The European Space Agency May Soon Send the First Irish Citizen into Space

14th Sep 2021
The European Space Agency May Soon Send the First Irish Citizen into Space

Earlier this year, the European Space Agency has opened applications to new astronauts, and 270 Irish citizen, hoping to become the first Irish person in space, have submitted their candidacy. As of today, less than 600 people have travelled to space, but as the industry keeps evolving, this number is soon expected to grow.

Notable Candidates to Become the First Irish Person in Space

One of the notable Irish applications for the European Space Agency program is 28-year-old Cillian Murphy, currently working as a biofuels engineer in Budapest. Murphy has a degree in Space Science and Technology and has already won several awards from ESA.

Another notable candidate willing to become the first Irish person in space is Dr. Norah Patten, an aeronautical engineer, and an established keynote speaker. Dr. Patten has completed a training program in Florida and may have a shot at becoming the first Irish woman in space as well.

Dr. Niamh Shaw, another Irish woman on the list of applicants, is an engineer, educator, and public speaker with a life-long dream of reaching for the stars. So, the European Space Agency program inspires interest in many people from different walks of life.

European Space Agency Urging Applicants to Remain Patient

Right now, the European Space Agency is urging all applicants to be patient because the agency already received over 23,000 applications. In contrast to the last time when ESA made its astronaut applications open, the surge of interest is truly enormous. Back in 2008, slightly over 8,000 people applied. Some of the current 23,000+ applications will certainly be invalid, but the number of candidates to screen is still impressive. And while it is unclear if the European Space Agency will pick the first Irish person in space, the odds still look good.

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