LDE NL Space Campus Summer School 2024: A Week of Exploration and Growth

The LDE NL Space Campus Summer School is a great way for young people to get a taste of the space sector. The Summer School lets them peek behind the curtain and see what it’s really like to work with rockets, satellites, space data and all that cool space stuff. It’s not just about sitting in lectures – they get to meet and see the organisations who are actually doing the job, from engineers to scientists to businesspeople. 

For our stakeholders, it’s a chance to show off their coolest projects and maybe catch the eye of some bright sparks. They can spot talent early and get them excited about a future in space. It’s like planting seeds for the next generation of space explorers and innovators. Plus, it’s fun for everyone – the students get hands-on experience with cutting-edge tech, and the pros get to share their passion with fresh faces. Who knows? The next big space breakthrough might come from someone who got their first taste of the industry at one of our Summer Schools! 

The LDE NL Space Campus Summer School 2024 concluded successfully in July, hosting dozens of enthusiastic students. The programme offered an immersive experience combining lectures and workshops from the Leiden, Delft and Erasmus Universities with behind-the-scenes visits to leading space companies and a variety of workshops. The Summer School also emphasises networking and skills development, with team-building exercises, collaborative workshops, and interdisciplinary projects addressing real-world challenges with actual clients from the space industry.  

2024 Edition Highlights 

The 2024 edition of the LDE NL Space Campus Summer School offered a dynamic and engaging experience for participants, featuring a week packed with activities across Noordwijk, Leiden and Delft. The programme began with team-building exercises and an introduction to the project challenges the participants would tackle in interdisciplinary teams. Throughout the week, students engaged in workshops and lectures from experts of the Leiden, Delft and Erasmus Universities covering a wide range of topics, including business case development, ethics in the space industry, space technology, space sciences, space law and space instrumentation. Visits to companies and institutions such as West End BV, Airbus, ESA/ESTEC, Demcon high-tech systems,  TNO Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk, SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Leidse Instrumentmakers School, Unmanned Valley, Space-Expo Noordwijk, and the Oude Sterrewacht provided hands-on learning and networking opportunities. The week culminated in project presentations and a closing event at the Space Expo, underscoring the participants’ ability to innovate and apply their newfound knowledge directly within the space sector. 

About the LDE NL Space Campus Summer School 

Aimed at both bachelor’s and master’s students, the Summer School provides access to the Dutch space sector, featuring behind-the-scenes visits to leading space companies and diverse workshops. The programme is tailored for students who are passionate about space in general, welcoming participants from all academic backgrounds without any prior experience with space technology or in the space industry. 

The LDE NL Space Campus Summer School is  about academics, but also about networking and skills development. Participants will engage in team-building exercises, collaborative workshops, and interdisciplinary projects designed to solve real-world challenges faced by the space industry today.   

Interdisciplinary Challenges: A Showcase of Student Projects 

A key element of the Summer School was the interdisciplinary team project work undertaken by the students. Throughout the week, participants were divided into interdisciplinary teams, each tasked with addressing real-world challenges presented by partnering companies. These projects allowed students to apply their diverse backgrounds in Marketing, Instrumentation, Science, Law, Engineering, Business, and more in interdisciplinary teams. 

Guided by industry experts and with new gained knowledge from visits and presentations, the teams worked diligently to devise innovative solutions. The week concluded with the students presenting their projects to peers and professionals, showcasing their understanding of the challenges and the creative solutions they developed. 

Project 1: Remote Sensing Innovation for Floriculture 

In collaboration with Unmanned Valley, this project focused on integrating space-based remote sensing technology with drone data to improve disease detection in tulips and hyacinths. Participants explored how satellite imagery could enhance existing methodologies, leveraging skills in engineering, data science, and horticulture to develop innovative solutions. 

Project 2: Emergency Space Traffic Management 

Project Astra Ianua addressed a critical emergency scenario involving a non-functioning Dutch satellite on a collision course, potentially triggering the Kessler Syndrome. Participants, including engineering, business, law, and science students, were tasked with proposing actionable solutions to prevent this catastrophe, navigating complex international and legal frameworks. 

