4-month internship at JPL for Thibault

My motivations for joining JPL were many and deep-rooted. First and foremost, I wanted to meet the engineers who work there, the men and women whose achievements have left their mark on space history. I still remember the first time I read about the Curiosity rover, designed at JPL, and how it revolutionized our understanding of Mars. I wanted to talk to the people who made it possible, to understand what drives them to get up every morning, and to capture their unique perspective on the conquest of space. What motivates someone to dedicate their life to missions that may only bear fruit decades later? This question fascinated me, and I knew that only an immersion in NASA could answer it.

Secondly, I wanted to get an insider’s view of how an organization as legendary as NASA operates. How does an institution that has sent men to the Moon and probes to the far reaches of the cosmos manage its day-to-day projects? What are the logistical, technical and human challenges it faces? I was curious to see how such a structure balances bold innovation with practical constraints, and how it manages to stay ahead in a world where the space sector is becoming increasingly competitive. This understanding, I knew, would be invaluable to my future career, whether I chose to stay in industry or go into research.

Finally, Another, more personal motivation was to immerse myself in American culture. The United States exerts a considerable influence on the contemporary world, and I wanted to understand the social dynamics, values and lifestyles that shape this society. Living in California, in the heart of the American West, would allow me to step out of my comfort zone and enrich my vision of the world. I’m convinced that this cultural openness is essential for making informed decisions, both in my personal and professional life. In short, joining JPL wasn’t just a professional opportunity; it was a chance to grow as an individual, feed my insatiable curiosity and lay the foundations for a future aligned with my deepest dreams.

How would you sum up your stay in Paris in academic terms?

On the academic front, my time at JPL was an exceptionally rich experience, marked by my involvement in the MuSCAT (Multi-Spacecraft Concept and Autonomy Tool) project. This open-source simulation software, on which I had the honor of working, is much more than a technical tool; it embodies a revolution in the way space missions are conceived. MuSCAT aims to save NASA millions of dollars by transforming the initial mission planning phase. Today, when a scientist or designer proposes a new mission, he or she often relies on rudimentary tools such as Excel spreadsheets to estimate costs and requirements. Let’s say he proposes an initial budget of $10 million. Once the project is under development, more detailed simulations often reveal unforeseen expenses – complex interactions between subsystems, unpredictable technical adjustments – pushing the cost up to $20 million or more. The result is delays, budget inefficiencies and widespread frustration.

MuSCAT is a game-changer. This software offers an integrated platform for simulating the dependencies between a spacecraft’s subsystems from the earliest stages: navigation, attitude control, power management, communications, scientific instruments, and much more. Thanks to its dual-loop architecture, it efficiently handles different timescales – the fast dynamics of the ship’s orientation and the slower evolutions of its orbit – with remarkable precision and optimized computational efficiency. Using MuSCAT, designers can anticipate technical challenges and propose realistic budgets from the outset, avoiding costly overruns. It’s an approach that doesn’t just create software; it reorganizes design activities to save time, money and, ultimately, speed up space exploration.

My role in this project has been both stimulating and rewarding. Drawing on my experience in software development, acquired during my studies at ISEN and my previous internships, I contributed to improving the performance and stability of MuSCAT before its open-source release. I worked on optimizing its code, ensuring that it could handle complex simulations without compromising its speed or reliability. In addition, this project enabled me to deepen my skills in Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC), an essential field for spacecraft navigation. Every day, I discovered new facets of this field, from attitude control algorithms to orbital calculations, and saw how my contributions fitted into a much wider mission. My supervisor, an engineer of admirable patience and expertise, guided me carefully, giving me invaluable advice and constructive feedback. The praise I received for my work gave me new confidence, pushing me to aim even higher. Participating in such an innovative project, in such a prestigious environment as JPL, was a privilege that exceeded all my expectations.

And on the cultural front?

From a cultural point of view, this stay was a human adventure of rare intensity. I had the chance to explore California and the neighboring states of Nevada, Utah and Arizona, regions that amazed me with the majesty of their natural landscapes. National parks like the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon took my breath away. I still remember my first sunrise at the Grand Canyon, where the changing colors of the rocks seemed to dance in the morning light, a sight that reminded me what an extraordinary place our planet is, worthy of exploration and protection. These experiences gave me a new appreciation for nature, a dimension I hadn’t cultivated as much in my previous travels.

