Questions Set #1

Question 1

Can you describe your experience with space mission studies or projects?

Question 2

How do you approach system engineering in space missions, particularly regarding system requirements and interfaces, including payloads?

Question 3

Discuss a complex project where you had to manage industrial activities, including preparing and executing reviews.

Question 4

How do you estimate costs and schedule aspects for space science missions?

Question 5

Describe your experience in leading a team, specifically in a technical or space mission context.

Question 6

How do you establish and maintain effective relationships with external entities like science study teams, technical working groups, and international partners?

Question 7

Can you give an example of a situation where you had to coordinate multiple teams or departments towards a common goal?

Question 8

Discuss a challenging situation in a previous project and how you conducted technical and programmatic analyses to resolve it.

Question 9

How do you assess the technical feasibility, schedule, cost, and risk of future science missions and their payloads?

Question 10

Can you provide an example demonstrating your result orientation and operational efficiency in a previous role?

Question 11

How do you foster cooperation within a team or across different departments?

Question 12

Describe a situation where you had to manage complex relationships or conflicts.

Question 13

How would you contribute to the renewal of the Science Programme and the evaluation of proposals for missions?

Question 14

What is your understanding of ESA’s mission and values, and how do you see yourself fitting into this culture?

Question 15

Given ESA’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion, can you discuss your experience working in or contributing to a diverse and inclusive environment?

Question 16

Discuss any ongoing learning or professional development you’ve undertaken relevant to this position.

Question 17

How would you approach managing and coordinating multiple industrial prime contractors, especially in a competitive environment?

Question 18

Can you describe your experience with contract management, particularly in overseeing technical progress and adherence to project timelines?

Question 19

How do you ensure fair and effective management of competing contractors while maintaining the integrity and objectives of the THESEUS study?

Question 20

Describe a situation where you had to lead and make decisions in a competitive or high-pressure environment.

Question 21

What strategies do you employ to establish and maintain effective communication channels with multiple prime contractors?

Question 22

How do you handle conflicts or disagreements between different contractors or stakeholders?

Question 23

How do you handle conflicts or disagreements between different contractors or stakeholders?

Question 24

How do you assess and manage the technical risks associated with contractors’ deliverables?

Question 25

Describe your experience in project management, specifically in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

Question 26

How do you prioritize tasks and manage resources effectively in a project with multiple contractors?

Question 27

Give an example of a difficult decision you had to make in a project management role. How did you approach it?

Question 28

How do you address and resolve performance issues or delays from contractors?

Question 29

How do you ensure that contractors comply with relevant industry standards, ESA regulations, and export control laws?

Question 30

Describe how you have managed a project within the regulatory and compliance framework of an organization like ESA.

Question 31

What is your experience with negotiating contracts and terms with contractors?

Question 32

How do you balance the need for cost-effectiveness with the quality and technical requirements of the project?

Question 33

How do you encourage and incorporate innovation and new ideas from contractors while keeping the project on track?

Question 34

Discuss how you stay informed about industry trends and technologies to enhance project outcomes.

Question 35

How do your management style and approach align with ESA’s mission and values, particularly in the context of the THESEUS study?

Question 36

Can you explain the primary scientific objectives of the THESEUS mission? How do these objectives influence the mission design and operations?

Question 37

How does THESEUS contribute to our understanding of early universe phenomena, particularly in relation to gamma-ray bursts?

Question 38

Discuss the key design features of the THESEUS spacecraft. How do these features enable the mission’s scientific objectives?

Question 39

What are the major technical challenges in designing and building the THESEUS spacecraft, and how would you address them?

Question 40

Describe the main instruments on the THESEUS spacecraft. What are their functions and how do they complement each other?

Question 41

THESEUS involves collaboration with various scientific and technical partners. How do you plan to coordinate these efforts effectively?
Can you give an example of a successful collaborative project you have worked on in the past, particularly in a space or scientific context?

Question 42

Are there any new technologies or innovations being developed for THESEUS? How do they contribute to the mission’s success?

