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Corrected a small mistake in the name of the ESA Educational CubeSat programme.
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== Launch and operations == |
== Launch and operations == |
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Subject to successful reviews, the spacecraft was initially scheduled to be launched in 2023 on a [[Vega (rocket)|Vega-C]] rocket as part of the Small Satellites Mission Service #5 rideshare mission.<ref name="eirsat1-pdf">{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=David |url=https://indico.ict.inaf.it/event/993/contributions/11228/attachments/6070/12172/EIRSAT_GMOD_HEMERA.pdf |title=EIRSAT-1 / GMOD |page=24 |work=[[INAF]] |date=6 July 2022 |access-date=29 July 2022}}</ref> However after various delays the cubesat |
Subject to successful reviews, the spacecraft was initially scheduled to be launched in 2023 on a [[Vega (rocket)|Vega-C]] rocket as part of the Small Satellites Mission Service #5 rideshare mission.<ref name="eirsat1-pdf">{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=David |url=https://indico.ict.inaf.it/event/993/contributions/11228/attachments/6070/12172/EIRSAT_GMOD_HEMERA.pdf |title=EIRSAT-1 / GMOD |page=24 |work=[[INAF]] |date=6 July 2022 |access-date=29 July 2022}}</ref> However after various delays the cubesat was remanifested on the maiden flight of the [[Ariane 6]] rocket/<ref>{{cite web |last=Dorminey |first=Bruce |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2023/08/16/irelands-first-satellite-will-shake-up-hunt-for-cosmic-gamma-ray-bursts/?sh=3f91dc3172fb |title=Ireland’s First Satellite Will Capture High Energy Cosmic Bursts |date=13 August 2023 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=Forbes}}</ref> This was later changed to a rideshare payload of the South Korean 425 Project SAR satellite launch, [[List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches#2023|which took place]] on 30 November 2023 on a [[SpaceX]]'s [[Falcon 9 Block 5]] launch vehicle.<ref name="esa-20231107"/> The payload was launched into a [[Sun-synchronous orbit]]. |
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==Budget== |
==Budget== |
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The satellite |
The satellite cost €1,500,000, which is funded jointly by the ESA, the [[Irish Research Council]] and [[Science Foundation Ireland]].<ref name="ucd-countdown">{{cite web |last=Kearns |first=David |url=https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2018/september/25/countdowntolift-offforucdscientistsmakingirelandsfirstsatellite/ |title=Countdown to lift-off for UCD scientists making Ireland's first satellite |work=[[University College Dublin]] |date=2018-09-25 |accessdate=2020-06-14}}</ref> |
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== Public presentations == |
== Public presentations == |
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EIRSAT-1 logo
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| Mission type | 2U CubeSat |
|---|---|
| Website | https://www.eirsat1.ie |
| Mission duration | 12 months (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | ESA Fly Your Satellite! University College Dublin |
| Dimensions | 22 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 30 November 2023 (scheduled)[2] |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-4E |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
The Educational Irish Research Satellite 1orEIRSAT-1[3] mission was proposed in response to the European Space Agency[4] (ESA) FYS2 (Fly Your Satellite! 2) call. The proposal was led by University College Dublin (UCD), in collaboration with Queen's University Belfast. The satellite project was one of six selected to go forward in the ESA FYS program in May 2017. The mission passed its PDR (Preliminary Design Review) with both institutions involved. Since CDR (Critical Design Review) in 2018, the mission has been developed and implemented by UCD with the support of ESA Education.[5] The project aims to build, launch and operate the first Irish satellite in space.[6][7][8][9][10][11]
Among the Irish-based companies providing help are Réaltra, Real Time Technologies, EFJ Engineering, ENBIO and SensL.[8][9][10]
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:[1][12]
EIRSAT-1 will carry three Irish developed experiments, or payloads.[13][7]
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.[14] The sensor is called a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) and has been developed by SensL Ltd. in County 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.[13]
The second payload element (called the ‘ENBIO Module’ or ‘EMOD’)[14] will provide in-orbit demonstration of novel protective oxide surface treatments made by ENBIO Ltd. (SolarWhite and SolarBlack).[1][13] 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.[13]
The third payload is a novel, software-based 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.[1] The UCD control technique is called “Wave-Based Control” (WBC).[14] 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.[13]
Subject to successful reviews, the spacecraft was initially scheduled to be launched in 2023 on a Vega-C rocket as part of the Small Satellites Mission Service #5 rideshare mission.[15] However after various delays the cubesat was remanifested on the maiden flight of the Ariane 6 rocket/[16] This was later changed to a rideshare payload of the South Korean 425 Project SAR satellite launch, which took place on 30 November 2023 on a SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle.[2] The payload was launched into a Sun-synchronous orbit.
The satellite cost €1,500,000, which is funded jointly by the ESA, the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland.[12]
Lorraine Hanlon, EIRSAT-1 Endorsing Professor, introduced the project during a panel after the Irish premiere of the film "16 Levers de Soleil" on 31 January 2019.[17] Scholarly publications have been published in numerous journals and at conferences.[18]
