European Space Agency’s Britta Schade, ESA Head of the Product Assurance and Safety Department, Lavent Marchand, Head of Components Technology Section, Franco Ongaro, Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality with Tyndall’s Finbarr Waldron, Laboratory & Project Manager and Prof William Scanlon, Chief Executive at the announcement that Tyndall has become the first laboratory in Europe to be awarded Accredited Space Component Analysis Service for DPA (Destructive Physical Analysis)
Minister John Halligan Visits the ESA Centre of Excellence at Tyndall
in acknowledgement of the Institute receiving the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) Space Component Analysis accreditation for Destructive Physical Analysis (DPA) testing on space components, in accordance with ESA requirements.
Home to the ESA Space Solutions Centre and an internationally-recognised test facility, today Tyndall became the first laboratory in Europe to be awarded the DPA (Destructive Physical Analysis) Accredited Space Component Analysis Service under ISO17025. Driven by the needs of the traditional and New Space sectors, this critical European capability also addresses the stringent test requirements of emerging sectors in autonomous systems (robotics, autonomous vehicles) and med-tech. Minister for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research & Development John Halligan, TD visited Tyndall to see the specialised analytical services which will assist Irish companies developing high-reliability systems, as well as attracting Irish and European partners requiring accredited testing facilities for components specifically for space flight hardware, satellites, flight guidance and scientific instrumentation.
Speaking at the announcement that Tyndall National Institute has been awarded the status of DPA Accredited Space Component Analysis Service (ISO17025), Minister John Halligan TD said, “Already recognised in Europe as a leading ICT research centre, Tyndall is once again breaking new ground to be accredited as a test facility for high reliability space components. Tyndall is becoming a go-to partner for large space prime contractors and SMEs developing solutions for both upstream and downstream space markets. On behalf of the Irish government, I commend the strategic vision, research excellence and strong industry acumen and relationships that has enabled Tyndall to achieve this sought-after accreditation.”
The ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland was established at Tyndall in 2016 and is a partnership consortium led by Tyndall. Since then the ESA Business Innovation Centre has attracted entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and academics in the space industry and provides access to ESA’s portfolio of over 450 patent applications and patents across robotics, radio frequency, electromagnetics and power for space technologies.
“Tyndall sought this accreditation to further develop our component analysis activity, and expand our links with the Irish and international space industry. Having locally-available expertise in electronic component analysis in Ireland also assists companies in non-space sectors to solve process & production problems. The availability of these services helps us attract new companies and startups, working on high-reliability technologies for both space and non-space applications which still have stringent quality requirements such as telecoms, medical and other areas. This is an exciting growth area, and one which has strategic economic and societal impact, which is always a focus for our work at Tyndall,” said Prof. William Scanlon, Chief Executive at Tyndall.
The ISO17025 accreditation builds on Tyndall’s existing expertise in the European space component industry and provides formal independent and international recognition of Tyndall as a leading test facility for high-reliability space components.
Photography: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision
