Ireland to boldly go where it’s never gone before

The first steps towards sending an Irish astronaut into space will be taken tomorrow when Nasa reveals it has chosen Ireland as its first international research partner.

The space agency is partnering with Irish universities to give scientists a chance to work at the world’s leading research facilities in the US.

Following two years of negotiations, the initiative will be officially announced tomorrow at Trinity College Dublin by Nasa administrator General Charles Bolden.

Tim Quigley, a retired naval officer and former commander of Moffet Airfield at the Ames base in California, was the go-between who pushed to ensure Ireland leads the project.

He said: “Our intent is to provide and enrich Irish scientists with an opportunity to partner and learn and contribute to the spectrum of science and engineering and research opportunities that exposure to Nasa and its resources would enable.

“My long-term goal is to have a native Irish astronaut in Nasa. That would be the ultimate outcome of this. That ought to be the national goal.”

The Irish consulate in San Francisco has been negotiating the move with Nasa for the past two years.

The initial agreement is expected to see two Irish undergraduates travel to the US every year to work and study at the Ames base in Silicon Valley. All Irish universities will be asked to take part.

Ames houses 2,500 researchers, scientists and technology developers working with an estimated $3bn-worth of equipment. Its annual budget is more than $750m and it is among the world’s leading research centres.

Nasa insiders said they hope the project will be extended to all of the agency’s 10 bases in the US and if the partnership is successful, other countries will be invited to take part.

Mr Quigley, who has Irish heritage from both his parents, said he has a dream to see the first Irish astronaut in space as a result of this initiative.

He pointed out that several European and Arab countries and Israel were vying with Ireland to lead the pilot project. Nasa decided to go with Ireland after intensive lobbying by the consulate and Mr Quigley.

“Barry O’Brien [vice-consul] helped me find connections at the appropriate level within the Irish government,” he said.

“That has taken about a year to distill. Now we’ve been in conversation for two years.”