Ireland’s first satellite ‘to open doors’ for more space demonstrations

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and UCD PHD student Gabriel Finneran look at a mockup of the EIRSAT 1 satellite at Government Buildings in Dublin, before he signed documents facilitating the launch of Ireland's first satellite. 

Scientists hope the country’s first satellite in space will “open doors” for further technology demonstrations, as plans are already under way to develop a second satellite.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister Damien English signed papers with the European Space Agency (ESA) today to facilitate the launch of the satellite, which has been designed and built by staff and students at University College Dublin.