The space industry is “very much changing in terms of having more and more commercial partners,” according to Dr. Rosemary Coogan, the first astronaut from Northern Ireland.
The astrophysicist, who was speaking to BBC News NI, is undertaking intense spacewalk preparation and is presently in the US for pre-assignment training.
At a special event in Cologne, Germany, last year, Dr. Coogan received her graduation diploma after completing her basic training with the European Space Agency.
She hopes to encourage the upcoming generation of scientists to seek careers in the field by sharing her work at the Northern Ireland Science Festival on Wednesday.
