In honour of Science Week, InnaLabs® Chief Technology Officer, José Beitia was delighted to be a distinguished guest at Creative Minds: In Conversation with a NASA Astronaut. The event was hosted at the U.S Ambassador’s Residence at the Phoenix Park, Dublin, and paid homage to NASA’s Astronaut R. Shane Kimbrough’s career in Space.
Shane Kimbrough graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1989 and served in the U.S. Army until he joined NASA in 2000. Initially serving as a Flight Simulation Engineer on the Shuttle Training Aircraft, in 2004 he was selected by NASA to become an astronaut. He completed his first spaceflight in 2008, a 16-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). In October 2016, Kimbrough returned to ISS as Commander, a position he held until he returned to earth six months later. He has logged six spacewalks, 39 hours outside the orbiting laboratory, and a total of 189 days in space.
Shane Kimbrough is not only a space pioneer but he represents the future of space as his contributions onboard the International Space Station signifies the worldwide cooperation among the world’s space agencies working together to achieve the same goal which is to improve life on Earth for all people of all nations and to prepare for human exploration of destinations beyond low-Earth Orbit. Kimbrough’s knowledge and experience will help to achieve this as his time spent on the ISS are being leveraged to encourage, inspire and ultimately motivate the youth of today to pursue careers in math, science and engineering.
The meeting of two creative minds discussing the future of space. Distinguished guest Astronaut Shane Kimbrough, meeting InnaLabs® CTO Jose Beitia.
Science Week is an opportunity to showcase the tremendous advancements in Ireland in recent years, with progress being made in the technological and scientific spheres. InnaLabs® would like to thank Reece Smyth, from Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America for inviting InnaLabs® to the event. Although InnaLabs® is a young player in this Space sector, the company has demonstrated its space heritage by winning major contract awards with the European Space Agency, Airbus Space and Planet. InnaLabs® inertial sensors now have the proud distinction of being in-flight on several small-satellites and the company stands as a testament to Ireland’s growing efforts in Space Technology. These contracts will enhance the development of the growing space team within InnaLabs®, and we look forward to future opportunities in the expanding commercial space sector within Ireland.
