-time
Duration of contract:  3 to 6 months

Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund)

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 11,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation (IKN) is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical foundations to the demonstration of new procedures and systems in a real environment and is embedded in DLR's Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalization programmes.

What to expect

The Department of Optical Satellite Links (OSL), inside DLR-IKN, develops and does research on optical satellite terminals, optical ground stations, and related technology. It is engaged in basic and project funded national and international projects.


Your work will be to analyze measurements of the optical power that was transmitted as lease beams between two satellites. The Line-of-Sight between these two satellites was lowered down towards the planetary boundary layer so that the atmosphere could interfere with the laser signal. This means the “grazing altitude” was below 100km into the atmosphere.
 

Your tasks

  • model the effect of the atmosphere on the laser signal transmission, where we are most interested in effects from atmospheric index-of-refraction turbulence, but also attenuatio0n from aerosols and molecules shall be considered 
  • access the telemetry data of both satellite laser terminals
  • establish the time vector of geographical location and altitude of the grazing point
  • compare simulations with the measurements
  • write a report and a publication on the results

 

Your profile

  • experience in data analysis with Matlab or Python
  • experience in working with electronic hardware 
  • interest in the field of optical free-space communications and satellite operation 
  • commitment for working according to project requirements, which might include working at night time and on holidays (depending on satellite visibility)
     

We offer

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 1732) please contact:

Amita Shrestha 
Tel.: +49 8153 28 3574 
Apply now