28.12.2025

Ireland was required to agree to plan under 1960s space treaties - but felt crash landing was only a remote possibility

STS-66-NASA

US officials contacted the Irish Government in 1995 to request the use of Shannon Airport as an emergency landing location for a Nasa space shuttle, documents released as part of the State Papers show.

In a letter sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs on March 14th, 1995, a senior official from the US Embassy said that an “additional emergency landing site” was needed for the shuttle.

The letter said this requirement was because the US and Russia had agreed to “co-operate on building the International Space Station”, meaning the space shuttle would now be taking off on a slightly different trajectory.

“If there were multiple main engine failures after take off ... the shuttle would have to attempt an abort landing at the primary [location] in Zaragoza, Spain,” the note stated.

“If, while taking the action to abort to Zaragoza, the shuttle were to then experience additional engine failures, there would be an eight to 20 second period where insufficient power would exist to get the shuttle all the way to Zaragoza.

“In that event, the shuttle could attempt an emergency landing at Shannon Airport.”

The letter stated that – if such a scenario happened – US personnel would be dispatched to retrieve the space shuttle and anyone on board at the time of the crash landing.

The file also noted that steps would be necessary to “safeguard the lives of the astronauts” involved, and that it would be “prepared to assume liability for damage caused” should the situation occur.

The letter made clear that Ireland was required to allow these events under two international agreements with very long titles – namely the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, and the Agreement on the Return of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched Into Outer Space.

Government officials from the departments of foreign affairs and transport ultimately decided to agree to the request as Ireland had signed up to both treaties in the 1960s.

In a handwritten note dated April 28th, 1995, Raphael V Siev of the Department of Foreign Affair’s legal division told his department colleague Seán McDonald that Ireland was “obliged” to adhere to the request.

“We will need to establish a base which will ... be able to spring into action if an emergency arises, which will contact Shannon Airport ground services to get prepared, which will notify hospital and fire services in case the landing is in a built up area, which will notify and sea rescue and naval services in case it lands in the sea, etc,” Mr Siev wrote.

“The Departments of Health, Environment, Transport, Communications, Defence and Justice could all be involved.”

While preparations between Nasa, various departments and the Irish Aviation Authority continued, the likelihood of Shannon Airport being used as a landing site was small.

In a note dated June 14th, 1995, Department of Foreign Affairs official Mairéad Creed said: “It is our understanding that the possibility of Shannon Airport actually being used as a landing site is a very remote one.”

Quelle: THE IRISH TIMES