Project 3: Space Business Project 

This Project challenged teams to conceptualise and pitch new space business ideas. Participants evaluated market potential, economic feasibility, and legal considerations for their proposed space-related ventures, aiming to attract investors and drive innovation in the commercial space sector. 

Project 4: Satellite Data Portal for the Caribbean 

Under the guidance of the Netherlands Space Office (NSO), teams focused on stimulating the use of the Caribbean Satellite Data Portal (BES) among Dutch Caribbean communities. This challenge involved identifying stakeholders, devising engagement strategies, and exploring potential applications to promote the effective use of satellite data for societal benefit. Students’ team also introduced a detailed roadmap for rolling out these initiatives, which received positive feedback from the Summer School mentors. 

Project 5: EO Sustainability Monitoring 

Supported by S[&]T, this project explored using Earth Observation (EO) technology to enhance corporate sustainability reporting. Participants analysed existing CSR legislation, leveraging EO applications to fill data gaps and facilitate accurate monitoring of environmental impacts, thereby supporting corporate sustainability initiatives. 

Project 6: Open Space Academy 

Groundstation.SPACE (dotSPACE) presented the Open Space Academy Project, aiming to develop an online platform for space education. The student team’s dual-approach concept included Self-Service for Young Professionals to identify skill gaps, explore courses, and match qualifications with vacancies, and Personal Assistance for Companies and Universities to align industry needs with academic offerings. 

These projects provided opportunities for participants to apply interdisciplinary knowledge and innovate within the space sector’s pressing issues and emerging opportunities. 

From Different Views to New Insights 

Participants appreciated the Summer School’s interdisciplinary approach, which gave them a broad view of the space sector. “The most enjoyable aspect was exploring space from various perspectives and seeing how different fields approach the same challenges”, shared one of the Summer School participants. Another added, “I really liked meeting professionals from other disciplines and discussing space from different viewpoints. The discussions were engaging, but it would be great to include more data science perspectives for more diverse analysis.” This feedback highlights the success of the program and offers helpful suggestions for improvement. 

Organisations that provide challenges, projects, and guidance during the week find the summer school to be a valuable platform for connecting students with the industry. This interaction allows the industry to engage with young talent and gain fresh perspectives on their problems and challenges. Martijn Seijger from dotSPACE remarked, “The development of an Open Space Academy, an outcome of a case study conducted by students, offered valuable insights into service elements for our SpaceSUITE project.” dotSPACE, which provided a challenge last year, emphasizes the mutual benefits of this collaboration. They note it as a unique opportunity for students to work on real projects for actual customers, while customers benefit from innovative solutions and early engagement with potential future professionals. 

NL Space Campus, one of the organisers of the LDE NL Space Campus Summer School, highlights the engaging experience that Summer School offers,  “Our Space Summer School is not just for learning – it’s for lighting up passion. We see students come in curious and go out ready to make the space future. Here, big dreams about stars become real career paths.”  

Register for Next Edition 

Missed out on this year’s Summer School? No problem! The 2025 edition is shaping up as we write this. While registration for next year’s event is not open just yet, you can sign up to receive updates and be among the first to know when registration opens. 

Do not miss your chance to join us for the inspiring journey in space sector. Register your interest now to stay informed! 

Register here 

Summer School Organisers 

NL Space Campus 

NL Space Campus is the gateway to the Dutch Space Cluster and, together with this strong cluster, an important European Space Hub. We connect the curious. Both online and offline, we are here to find and share new and better ways to go from knowledge to the application of knowledge.   

Leiden – Delf – Erasmus Universities 

The Leiden-Delft-Erasmus universities is an alliance of 3 world leading top 100 universities. It houses the largest aerospace engineering faculty in Europe, a world-famous astronomy department and the number one air and space law program in the world. With over 1.100 PhD defences per year, 85.000 students and a collaboration with NL Space Campus, we are working together for Space and Society.