Ireland is preparing to launch its first satellite, with the help of researchers and students from Queen’s University Belfast (www.qub.ac.uk).

The project, which is being run jointly with University College Dublin (UCD) in partnership with five Irish companies, will see EirSat-1 launched from the International Space Station and orbit space for a year, gathering data.

Queen’s said the mission was a ‘giant leap’ for its students; it would allow them to advance their knowledge in space science, while inspiring more young people to take up STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and maths.


Queen’s Gasser Abdelal, who is leading the design, manufacturing and testing of the satellite, said: “We have at least 12 companies based here in Northern Ireland that are interested in the space industry.”

EirSat-1, which is being developed under the European Space Agency’s Fly Your Satellite! 2017 programme, will gather data on Gamma-ray bursts and test innovative Irish space technologies.

It will be managed and controlled from UCD, whose Professor Lorraine Hanlon said students and graduates in space science, physics and engineering would build and operate the satellite.

“Our students will have an amazing opportunity to learn, not only from the wealth of expertise at the European Space Agency but also from the other excellent teams participating in the programme from across Europe.”