A PIECE of Newry craftsmanship entered into orbit on Christmas Day with the successful launch of the $10bn James Webb telescope, NASA's successor to the famous Hubble telescope.
Commercial tester Resonate Testing conducted high level vibration and SRS shock testing on equipment used on Webb, which is currently on a 29-day trip to its observing spot, Lagrange point 2, nearly 1 million miles away.
The largest and most powerful space telescope ever launched and described as a “time machine” by scientists, it will allow astronomers to study the beginning of the universe shortly after the big bang, 13.8 billion years ago, as well as hunting for signs of life-supporting planets in our own galaxy.
Resonate Testing worked with Dublin-based Réaltra Space Systems Engineering, which played a critical role in the launch by providing video images of the separation of the fairings (equipment used to protect the spacecraft during launch), and the spacecraft from the rocket.
Resonate Testing managing director Tom Mallon said: “We were extremely proud to have played a part in the successful launch of the huge Ariane 5 launcher and the James Webb telescope from the European Space Agency’s station in French Guiana.
“We've been working with Realtra Space for some time, and in recent years have been competing on a global level by exploiting key upstream resources and developing world-class space downstream capabilities.”
Resonate Testing operates from its Centre of Excellence for Space in Newry and provides a range of testing processes across many sectors.
It has seen an increasing number of tests within the space sector, which it attributes to its ability to rapidly develop and approve new capabilities across the many industries the company services.
In 2020, the company was awarded Platinum in the Innovate NI Innovation Accreditation programme for its cutting-edge processes that seen the delivery of high-quality live stream testing to global customers, including Réaltra, throughout the global pandemic.
