ESA opens doors for students to carry out experiments in the field of their theses

(available only in Portuguese)

The European Space Agency (ESA) has opened applications for three programs, Fly Your Thesis!, Spin Your Thesis!, and Drop Your Thesis!, with deadlines on September 9, November 25, and November 4, respectively.

The Fly Your Thesis! program allows teams to design, build, and test their experiments on a parabolic flight, which is scheduled for late 2019. In their application, they must detail the experiments they intend to carry out and describe how these are a fundamental part of their master's or doctoral theses, with the theme of the experiments requiring microgravity conditions.

 Now in its 10th edition, the Spin Your Thesis! program challenges students to test their experiments in hypergravity conditions in ESA's Large Diameter Centrifuge (LDC). This centrifuge is eight meters in diameter, performs experiments with up to 80 kg of mass, and when spinning simulates gravitational force up to 20 times greater than that tested on the Earth's surface.

With the Drop Your Thesis! Program, participants will be able to observe their experiment fall from a height of 120 meters, reaching "microgravity" similar to the perpetual free fall of being in orbit. This opportunity to "drop" the test in a specialized facility is a more accessible option than launching it into space.

Through these programs, students have the opportunity to conduct trials, tests, and experiments as part of their master's and doctoral theses in an environment that is different from the usual laboratories where they carry out their analyses and studies.