NASA wanted to use Shannon as emergency landing zone

Updated / Saturday, 27 Dec 2025 00:01 The government was contacted by US officials in 1995 to request the use of Shannon Airport as an emergency landing location for the space shuttle By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith Harry Manning Evelyn O'Rourke Shannon Airport has had many eye-catching visitors over the years. But the prospect of a pay-load carrying NASA space shuttle hurtling towards it in a potential crash landing scenario with an "eight to 20 second" warning understandably surprised even the most world-weary of officials. New files released to the National Archives of Ireland under the 30-year rule show that in early 1995, the government was contacted by US officials to request the use of the west of Ireland travel hub as an emergency landing location for the space shuttle. In a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs on 14 March 1995, a senior official from the US embassy to Dublin said that as part of "an ongoing review of emergency planning for shuttle launches" it now needed an "additional emergency landing site". The letter said this requirement was due to the fact the decision by the US and Russia to "co-operate on building the International Space Station" meant the space shuttle would now be taking off on a slightly different trajectory, bringing Ireland into play, as the note explained: "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. "If, while taking the action to abort to Zaragoza, the shuttle were to then experience additional engine failure, 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." Partially to calm any concerns from officials, the letter continued that should this happen "United States personnel (both US government and contractor) would be dispatched" to retrieve the space shuttle and "foreign pay-loads" if they were on board at the time of the crash landing. The US embassy letter also said 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. However, making it clear the request was likely to be a request in name only and not up for debate, it also pointed out Ireland was required to allow these events under two not exactly briefly named international agreements: 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. Over the coming months, government officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Transport discussed how to respond to the NASA-related request, ultimately deciding that as Ireland had signed up to both treaties in the...

Preview: ~500 words