Ireland’s First Satellite Will Shake Up Hunt For Gamma Ray Bursts

A groundbreaking mission is set to launch Ireland’s first-ever satellite EIRSAT-1 into low-Earth orbit later this year. Developed by Ireland’s University College Dublin (UCD) at a cost of 4 million euros, the satellite will be launched on a multi-payload Ariane rocket provided by the European Space Agency (ESA).

EIRSAT-1’s primary objective is to democratize the search for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which are the most powerful explosions in the universe. In addition, the mission aims to train a new generation of doctoral students in the field of space exploration.

“We are striving to build unprecedented expertise in Ireland,” said Antonio Martin-Carrillo, an astronomer from UCD who is part of the academic advisory team for EIRSAT-1.

The Education Office of the European Space Agency (ESA) is supporting EIRSAT-1, and the mission’s nominal duration of five years may be extended for another five years, according to UCD. The satellite’s Gamma Ray Module (GMOD) instrument, located in low-Earth orbit, is expected to detect approximately 10 GRBs every year.

What Causes GRBs?

GRBs are known as the brightest electromagnetic events and can emit as much energy in a few seconds as the Sun does over its entire 10-billion-year lifespan, as stated by NASA. Long-duration bursts, which last from two seconds to a few hundred seconds, are believed to be associated with the death of massive stars in certain types of supernovae.

Short-duration bursts, lasting less than two seconds, are thought to be the result of two possible scenarios — the merger of two neutron stars forming a new black hole, or the merger of a neutron star and a black hole resulting in a larger black hole, according to UCD.

Martin-Carrillo explained, “We have developed a small GRB detector that fits in your hand. The technology involved in how the detector interacts with the camera and reads this information is completely new.”

But Detecting GRBs is Challenging

Martin-Carrillo stated, “The occurrence and location of GRBs are unpredictable, so it is crucial to have a wide field of view. However, our detector can identify any short flash of gamma rays.”

NASA mentions that GRBs are highly focused, with most of the energy concentrated in a narrow jet traveling close to the speed of light. Astronomers can only detect these jets if they are directly aimed at the observer.

The UCD team will collect their own GRB data, with the main ground station located on the roof of the physics building, as shown by Martin-Carrillo.

“EIRSAT-1’s onboard computer will recognize if a detection has been made and transmit that information back to the UCD campus, but only within a specific 10-minute window that occurs twice a day,” explained Martin-Carrillo.

Why is This Mission Important?

Existing GRB satellites are outdated, whereas with CubeSats, we aim to develop cheaper, more advanced GRB detectors,” Martin-Carrillo emphasized.

When asked about the timeframe for building a CubeSat, Martin-Carrillo said, “The first one took around six years, but with a streamlined process, we could potentially complete it in three years.”

After EIRSAT-1 proves its capabilities, a constellation of 20 to 30 CubeSat GRB detectors could be deployed.

“With a constellation, we will be able to triangulate the location of GRBs in the sky. This will enable the global astronomical community to conduct follow-up observations of these events using various wavelengths,” Martin-Carrillo added.

Highlighting the advantages of CubeSats, Martin-Carrillo said, “The system can be upgraded much faster, ensuring that we are not stuck with outdated technology decades later.”

The Outlook

“Even though Ireland is a small country with a population of only 5 million, we have recognized the benefits of the space industry. The number of space startups here is growing exponentially,” remarked Martin-Carrillo.

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