The publication of the Space Activities in Ireland 2025 report marks a milestone year for the country’s space sector. Published by Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the report reveals that 126 Irish companies are now actively engaging with the European Space Agency (ESA), securing a record €25.3 million in ESA contracts in 2025.
Lios is proud to be featured alongside leading innovators in the Irish space ecosystem. From satellite optical communications by Mbryonics and launcher telemetry from Réaltra Space Systems Engineering, to edge AI platforms by Ubotica Technologies, Irish deep-tech is playing a vital role across Europe’s space missions.
For Lios, this year’s report highlights a major engineering milestone for our proprietary acoustic material, SoundBounce.
Phase 2 Milestone: Hitting ESA Mass Targets for Flight
Rocket lift-off generates punishing acoustic environments, producing sound pressure levels exceeding 140 dB. This violent low-frequency energy (below 250 Hz) penetrates standard fairing walls, risking structural damage to delicate satellite instrumentation, optical payloads, and solar arrays before reaching orbit.
| Programme Stage | Target Objective & Scope | Milestone Result |
| ESA FLPP Phase 1 | Investigate SoundBounce for Fairing Acoustic Protection (FAP) and validate acoustic attenuation under launch sound loads. | Achieved: Successfully met the target acoustic performance benchmarks set out by ESA. |
| ESA FLPP Phase 2 | Maintain previously attained acoustic performance alongside aggressive lightweighting for flight suitability. | Achieved: Maintained acoustic performance while hitting the strict mass target necessary for space flight. |
| ESA FLPP Phase 3 (ongoing) | Elevate technology from TRL 3 to TRL 6 and scale manufacturing processes for future European launch vehicles. | In Progress: Transitioning to flight demonstration readiness and industrial-scale production. |
Whats Next?
Working within ESA’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), Lios investigated the adoption of SoundBounce as a Fairing Acoustic Protection (FAP) system. In Phase 1, SoundBounce attained the acoustic attenuation performance set out by ESA.
In Phase 2, completed in 2025, our engineering team successfully maintained that acoustic performance while hitting the strict lightweighting targets necessary for space flight.
Developed by Lios co-founders Rhona Togher and Eimear O’Carroll, SoundBounce uses an energy-responsive thixotropic core within a lightweight cellular matrix. Unlike bulky traditional acoustic fairing blankets, SoundBounce dissipates destructive vibrational energy at the molecular level, delivering high Sound Transmission Loss in a significantly thinner, lighter envelope.
Following these milestone results, Lios will elevate the technology from TRL 3 to TRL 6 through Phase 3 of the project. The focus now shifts to scaling up manufacturing processes to support future European launch vehicles. This progression demonstrates how SoundBounce, an advanced acoustic material, is solving engineering challenges that were previously considered intractable, opening new possibilities for more efficient satellite deployment.
From Rocket Fairings to Terrestrial Machinery
Space qualification represents the ultimate testing ground. The material dynamics proven under ESA’s launch parameters translate directly into demanding terrestrial applications:
- Mobility & Automotive: Suppressing inverter whine and road rumble without penalising EV battery range or cabin space.
- Industrial & Plant Equipment: Controlling low-frequency noise in tight engine bays, as detailed in our guide on compact equipment acoustic enclosures.
- Sustainable Manufacturing: Cutting product embodied carbon by up to 78% compared to traditional acoustic treatments while delivering an 8x thinner profile.
You can read our dedicated entry alongside other Irish pioneers in the full Space Activities in Ireland 2025 Report (PDF).
To learn more about integrating SoundBounce into aerospace, mobility, or industrial systems, reach out to our team at sales@lios-group.com or contact us via our website.
