International Space Station image via Wikimedia Commons
Irish space tech company Radisens Diagnostics has been awarded a second €1m contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop an innovative blood-testing device for use by astronauts.
Having previously been awarded a contract by the ESA back in 2011, Radisens Diagnostics will now be responsible for maintaining and monitoring the health of those on board the International Space Station (ISS) and other space operations through their point-of-care device developed in the Rubicon Centre in County Cork, which is expected to be in operation for almost a further decade.
This forerunner device could be used on board the International Space Station and on various human spaceflight missions where it is essential to get high-performance, laboratory grade results for myriad health conditions, without fear of biological contamination.
The space tech sector is worth a potential €75m to the Irish economy each year and with the help of Enterprise Ireland and their programme manager for space industry activities Tony MacDonald, they are working with the ESA in securing contracts for the 40-plus companies that are involved in the fields of space science, technology and energy.
Speaking of the deal, Radisens’ CEO, Jerry O’Brien, commented: “We are delighted to extend our successful partnership with ESA. The operational needs on board the International Space Station, which requires leading-edge performance, ease-of-use and biological containment, provide Radisens with a unique test-bed for our game-changing point-of-care platform”.
Also welcoming the news, Minister for Research and Innovation Sean Sherlock TD said: “Radisens is another excellent example of how innovative Irish companies are leveraging the Irish Government’s investment in the European Space Agency. Space is proving to be a very fertile ground for Irish companies in developing innovative technologies and proving the technologies performance in extreme environments.”