Question 43

How do you stay updated with the latest advancements in space technology relevant to the THESEUS mission?

Question 44

How do the capabilities of the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) and X-Gamma rays Imaging Spectrometer (XGIS) complement each other in achieving the THESEUS mission’s objectives, particularly in terms of energy range and field of view?

Question 45

Can you discuss the design considerations and challenges associated with integrating the InfraRed Telescope (IRT) with the other instruments on THESEUS, particularly considering its resolving power and field of view?

Question 46

Given the THESEUS’s high degree of spacecraft autonomy and agility, how will you manage the rapid transmission of important data, such as trigger time, position, and redshift, to the ground?

Question 47

How will the operational modes of THESEUS, particularly the Survey Mode and Burst Mode, be optimized to maximize the mission’s scientific output?

Question 48

How will THESEUS’s unique combination of instruments contribute to the mission’s top-level scientific goals, especially in exploring the early Universe and advancing multi-messenger astrophysics?

Question 49

Describe the strategy for utilizing the THESEUS’s autonomous slewing capability for rapid observation and redshift measurement of high-redshift GRB afterglows.

Question 50

In the context of THESEUS, how will you address the challenges associated with the stability of the background over time, which is essential for sensitive triggering and characterizing transient events?

Question 51

Discuss the implementation of trigger search algorithms in the XGIS Data Handling Unit (DHU), particularly the balance between rate-search and image-search methods.

Question 52

How does the Monte Carlo simulation approach help in understanding the population of long and short GRBs for THESEUS, and what are the key parameters considered in these simulations?

Question 53

Explain the methodology used for simulating afterglow emission of GRBs and how this aids in determining THESEUS’s efficiency in redshift measurements and detection rates.

Question 54

Describe the process and results of validating THESEUS’s core science requirements through mission simulations, including the use of the Mission Observation Simulator (MOS).

Question 55

How do the results of the simulations inform the selection of observational strategies and the optimization of the mission’s scientific output?

Question 56

How do the design and integration of the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI), X-Gamma rays Imaging Spectrometer (XGIS), and InfraRed Telescope (IRT) ensure the wide and deep sky monitoring capabilities of THESEUS in the targeted energy bands? Could you explain the technical challenges and solutions in integrating these instruments with different observational requirements?

Question 57

THESEUS requires a high degree of spacecraft autonomy and agility, especially for rapid slewing to observe transient phenomena. Can you discuss the technical mechanisms and algorithms that enable these capabilities? How does the spacecraft leverage the Earth’s magnetic field for fast slewing?

Question 58

The mission aims to monitor a very broad energy band (0.3 keV - 10 MeV). What are the technical considerations and challenges in designing instruments to operate effectively across this range, and how does it impact the mission’s sensitivity to detect high-energy transients?

Question 59

Describe the orbital design considerations for THESEUS, particularly in terms of minimizing the impact of Earth occultations, eclipses, and the South Atlantic Anomaly on observations. How does the chosen orbit contribute to achieving background stability essential for triggering capabilities?

Question 60

Discuss the technical specifications of the IRT that enable high-resolution imaging and redshift measurement accuracy. How do these capabilities interact with the requirements for response time to a trigger, especially for high-redshift long GRBs?

Question 61

Explain the process of simulating THESEUS’s mission scenarios, particularly the GRB population model and the afterglow emission module. How do these simulations inform the mission’s observational strategy and spacecraft operational modes?

Question 62

Describe the trigger search algorithms implemented in the XGIS-DHU, focusing on the rate-search and image-search methods. How do these algorithms balance sensitivity to long, slowly rising GRBs and the management of time-variable backgrounds?

Question 63

How does the design of THESEUS and its instruments ensure efficient redshift measurement for detected GRBs, considering the constraints of instrument sensitivity and afterglow luminosity? Discuss the role of spectroscopy in these measurements.

Question 64

How do you plan to contribute to the understanding of fundamental physical laws, particularly in the context of gravitational force behavior at micron distances and the implications for unified theories, as highlighted in the Cosmic Vision program​​​​?

