EIRSAT-1 carried three Irish-developed experiments, or payloads.
GMOD - The Gamma-ray Module The first payload element (called the ‘Gamma-ray Module’ or ‘GMOD’) is a miniaturised sensor for use in the detection of gamma-rays from both cosmic and atmospheric phenomena. The sensor is called a
silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) that was developed by SensL Ltd. in County Cork (currently part of
ON Semiconductor). The SiPM has the potential to revolutionise in-situ and
remote sensing of gamma-rays in space by removing the need for conventional photomultiplier tubes that are typically very bulky, fragile and require high voltages to operate.
EMOD - the ENBIO Module The second payload element (called the ‘ENBIO Module’ or ‘EMOD’) provided in-orbit demonstration of novel protective oxide surface treatments made by ENBIO Ltd. (SolarWhite and SolarBlack). These surface treatments were developed for use on the ESA
Solar Orbiter mission, and EIRSAT-1 provided the opportunity for these coatings to be thermally tested. The temperature of the coatings were measured throughout the mission.
WBC - Wave Based Control The third payload is a novel, software-based attitude control system developed by the Dynamics and Control Group in the UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (a spacecraft's "attitude" is its orientation in space). In this case it used the
Earth's magnetic field to turn itself in any desired direction. The UCD control technique is called “Wave-Based Control” (WBC). EIRSAT-1 used a standard control system, initially. During the mission, in response to an instruction from Earth, the on-board computer began using WBC to control the satellite's attitude, thereby evaluating its performance and, it was hoped, qualifying WBC for space flight. == Launch and operations ==