Ireland has joined the space race and will launch the country’s first ever satellite by the end of the month at a cost of €1.5million.
UCD scientists have been preparing the historic launch of the satellite, called EIRSAT-1 (Educational Irish Research Satellite 1), since 2017. Nicknamed ‘Spudnik’, it is scheduled to carry out three experiments in space after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last year signed papers with the European Space Agency to facilitate the launch.
Prof Lorraine Hanlon, of UCD’s Centre for Space Research, said: “Ireland has never had a satellite before. We are tremendously excited to reach this delivery milestone, which is a tribute to the hard work of the team, and the support of the university, the Irish Government and Irish industry.”
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The team was yesterday readying for the final countdown in three weeks’ time in California, USA. A spokesperson for UCD’s Centre for Space Research said: “Ireland’s first-ever satellite EIRSAT-1 has left Irish shores for the last time.
“Preparations are under way ahead of a planned launch in North America. The satellite was designed, built, and tested at University College Dublin [as part of] the European Space Academy programme for university-level students. It is heading to the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California where it will be sent into orbit on November 29.”
The final costs for the project are estimated to be around €1.5million, with the ESA funding the launch. The Irish Research Council funded nine team members, with Science Foundation Ireland and the Department of Enterprise also providing money.
EIRSAT-1 is part of the ESA Academy’s Fly Your Satellite initiative, which offers students training, space-expert mentoring, and hands-on guidance throughout a professional satellite project.
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