Question 65

Considering the Cosmic Vision’s emphasis on understanding the structure of space and time, and the asymmetries in fundamental physics, how will your work with THESEUS contribute to these goals​​?

Question 66

In line with the Cosmic Vision’s focus on new fundamental particles and dark matter, how do you envision integrating the search for ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and potential new particles into the objectives of the THESEUS mission​​?

Question 67

How will the mission design and objectives of THESEUS align with the Cosmic Vision’s goals to study gravitational waves and their sources, including black holes and the Big Bang​​?

Question 68

Discuss your approach to investigating matter under extreme conditions, particularly in relation to black holes and neutron stars, as outlined in the Cosmic Vision program​​.

Question 69

How would you approach a mission focused on the moons of the giant planets, particularly in terms of studying their habitability potential and searching for biosignatures? What kind of instrumentation and mission profile would you consider essential for such a mission​​?

Question 70

Given the Voyage 2050 theme of studying temperate exoplanets, what technologies and methodologies would you prioritize to achieve breakthroughs in the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres and habitable surface conditions​​?

Question 71

How would you balance the scientific goals between exploring less accessible regions of our Milky Way and the detailed study of temperate exoplanets within the framework of Voyage 2050?

Question 72

What kind of missions would you propose to address the fundamental questions about the beginning of the Universe, the formation of cosmic structures, and black holes, as outlined in Voyage 2050? How would you exploit new physical probes like gravitational waves or high-precision spectroscopy of cosmic microwave background​​?

Question 73

Considering the importance of medium-class missions in ESA’s Science Programme, how would you propose to leverage them for achieving breakthrough science within modest cost envelopes? Could you provide examples of potential missions that fit this category​​?

Question 74

Considering the importance of medium-class missions in ESA’s Science Programme, how would you propose to leverage them for achieving breakthrough science within modest cost envelopes? Could you provide examples of potential missions that fit this category​​?

Question 75

How would you approach the challenge of developing technologies that may not reach maturity within the timeframe of Voyage 2050 but are crucial for future space exploration?

Question 76

Given the long-term planning required for successful space science missions, how would you ensure that the missions proposed for Voyage 2050 remain relevant and are equipped with the necessary advanced technology over time​​?

Question 77

How do you envision the evolution of ESA’s space science missions from Cosmic Vision to Voyage 2050, and what key lessons would you carry forward into the new program?

Question 78

How would you design a mission to explore the moons of giant planets, particularly in terms of trajectory, duration, and spacecraft capabilities? What considerations would you make for landing or deploying drones on these moons, and how would you ensure their longevity and scientific productivity in such environments​​?

Question 79

What specific instruments and technologies would you consider essential for a mission aimed at characterizing temperate exoplanets? How would you ensure the precision and sensitivity required for detecting and analyzing exoplanetary atmospheres in the mid-infrared spectrum​​?

Question 80

Given the focus on new physical probes of the early Universe, what are the key design features you would incorporate in a spacecraft to detect gravitational waves or conduct high-precision spectroscopy of the cosmic microwave background? How would you address the challenges of operating in a potentially wide range of frequencies and the need for extremely stable and sensitive instrumentation​​?

Question 81

For medium-class missions proposed under Voyage 2050, what would be your approach to spacecraft design to maximize scientific output within limited cost envelopes? How would you balance the innovation in scientific instruments with the constraints of smaller missions​​?

Question 82

Considering the long-term technology development identified by the Voyage 2050 committee, such as cold atom interferometry and X-ray interferometry, what are the key technical challenges you anticipate in developing these technologies for future space missions, and how would you propose to overcome them​​?

Question 83

In planning a mission to the outer Solar System, how would you design the spacecraft and its power sources to function effectively in the challenging environments far from the Sun? What advancements in cryogenic sample collection and storage would you consider essential for a successful cometary or icy moon sample return mission​​?

Question 84

How would you ensure that the missions planned under Voyage 2050 can adapt to evolving scientific objectives and incorporate new discoveries or technological advancements that may arise in the next decades​​?