Sir, – For a capital outlay of €2 billion now, Ireland could train three Irish astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), one Irish astronaut to the moon via the upcoming Artemis programme, place one rover on Mars and built its own space telescope.
Such an investment now would render Ireland number one in space activity in Europe, attract in excess of €1 billion per year in inward investment for at least a decade, and inspire the next generation of Irish scientists and engineers to make Ireland a global innovative hub for decades to come.
Is there anyone in the Government brave enough to believe in Ireland’s youth, and Ireland’s innovative future in this way? – Yours, etc,
KEVIN NOLAN,
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Lecturer in Physics,
Technological University Dublin,
Tallaght Campus,
Dublin 24.