After Neil Armstrong landed on the surface of the Moon in 1969 he began conducting Ireland’s first space experiment on board Apollo 11. Ireland’s involvement in the Apollo missions continued into the 70s with experiments on board Apollo 16 and 17.

The experiments were undertaken by Denis O’Sullivan of the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies (DIAS) and explored the effects of radiation from the Sun and from space on the human body. Denis will outline the early voyages of space-farers and how Ireland was involved with the first mission to another world. Following Apollo, DIAS space experiments have been to Mars, to comets and analysed the dangerous radiation from the Sun and deep space. Guests to the lecture will also have the opportunity to see a detector that went to the Moon on board Apollo 16 for their own eyes!

Matroshka - the manequin on board the ISS

Matroshka being worked on by an astronaut

Denis is currently running an experiment – known as Matroshka – on board the International Space Station. This exciting and important research will study how the human body performs in radioactive environments, and his work will pave the way for safe human flight to the planets and beyond.

David O'Sullivan and his team had radiation experiments on Apollo 16 above

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Fitzgerald Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2. Near the Westland Row or Lincoln Place entrances 

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                  Map of area around Trinity College

          Admission: € 7 (€ 5 members and concessions)
                                          

This lecture is also available to members nationwide on DVD, which you can order by credit card online HERE or by calling (01) 847 0777 (alternatively post a cheque or postal order to: September 2008 DVD, Astronomy Ireland, PO. Box 2888, Dublin 5.) As a sample, a low-resolution version will be available FREE on this website. DVDs of this and past lectures are just €7 each (add €5 for P&P for any number of DVDs).

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