Norah Patten, originally from Balina, Co Mayo and working for Réaltra Space Systems Engineering in Dublin, will be part of a research mission on Virgin Galactic’s new commercial spacecraft in 2026
The International Institute for Astronautical Sciences is sending a team of researchers, including Ms Patten, to advance scientific knowledge on supporting life in space
The mission will take place on Virgin Galactic’s new Delta spacecraft, focusing on fluids and biomedical research
Ms Patten, an aeronautical engineer and bioastronautics researcher, has been preparing for this opportunity since her childhood dream to travel to space.
Réaltra was co-founded in 2017 by Diarmuid Corry, Danny Gleeson and Paddy White. The company developed the video system mounted on the launch vehicle for the James Webb Space Telescope and many subsequent launches.
The IIAS said ins a written statement: “Norah Patten has consistently demonstrated the teamwork, excellence, and expertise needed to produce high-quality, cutting-edge research in operational environments. The IIAS team will collaborate closely with academic, government, and commercial partners to carefully plan the crew’s spaceflight activities to maximise the science and technology returns gained from this mission.”
Ms Patten said: “when I was 11, I had an opportunity to visit NASA in Cleveland, Ohio. And since that day, I’ve set my eyes on space and even though it’s been an absolutely impossible dream, it just goes to show with persistence and much hard work I have finally been offered this unbelievable opportunity. I am so grateful. I’m so thankful. And I’m just so proud to have this moment. It is very hard to put into words the excitement and pride and all the emotions I feel now that this spaceflight has been secured.”
