Treacy announces Irish participation in major European Space Agency Programmes.

Mr Noel Treacy,TD, Minister for Science Technology and Commerce, participating at a meeting in Edinburgh this week, of European Ministers, with responsibility for Space policy and for the European Space Agency(ESA), announced Irish involvement in a number of major ESA Programmes. These include Galileo, the European Programme for Satellite Navigation and Positioning, ARTES, the programme in advanced satellite communications technologies and systems and the future European Launcher Programme (Ariane V Plus). Minister Treacy also announced that for the first time, Ireland will participate in microgravity research, through ELIPS, the European Programme for Life and Physical Sciences utilizing the International Space Station. In addition, Ireland will continue to contribute to ESA's Science and General Technology programmes.

In addressing the Ministerial conference, Minister Treacy identified the contribution being made to the European Space Programme, by highly innovative Irish companies, which have demonstrated a clear ability to develop and exploit Space Technologies and Systems in Global Markets; in areas such as Advanced Satellite Communications, Satellite Navigation, Electronics, Software and Precision Engineering.

Minister Treacy also paid tribute to Irish Scientists for their contributions to the various fields of Space Science in many past ESA missions and welcomed their participation in missions planned for launch, in the next few years.

He said that Ireland's primary objective was to continue and enhance the involvement by its High Technology industry and researchers, in future Programmes of the European Space Agency, particularly those of a developmental nature.

The total expenditure by Ireland on ESA Developmental Programmes over the next five years is estimated at €50M. funded through the Minister's Office of Science and Technology at the Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This expenditure will not only assist Europe to build on its considerable strengths in Space, but will ensure that high technology Irish Companies, and researchers, will continue to play a key role in European and global space activities and enhance the growing capacity of Irish companies to exploit leading edge technologies in global aerospace and telecommunications markets

Information Note

The ESA Programmes, in which Ireland will participate include:

• The ESA Programme, for Satellite Navigation (GALILEOSAT);
• The ESA Programme, for advanced Satellite; Communications technology and systems (ARTES);
• The ESA Programme to further develop the Ariane Launcher to increase its launch capacity by including a versatile upper stage. (Ariane 5 Plus);
• The ESA Programme for Life and Physical Sciences utilizing the International Space Station (ELIPS);
• The General Space Support Technology Programme (GSTP);
• The ESA Science Programme to develop Space Science missions; and
• The Programme to support the development of scientific payloads, to be deployed on Space missions (PRODEX);