The satellite project will be overseen by Maynooth-based company, Space Technology Ireland, which has manufactured parts for space missions – including the Rosetta craft which landed a probe on a comet last year.
Editor of Astronomy Ireland, David Moore, says the 5 million euro launch of the spacecraft will take place from Ireland within two years, and will be paid for by Russia.
He says the project will be managed by the director of Space Technology Ireland, Professor Susan McKenna-Lawlor, and it is not yet clear what making it will cost.
“The Russians have offered her a free launch of the first Irish satellite into space” he said.
“SO she's hoping to get young people – young scientist engineers in particular – to work on this particular project to launch Ireland's first and only satellite”.
“We're extremely excited about that, it's a great privilege for the society and an enormous opportunity for Ireland” he added.
