EIRSAT-1
The Educational Irish Research Satellite 1 or EIRSAT-1 is an Irish space project under development by University College Dublin and Queen's University Belfast. The project aims to build, launch and operate the first Irish satellite in space. The project aims to build, launch and operate the first Irish satellite in space. The project aims to build, launch and operate the first Irish satellite in space. Industry partners included SensL Ltd, ENBIO Ltd, MOOG Dublin, Resonate Testing Ltd, and Parameter Space Ltd. The satellite project was given approval by the European Space Agency (ESA) in May 2017 as part  of the Fly Your Satellite! (FYS) program. Among the Irish-based companies providing help are ENBIO and SensL. Aims. The mission of EIRSAT-1 is to advance education in space science and engineering across the whole island of Ireland through collaboration between student teams, higher education institutions and high-tech companies. The objectives of EIRSAT-1 are to: Payloads. EIRSAT-1 will carry three Irish developed experiments, or payloads. GMOD - The Gamma-ray Module. The first payload element (called the ‘Gamma-ray Module’ or ‘GMOD’) is a miniaturised sensor for use in the detection of gamma-rays from both cosmic and atmospheric phenomena . The sensor is called a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) and has been developed by SensL Ltd. in Co. Cork (currently part of ON Semiconductor). The SiPM has the potential to revolutionise in-situ and remote sensing of gamma-rays in space by removing the need for conventional photomultiplier tubes that are typically very bulky, fragile and require high voltages to operate. EMOD - the ENBIO Module. The second payload element (called the ‘ENBIO Module’ or ‘EMOD’) will provide in-orbit demonstration of novel protective oxide surface treatments made by ENBIO Ltd. (SolarWhite and SolarBlack). These surface treatments have been developed for use  on the ESA Solar Orbiter mission, and EIRSAT-1 will provide the opportunity for these coatings to be thermally tested. The temperature of the coatings will be measured throughout the mission. WBC - Wave Based Control. The third payload, recently added, is a novel attitude control system developed by the Dynamics and Control Group in the UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. A spacecraft's “attitude” is its orientation in space. In this case it will use the Earth's magnetic field to turn itself in any desired direction. The UCD control technique is called “Wave-Based Control” (WBC). EIRSAT-1 will  use a standard control system initially. At some time into the mission, in response to an instruction from Earth, the on-board computer will start using WBC to control the satellite's attitude, thereby evaluating its performance and, it is hoped, qualifying WBC for space flight. Launch and operations. Subject to successful reviews, the spacecraft will be delivered to ESA in 2022. ESA intend to deploy it from the International Space Station thereafter. It aims to orbit the Earth for up to 12 months. Budget. The satellite will cost €1,500,000, which is funded jointly by the ESA, the Irish  Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland. Public presentations. Prof. Lorraine Hanlon, EIRSAT-1 Project Leader, introduced the project during a panel after the Irish premiere of the film "16 Levers de Soleil" on 31 January 2019.