Post by earl on Feb 22, 2008 17:07:57 GMT
When Space Shuttle Atlantis pulled away from the International Space Station this week, it left behind a significant piece of Irish scientific history.
Mission STS-122 delivered Columbus, the European Space Agency's first permanent laboratory in space. The fully-equipped lab will help material and biological scientists study the human body in the hopes of applying that knowledge in hospitals on earth.
An Irish experiment in the lab will study the effects of cosmic radiation from deep space on the human body, using a high-tech tailor's dummy and real human skull. Scientists at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies hope their results will help future manned missions to Mars.
Leo Enright, chairman of the Discover Science and Engineering programme, witnessed the shuttle's Wednesday morning landing in Cape Canaveral, Florida. He says Ireland's involvement on ISS could be indefinite
The ESA this year is putting out a call for astronauts and it's open for any irish citizen,' points out Mr Enright.
He thinks Ireland has a few qualified people who could apply including Dr Marc O'Griofa, a trauma doctor from the Meath Gaeltacht, who has been working with NASA as part of the FAS Science Challenge programme for young Irish graduates
Mr Enright says young people are excited about space exploration based on the huge response to science centres in Ireland, even if that excitement is not reflected in the general media.
In the short-term, fans of the European space race are looking ahead to 8 March when the ESA is scheduled to launch Jules Verne from French Guinea.
The new high-tech freighter will carry cargo up to ISS and is the first spacecraft built by Europe which can accomodate humans in space (although Mr Enright says it is still unsuitable to lift-off or land with humans on board).
SPACE BIRTHDAY PARTY
Astronaut Dan Tani, who is married to Cork woman Jane Egan, had a lot to celebrate - and mourn - during his long mission.
After arriving at the ISS 23 October, 2007, he was informed in December by ground control that his mother Rose died after her car was hit by a train.
Astronaut Dan Tani, during his 'birthday party'Earlier this month, however, he was able to celebrate his 47th birthday with Irish family and friends thanks to a remote hook-up at the Blackrock Castle Observatory
Mission STS-122 delivered Columbus, the European Space Agency's first permanent laboratory in space. The fully-equipped lab will help material and biological scientists study the human body in the hopes of applying that knowledge in hospitals on earth.
An Irish experiment in the lab will study the effects of cosmic radiation from deep space on the human body, using a high-tech tailor's dummy and real human skull. Scientists at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies hope their results will help future manned missions to Mars.
Leo Enright, chairman of the Discover Science and Engineering programme, witnessed the shuttle's Wednesday morning landing in Cape Canaveral, Florida. He says Ireland's involvement on ISS could be indefinite
The ESA this year is putting out a call for astronauts and it's open for any irish citizen,' points out Mr Enright.
He thinks Ireland has a few qualified people who could apply including Dr Marc O'Griofa, a trauma doctor from the Meath Gaeltacht, who has been working with NASA as part of the FAS Science Challenge programme for young Irish graduates
Mr Enright says young people are excited about space exploration based on the huge response to science centres in Ireland, even if that excitement is not reflected in the general media.
In the short-term, fans of the European space race are looking ahead to 8 March when the ESA is scheduled to launch Jules Verne from French Guinea.
The new high-tech freighter will carry cargo up to ISS and is the first spacecraft built by Europe which can accomodate humans in space (although Mr Enright says it is still unsuitable to lift-off or land with humans on board).
SPACE BIRTHDAY PARTY
Astronaut Dan Tani, who is married to Cork woman Jane Egan, had a lot to celebrate - and mourn - during his long mission.
After arriving at the ISS 23 October, 2007, he was informed in December by ground control that his mother Rose died after her car was hit by a train.
Astronaut Dan Tani, during his 'birthday party'Earlier this month, however, he was able to celebrate his 47th birthday with Irish family and friends thanks to a remote hook-up at the Blackrock Castle Observatory