Commercial partnerships in the space sector are increasing, says Northern Ireland's first astronaut Dr. Rosemary Coogan

Commercial partnerships in the space sector are increasing, says Northern Ireland's first astronaut Dr. Rosemary Coogan

Belfast: Dr. Rosemary Coogan, Northern Ireland's first astronaut, has said that the space sector is "rapidly changing with more and more commercial partners."

Astrophysicist Dr. Coogan, who is currently in the United States for pre-assignment training, is undergoing rigorous spacewalk training as part of her famous space mission preparation.

Last year, Dr. Coogan completed her basic training with the European Space Agency (ESA) and received her graduation certificate at a special ceremony in Cologne, Germany.

On Wednesday, she will be discussing her work at the Northern Ireland Science Festival, where she hopes to inspire the next generation of scientists to pursue a career in the space sector.

Dr. Coogan’s pre-assignment training will last for six months, and she described her current spacewalk training as "particularly exciting."

The training takes place in a huge pool, where a spacesuit and a mock-up of the space station are used.

Dr. Coogan said, "I am a big fan of water, but it’s nothing like diving."

"Of course, we have similar safety measures as we do when diving, like decompression considerations. But in a spacesuit, you can’t swim, and in space, there’s nothing to push against. It’s physically very hard work," she said, adding that spacewalks are mainly done through upper arm strength, which seems quite ironic.

Advancement in the Space Industry

Last year, the first commercial spacecraft landing on the Moon marked the beginning of a new era of possibilities, creating new opportunities in the solar system.

A few months later, SpaceX's Polaris Dawn crew returned to Earth after spending five days in orbit, making history with the world’s first commercial spacewalk.

The U.S. space agency NASA stated that this mission represented "a giant leap forward" for the commercial space industry.

Dr. Coogan said, "The space industry is changing very quickly."

She added, "Now we are traveling to the International Space Station on commercial vehicles, and without that, it is difficult to say where we would be."

Work in Space for the Benefit of Earth

Dr. Coogan emphasized the importance of research in space, stating, "It is truly irreplaceable and essential for Earth."

She also mentioned that while fascinating experiments are being conducted in microgravity environments on Earth, they can only happen for short periods.

Dr. Coogan said, "Anything done in space is really for the benefit of Earth," and she highlighted the importance of ensuring the protection of both the space and Earth environments.

She also said, "When we send new technology into space, it must have an end-of-life plan to ensure it doesn’t end up causing harm."

Northern Ireland Science Festival

Dr. Coogan will speak on Wednesday with the Northern Ireland Science Office about her journey.

"There is a real pull to participate in these events, especially when engaging with young people," she said.

"School students have sent in and recorded their questions, and it’s fascinating for me to see what young people are interested in, and I try my best to answer their questions."