Dublin, Tuesday 22nd of January 2019 – Realtime Technologies Ltd. announced that its Réaltra Space Systems Engineering Division has been awarded a contract from German space company OHB System AG to design, develop and deliver the PayLoad Interface Unit (PLIU) for the European Space Agency (ESA) PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) mission that will be launched in 2026.

The Réaltra division of Realtime Technologies Ltd. was pre-selected by OHB System AG, the German company that will integrate, test and deliver the PLATO spacecraft to ESA, to join their industrial team for the PLATO mission, based on the capabilities and skills of the people working in Réaltra and Realtime. Working in space demands the highest engineering and manufacturing standards and the challenge of providing space-qualified electronic systems for such a prestigious scientific mission will not be easily met. The PLIU developed in Réaltra will provide the thermal control system for the telescopes on the PLATO spacecraft to help underpin the mission’s objective of understanding how our Universe was formed, and whether life exists outside of our own solar system. Furthermore, the contract will support an increase in high-quality employment in design, engineering and manufacturing roles here in north Dublin and in the supply chain companies located around Ireland.

Réaltra Space Systems Engineering was established in 2018 to focus specifically on the growing global space market for high-quality and high-reliability electronic systems, targeting the commercial “NewSpace” market, with a focus on the burgeoning global micro-launchers and small satellite sectors.

Réaltra already employs 10 people ranging from staff with significant space heritage to recent graduates of UCD’s Masters in Space Science & Technology. The company plans to employ more than 20 highly skilled people over the next few years.
Réaltra is the Irish word for “galaxy”, which is appropriate in the context of the company’s vision of creating innovative low-cost electronic systems for space applications. The Réaltra division was formed in January 2018 by Paddy White (CEO), Diarmuid Corry (CTO) and Danny Gleeson (CCO), each with long experience in the space sector. Realtime Technologies is a member of the Irish Space Industry Group and a founder member of the Space Industry Skillnet.