An Irish astrophysicist has been appointed to a prestigious scientific advisory role at the heart of the European space programme.
Professor Peter Gallagher is to become one of 11 advisors to the Director of Science at the European Space Agency, which will invest €5 billion in space exploration over the next ten years.
The role will see the Trinity College Dublin physicist become involved in major space missions under the ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 strategy.
Specifically he will be responsible for managing the views and needs of the European science community's access to the experiments and data gathered under key science activities.
He will also be involved in the formulation of policy and planning of future science missions during his time on the Space Science Advisory Committee.
A solar physicist, Prof Gallagher is already involved in the Solar Orbiter mission which is launching in two years time.
It will study the Sun and inner Solar System from inside the orbit of Mercury.
Prof Gallagher is also a leading driver of plans to bring a LOFAR radio-telescope array to Birr Castle in Co Offaly.
