| Names | Educational Irish Research Satellite-1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Technology demonstration |
| Operator | University College Dublin |
| COSPAR ID | 2023-185L |
| SATCATno. | 58472 |
| Website | eirsat1.ie |
| Mission duration | 9-24 months (planned) 23 months (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | CubeSat |
| Spacecraft type | 2U CubeSat |
| Manufacturer | University College Dublin |
| Launch mass | 2.305 kg (5.08 lb) |
| Dimensions | 10.67 cm × 10.67 cm × 22.7 cm (4.20 in × 4.20 in × 8.94 in) |
| Power | 2.217watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 1 December 2023, 18:19UTC[1] |
| Rocket | Falcon 9B1061-17 |
| Launch site | VandenbergSLC-4E |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Transponders | |
| Band | UHF[2] |
| Frequency | 437.1MHz[2] |
 | |
EIRSAT-1 (Educational Irish Research Satellite-1) is aEuropean Space Agency-sponsored 2UCubeSat developed and built byUniversity College Dublin (UCD) inDublin, Ireland.[3]
The satellite was launched on 1 December 2023 by aFalcon 9 rocket fromVandenberg Space Force Base,California. Upon reaching orbit, it became Ireland's first satellite.[4]
In March 2017, UCD students and professors proposed the satellite to the European Space Agency (ESA)Fly Your Satellite! 2 (FYS 2) educational program for universities. In May 2017, UCD was one of six university teams selected to participate in the ESA FYS2 program.[5] The mission passed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) with both institutions involved, and following the Critical Design Review (CDR) in 2018, the mission was developed and implemented by UCD with the support of the ESA Education Office.[6] 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.[7]
The satellite cost €1,500,000 and was funded jointly by the ESA, theIrish Research Council, andScience Foundation Ireland.[8]
The mission of EIRSAT-1 was 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 were to:[9][8]
EIRSAT-1 carried three Irish-developed experiments, or payloads.[10][11]
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.[12] The sensor is called asilicon photomultiplier (SiPM) that was developed by SensL Ltd. in County Cork (currently part ofON Semiconductor). The SiPM has the potential to revolutionise in-situ andremote 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.
The second payload element (called the ‘ENBIO Module’ or ‘EMOD’)[12] provided in-orbit demonstration of novel protective oxide surface treatments made by ENBIO Ltd. (SolarWhite and SolarBlack).[9] These surface treatments were developed for use on the ESASolar Orbiter mission, and EIRSAT-1 provided the opportunity for these coatings to be thermally tested. The temperature of the coatings were measured throughout the mission.
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 used theEarth's magnetic field to turn itself in any desired direction.[9] The UCD control technique is called “Wave-Based Control” (WBC).[12] EIRSAT-1 used a standard control system, initially. During the mission, in response to an instruction from Earth, the on-board computer began using WBC to control the satellite's attitude, thereby evaluating its performance and, it was hoped, qualifying WBC for space flight.
Subject to successful reviews, the spacecraft was initially scheduled to be launched in 2023 on aVega-C rocket as part of the Small Satellites Mission Service #5 rideshare mission.[13] However, after delays, the CubeSat was remanifested on the maiden flight of theAriane 6 rocket.[14] This was later changed to a rideshare payload of the South Korean 425 Project SAR satellite launch,which took place at 18:19UTC on 1 December 2023 on aSpaceX'sFalcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle.[1][15] The payload was launched into aSun-synchronous orbit.
The European Space Agency announced on 15 March 2024 that the satellite had been in space for 100 days and had performed more than 1,500 orbits at an altitude of 515 kilometres.[16]
On 21 August 2024, the Gamma-ray Module onboard EIRSAT-1 detected its firstgamma-ray burst (GRB), along type GRB which was given the official designation GRB240821B. This type of GRBs is caused by the death of a high-massstar. Gamma-ray Module's second detection of a GRB was made one hour and 19 minutes after the first one and it was ashort one, a much rarer type which is likely caused by thecollision of two neutron stars and the formation of ablack hole. This second detection was given the official designation GRB240821A.[17]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Future missions initalics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
