Lara's Erasmus+ Internship Experience at Tartu Observatory
In the summer of 2024, Lara, a bachelor’s student in the “Computer Science” study programme, had the opportunity to embark on a life-changing journey – an internship at the Tartu Observatory in Estonia. This was her first professional experience. Initially, she felt nervous, but she soon discovered how exciting and inspiring working in the field of space technology could be.
Lara shares:
“In the summer of 2024, I embarked on a life-changing adventure – an internship at the Tartu Observatory in Estonia. Before leaving Latvia, I was filled with anxiety. I had no prior work experience and had never been to Estonia. But as soon as I arrived in Tartu, my fears disappeared. The city welcomed me with its charm and liveliness, and I quickly felt at home, enchanted by every street.
At the observatory, I joined the KuupKulgur team – a group of enthusiastic students working on Estonia’s first Moon rover. My task was to develop the Kuup Mission Control Interface (MCI), an application designed for remotely operating the rover and monitoring its sensors, camera, and battery. With the help of MCI, users can control the rover from anywhere in the world, as long as they are connected to the appropriate network. The observatory's underground lunar analogue environment provided the perfect testing platform, allowing me to observe the rover in action through live camera feeds and data visualisation.
The internship was challenging, as I had to learn new concepts such as the Robot Operating System (ROS). However, thanks to the incredibly supportive team and supervisors, I not only overcame these challenges but also grew significantly as a software developer. By the end of the internship, I successfully deployed the first version of the MCI. Seeing my work in action and knowing it would be helpful to others filled me with a deep sense of accomplishment and gratitude.
By the end of August, I had become so enamoured with space technology that I decided to dedicate my bachelor's thesis to the KuupKulgur MCI project. This experience not only launched my career but also gave me a new purpose and passion in life.
I sincerely thank Saimon and Andres, my outstanding supervisors, as well as every member of the KuupKulgur team for warmly welcoming me. I also express my gratitude to Ventspils University of Applied Sciences for this incredible opportunity. This internship truly changed my life – it gave me direction, inspiration, and a happiness I had never felt before.”
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