More Irish space exploration urged

IRELAND SHOULD take a greater involvement in space exploration, the head of science at the European Space Agency (ESA) has said.

Prof David Southwood said the advent of GPS and other satellite technologies and the need for global monitoring of climate change from space were challenges that could not be ignored by any developed nation.

Ireland is one of 16 members of ESA. In November the Government agreed to contribute €14.5 million annually for the next three years, but it is a net receiver of ESA support with contracts worth an average of €23 million a year to Irish firms.

Prof Southwood, who gave a lecture at the Armagh Observatory on Saturday, is to hold meetings at UCD and TCD today.

He will also deliver a lecture tonight in Trinity College organised by Astronomy Ireland.

He said that although Ireland was a net receiver of ESA support, its reputation as a high-tech economy was not reflected in the field of space exploration.

“Space as a whole in a modern society is not something you can opt out of. Sometimes I think Ireland does not think of space as being a necessary asset and that may be a result of being a relatively small player.

“The whole principle of the agency is that, if you pay money in, you get development money coming back,” Prof Southwood added. “The issue for Irish companies is how best they can exploit their belonging to this agency. Ireland is a small nation, but still a rich nation. There is so much potential but my feeling is that you could exploit us more.”

There are about 40 Irish companies involved with ESA mostly in software development, instrumentation and navigation.