But beyond the landscapes, it was the encounters with Americans that most marked my stay. I’m a curious person by nature, and I like to engage in conversation with strangers to understand their history and their vision of the world. During these few months, I took every opportunity to talk to people from all walks of life: restaurant workers who told me about their often bumpy road, national park rangers passionate about their preservation mission, bus drivers who shared their love of the road, security guards proud of their role, sports teachers bursting with energy, members of the Mexican community with a rich dual culture, and of course, JPL colleagues and interns. I also had the privilege of lunching with European NASA employees, who explained why they had chosen to cross the Atlantic: for them, the United States, and JPL in particular, were the only places where their ambitions could be fully realized, thanks to unrivalled resources and freedom to innovate.

These interactions revealed to me an essential facet of American culture: an accessibility and generosity in exchanges that surprised and delighted me. Compared to my experiences in Lithuania, Portugal or Germany, where striking up a conversation with strangers sometimes required more effort, here, people seemed naturally inclined to share. I realized that this openness reflected deep-seated values: individual freedom, entrepreneurship and a belief in the possibility of reinventing one’s life. However, I also observed contrasts. American cities, with their repetitive urban “blocks”, sometimes gave me an impression of architectural monotony, except in certain Californian towns where a Spanish heritage added a touch of unique charm. Everything seemed to be designed as an “experience”: from brightly-colored donuts to interactive museums and cars vying with each other in extravagance. This culture of spectacle, while fascinating, could also be confusing, even exhausting at times.

Another aspect that struck me was the high cost of living. In the U.S., everything has a price, right down to the smallest parking lot, which got me thinking about economic disparities and how this society values hard work and material success. These observations enabled me to put my own reality into perspective and better understand how our environment shapes our priorities and behaviors. It gave me a new lens through which to see the world, a perspective I’ll never forget.

What do you take away from this experience on a personal level?

On a personal level, this internship has been a period of discovery and resilience. I experienced historic events, such as the US elections, which sparked lively debates at JPL about the future of space priorities. I felt the direct repercussions of political decisions, such as the budget cuts to NASA’s climate pole and the cancellation of the Mars Sample Return project, a mission that would have brought Martian samples back to Earth. These announcements provoked intense discussion among employees, some of whom feared that JPL would not be able to maintain its leadership role in the face of the rise of the private sector, such as SpaceX or Blue Origin. These exchanges gave me a rare insight into the challenges facing an institution like NASA in a changing landscape.

Another highlight was the forest fires that ravaged California in January. Unusually large for the season, these fires forced me to temporarily relocate and leave my home for two weeks. I was deeply touched by the solidarity of the local community, which welcomed and supported me during this difficult period. This episode reminded me of the fragility of our environment and the importance of human bonds in the face of adversity. These experiences, though unforeseen, enriched my stay by confronting me with realities I hadn’t anticipated.

All in all, the “American dream” I perceived lies in a unique blend: the striking beauty of the landscape, the warmth and openness of the people, and the technological advances that continue to inspire the world. But it’s also a country of contrasts, where innovation rubs shoulders with complex social and environmental challenges. . This trip has allowed me to experience these paradoxes in a tangible way, and I leave with a more nuanced and mature vision of what it means to live and work in the United States.

My time at JPL was an experience that opened up unsuspected horizons for me, both professionally and personally. No other stage of my career has pushed me so hard to push my limits and envisage new directions for my career. My background is mainly in software development, a skill I honed at ISEN and during internships like the one at ArianeGroup. However, my passion has always been to contribute to the development of space technologies, a field that combines engineering, science and exploration. My Master’s degree at ISAE-SUPAERO was a turning point in this direction, and this internship at NASA was a natural extension, enabling me to merge my technical skills with concrete applications in space.

