Cork firm wins Chinese spaceflight contract

A CORK firm is to provide cutting-edge technology to China’s spaceflight programme.

Farran Technology, based in Ballincollig, will today sign what is believed to be a multi-million euro contract with the Shanghai Spaceflight Institute to develop an imaging system for Chinese FY-3 radar satellites.

The contract will be signed in Shanghai as part of the Irish trade mission to China, which ends at the weekend in Hong Kong. FY refers to “fengyun”, which means “wind and cloud.” The numeral refers to the fact that this is the third generation of FY satellites. They are so named because they are used for meteorological purposes. China has launched a number of them in recent years.