International Space University’s 30th Space Studies Program Comes to an End
After nine weeks of intense academic research, lectures, rocket launches, robot wars, astronaut talks, educational outreach activities and other events too numerous to mention the International Space University’s 30th Space Studies Program 2017, hosted by CIT came to an end on Friday 25th August with the Closing Ceremony which took place at County Hall.
The ceremony was attended by the Director General of the European Space Agency, Prof. Johann Dietrich Wörner, the Associate Administrator for Strategy at NASA, Tom Cremins, the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, John Halligan, T.D., Prof. Walter Peeters, President of the International Space University, Dr. Omar Hatamleh, Director of Innovation at NASA and Director of the Space Studies Program and Dr Brendan Murphy President of CIT. Representatives of business and commerce, the space industry in Ireland, technological institutes, national and local government and sponsors also attended.
One hundred and eleven participants from 25 countries were awarded with their graduation certificates at the Ceremony.
As stated, the Space Studies Program attracted participants from all over the world and astronaut Dan Tani, married to Cork woman Jane Egan, and five other astronauts, also attended the Summer Space Programme this summer.
Dr. Tani also addressed SSP17 participants and more than 800 members of the general public on, 27th June, at the Nexus Hall in C.I.T.
SSP17 has brought together some of the finest academic talent in the world and one of the most important outputs of the Program is a document which charts the way forward for Irish industries to become involved in the global space industry. The document is entitled ‘A Roadmap for Emerging Space States’ (ARESS)
The global space economy grew slightly more than 9 percent in 2014 reaching a total of €300 billion worldwide, up from £275 billion in 2013, and Ireland’s ambitious targets for growing the Irish space industry over the coming years presents potential opportunities across almost all sectors of the economy.
The breadth of companies whose businesses can benefit from space is extraordinarily large with the list of sectors including, but not limited to, Environment; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Energy (electricity generation and energy Infrastructure); Transport (aviation, road, rail, waterborne); Telecommunications; Security & Defence; Border Control; Civil Protection; Migration; Marine and Maritime Activities; Agriculture; Education; Health and Human Performance and many others.
SSP17 has offered valuable support to the rapidly growing space sector; be they startups, SMEs or, potentially, MNCs. The same is also be true for companies already involved in the sector who wish to grow their business and need investment capital to do so. And with the determination to develop Ireland as a critical space technologies hub, there is the possibility to attract in established businesses from abroad.
The early years of the space age, marked by ambitious exploration, competition between international superpowers, and massive government investment, may have led many nations to believe that space should not be a part of their national activities. The space industry of today, however, is vastly different. There are opportunities for many nations to implement space into their national fabric, thereby driving societal improvement and economic growth, inspiring future generations, advancing national security, sparking cross-industry innovation, and elevating national prestige. Though space may be perceived as a sector which is difficult and costly to enter, the reality is that space is open to all nations. The document produced by SSP17 provides a general roadmap for Ireland to build and expand space sector capacity. It discusses why various nations would want to pursue involvement in space, noting that different cultures can have vastly different rationales. It also addresses the downside of not developing a space sector. and considers the pre-eminent space powers, governments and commercial markets, and examines recent trends to provide a clear picture of the global space landscape. The document analyses eleven established space nations, using examples from these case studies to build an evidence-based roadmap for space sector capacity building. An uncommon advantage of ARESS is that it includes general principles which are universally applicable, yet also provides a method for Ireland to identify specific steps based on existing strengths, geopolitical context, and rationales. The ARESS report will be a valuable asset for Ireland to enhance and expand its engagement in space sector development.
County Mayor, Declan Hurley stated, “The County Council are delighted to have been the main sponsor of this prestigious event. Cork has a long track record in demonstrating its ability to develop new sectors and become global leaders in those fields. The Space industry represents a new challenge and one which I’m sure our education and R & D sectors, our entrepreneurs and our services and manufacturing industries will grab with both hands. The ARESS document offers us invaluable insight into how to progress this ambition and the Council’s Economic Development Unit will work hand in glove with industry to develop of as Ireland’s Space Hub”