Working on MuSCAT has given me a unique opportunity to put my knowledge into practice while broadening my field of expertise. I gained an in-depth understanding of CNG, a field that requires both theoretical rigor and practical creativity. This experience showed me that, with hard work and determination, I could reorient myself towards more complex disciplines and become involved in international projects. The tasks entrusted to me at JPL – optimizing software crucial to future space missions – gave me new confidence in my abilities, a self-confidence I hadn’t fully developed before.

One of the decisive moments of my stay was the encouragement I received from my supervisor. Until then, I saw myself as a practitioner, someone who applies solutions rather than invents them. I thought that research, and in particular a PhD, was out of my reach, that I lacked the theoretical grounding or originality to excel at it. But my supervisor saw a potential in me that I hadn’t yet recognized. He told me that the questions I was working on – how to optimize simulations for multi-vessel missions, or how to make autonomy algorithms more robust – were pure research issues. That conversation was a revelation. For the first time, I’ve seriously considered an academic career, a possibility I no longer rule out, even if I’m not yet ready to commit myself fully to it. I want to take the time to think about the field I’m most passionate about and the university that would best match my aspirations.

What’s next for you?

For the time being, my next chapter will be in industry. I joined The Exploration Company in Munich, a bold start-up developing the first reusable European space capsule. This project, which aims to give Europe independent access to space, resonates deeply with my ambitions. My role will be at the crossroads of software engineering and aerospace engineering, with a particular focus on CNG. This field, though theoretically demanding, fascinates me for its potential to shape the future of space missions. I know I’ll have to fill in some gaps compared with my more theoretically trained colleagues, but I’m counting on my practical software development skills and the confidence gained at JPL to rise to the challenge. My internship at NASA was a decisive springboard, giving me the tools and confidence to flourish in this new role.

Beyond my personal journey, this stay also has a potential impact on ISAE-SUPAERO’s research activities. My work on MuSCAT, an open-source project, opens up prospects for collaboration between the JPL and the Institute. This software, now fully available, could be adopted by ISAE-SUPAERO researchers and students to simulate space missions and test autonomy algorithms. Imagine Masters students using MuSCAT to design satellite concepts or multi-ship missions, or PhD students exploiting it to validate hypotheses on autonomous navigation. This tool could become a valuable resource in the École’s laboratories, strengthening its space engineering research capabilities. In fact, I’m already in touch with my tutor, Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez, to see if she’d be interested in integrating this software into her courses, and why not accompany the students myself.

What’s more, the skills I’ve acquired – in simulation, subsystem modeling and GNC – could be shared with the academic community at ISAE-SUPAERO. I’d be delighted to organize seminars or workshops to pass on this knowledge, perhaps inspiring other students to explore similar projects. My experience at JPL could also encourage closer partnerships between the Institute and NASA, whether through student exchanges, joint projects or applications to the JPL Visiting Student Research Program. By telling my story, I could motivate my peers to aim high and strengthen the ties between our institution and the major international space agencies.

In conclusion, my time at JPL was much more than an internship; it was a seminal step that made a childhood dream come true while opening doors to the future. It enabled me to acquire cutting-edge technical skills, discover a fascinating culture, and gain the confidence that will guide my next steps. My future projects, at The Exploration Company and perhaps one day in research, are based on the foundations laid during those months in California. I am deeply grateful to the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation for making this adventure possible. Without your grant, I wouldn’t have been able to take this crucial step. It’s now up to me to put what I’ve learned at the service of the European space sector, contributing to its development with the same passion and determination that have brought me to this point. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trust and support.

Any final words?

Dear donors,

I would like to thank you most sincerely for your generous support in enabling me to complete my internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Your contribution was decisive in making this experience possible, covering an essential part of my travel, accommodation and daily living expenses in Pasadena. Thanks to you, I was able to work on the MuSCAT project, a revolutionary open-source software that optimizes the design of space missions, while developing my skills in Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC).

This internship not only strengthened my career path, but also enriched my vision of the space sector and my commitment to contributing to its future, particularly in Europe. Your support is more than just financial assistance; it represents an investment in innovation, French excellence and the training of passionate young engineers. You enable students like me to push the boundaries of their ambitions and participate in projects that are shaping the future of space exploration.

With all my gratitude.