On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate the contributions of women in STEM fields across Europe. The EIROforum organizations, including the European Space Agency (ESA), highlight the exceptional talents shaping the future of science and technology. This article takes a closer look at ESA Graduate Trainee Kenza Battaglia, who is carving her path in space science.

Kenza Battaglia: A Rising Star in Space Engineering

Kenza Battaglia is an ESA Graduate Trainee specializing in thermal analysis and verification at ESA’s ESTEC facility. Holding dual MSc degrees in mechanical engineering and astronautics, she previously worked with Polytechnique Montréal, developing models for turbomachinery. Subsequently, she contributed to thermal control design at CNES, the French space agency, focusing on a deployable lunar habitat.

Inspiration Behind Her Career Choice

When asked about her motivation, Kenza shared, “Both science and space hold a special place in my heart.” While her passion for physics and mechanics emerged early, her fascination with space was ignited during the Rosetta mission. Watching the Philae lander make its descent inspired her to visit CNES in Toulouse, where she met the project manager, solidifying her desire to work in this field.

Current Role and Excitement in Research

Kenza’s position at ESA encompasses various responsibilities:

• Contributing to Concurrent Design Facility studies for thermal control of navigation satellites.
• Performing thermal tests to analyze a thermo-electric cooler setup for the Envision mission.
• Creating scripts in ESATAN-TMS to assess Martian environmental impacts for future explorations.
• Investigating lunar thermal models related to descent and landing phases of Argonaut.
• Studying test predictions for Smile using thermal analysis tools before conducting simulations in the Large Space Simulator.

Through these diverse projects, Kenza continuously builds her technical expertise in thermal analysis.

Contributions to Young Professionals Satellite 2 (YPSat2)

In addition to her main responsibilities, Kenza leads the structural and thermal subsystem for the YPSat2 initiative, collaborating with a team of dedicated young engineers to deploy scientific payloads in space. Their work spans from preliminary design to testing phases, contributing to the future missions of Space Rider.

A Message for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Kenza emphasizes the ongoing pursuit of equality in STEM. “The battle for equality continues, and we must act now,” she asserts. She believes that inclusivity and diverse perspectives are essential for addressing the complex challenges of today’s scientific landscape. Her message is one of unity: “Let us leverage diversity to advance the STEM sector and illustrate the values we uphold.”