Exciting news is on the horizon for Ireland as it prepares to launch its first spacecraft. The Educational Irish Research Satellite-1 (EIRSAT-1), developed by students at University College Dublin, is a 2U CubeSat that will showcase three Irish-developed payloads in orbit.
The first of these payloads is GMOD, a gamma-ray detector developed in UCD. GMOD aims to detect gamma-ray bursts and assess the technology's capability for future gamma-ray missions, such as studying astronomical phenomena, like the collision of two stars.
The second payload is EMOD, which will demonstrate the thermal control coatings of Irish company ENBIO in space. The module will measure the performance of novel surface treatments, such as SolarWhite and SolarBlack, in low Earth orbit.
Finally, WBC will test an attitude control algorithm developed at UCD. This algorithm aims to act as a viable alternative to standard Attitude Determination and Control methods. Although it has been applied in simulations and flown in parabolic flights, it has yet to fly in space, according to the ESA.
This European Space Agency project will mark an exciting milestone for Ireland's space industry and provide invaluable experience for the students involved. The EIRSAT-1 will have a significant impact on the development of cutting-edge space technologies and provide the country with an important opportunity to showcase its research and innovation in the space industry.
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