Within the framework of FAMEX 2023, Constelación AztechSat, a project in which UP’s School of Engineering collaborates with five Mexican universities, in conjunction with the Mexican Space Agency (AEM for its initials in Spanish) and with NASA, the first design phase has been completed, known as Mission Concept Review (MCR).
Dr. Margarita Hurtado Hernández, deputy director of the School of Engineering, and Dr. Ángel García Hernández, project coordinator at UP, were invited to this review, which was hosted at the Military Aviation Museum.
Likewise, representatives from each of the participating universities were present, including:
- José Francisco Valdés Galicia, coordinator of the University Space Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
- Enrique Gerardo Sosa Gutiérrez, rector of the Aeronautical University in Querétaro (UNAQ).
- Eugenio Urrutia Albisua, Vice Chancellor for Research and General Director of the project at the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP).
- Carlos Antonio Contreras López, rector of the Polytechnic University of Querétaro (UPQ).
Promoting innovation and development in space
In her message, Dr. Hurtado pointed out that, “For UP, it has been very valuable to advance in this first phase of AztechSat II. This project is aligned with the objectives of our Colibrí Space Laboratory, since it fosters education and multidisciplinary research and contributes to the solution of global problems through the development of space technology”.
She also said, “It has been very enriching to work with other educational and government institutions. These types of projects are essential to promoting innovation and development of the space sector in Mexico and we are very happy to be part of it all.”
The role of Universidad Panamericana
In his presentation, Dr. Ángel García explained that the AztechSat II constellation project will design four nanosatellites in Mexico that locate marine fauna, specifically large mammals.
He noted that researchers and students who are part of UP’s Misión Colibrí will be in charge of evaluating and identifying technical risks that the mission may have (electronics, launching, integration, thermal systems, etc.) to then create mitigation proposals.
Likewise, he added, “Through the Colibrí Space Laboratory, UP is committed to investing in this type of project. AztechSat has a great responsibility, together with UNAM and UPAEP, to start and manage this project and it is a point of pride that the UP community is a participant in it.”
A big step for Mexico
Andrés Martínez, space program executive from NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems Division, who will coordinate this approximately three-year project, widely recognized Mexico and its youth for their role in this space project.
“This is a second step for the AztechSat project, and a giant leap for Mexico due to the talent, dedication, ingenuity and commitment of its youth, which I am sure will shine again through this new generation of satellites, since technology will be developed that does not already exist,” Martinez said.
In addition, he added: “Derivatives of this technology (which is developed with AztechSat II), will be applied in the near future for exploration of the moon within the Artemis project (which seeks to return humanity to set foot on the moon after 50 years).”
For his part, the General Coordinator of Human Capital Training in the AEM space division, Carlos Duarte Muñoz, on behalf of Salvador Landeros Ayala, Director General of AEM, widely congratulated the participating universities.
“We are very excited about the first achievement in this project and it is a great source of pride that Mexican talent has developed the first technological concepts that tomorrow will shape the nanosatellite prototypes that will allow us to monitor and care for marine fauna on the coasts of Mexico and the United States of America.”
About AztechSat
The Constelación AztechSat (AztechSat Constellation) project is a joint initiative between AEM and NASA to develop a constellation of at least four nanosatellites for animal telemetry applications.
Its aims to develop a proof of concept for a space system that serves to monitor marine fauna from outer space, in order to understand their migration habits and protect species from dangers such as colliding with installations on the high seas or deep-sea ships.
The following universities participate in this project:
- National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
- Aeronautical University in Querétaro (UNAQ).
- Universidad Panamericana (UP).
- Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP).
- Polytechnic University of Querétaro (UPQ).
