:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/ARQ3WUDAIBF5DAMJLWQFK5IA2Y.jpg "Argentina, a global player in space activity: projects that position the country as a regional leader 1")
Created in 1991, the National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) has succeeded in positioning Argentina as a regional and global reference in space matters, not only for its own space missions but also for international cooperation agreements and projects. DEF interviewed engineer Raúl Kulichevsky, executive director of CONAE, who received us at the “Teófilo Tabanera” Space Center (CETT), located in the Cordoba town of Falda del Cañete. He highlighted the importance of the Spatial Plan of this institution and recalled, among other relevant aspects, that Argentina is the “only country in Latin America that has the capacity to develop geostationary satellites, and proof of this are the two telecommunications satellites (Arsat-1 and Arsat-2) built by INVAP for the company ARSAT and which have provided commercial services since 2014 and 2015 respectively”.
– What are the main projects that CONAE has underway?
-Currently, we are working on the operation of the two microwave observation satellites SAOCOM-1A and 1B; and the planning of its continuity with the SAOCOM 2 mission, in order to maintain and increase the capabilities provided by the operation of a satellite with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). In addition, we are developing the flight model of the Sea Environmental Information-Based Applications Satellite (SABIA-Mar); and planning for future segmented architecture (SARE) satellites. We are discussing with other Latin American countries to deal with the multilateral development of a geostationary satellite for meteorological applications because, with Africa, we are the only two regions in the world that do not have a this type to have more precise weather and climate forecasts.
-Beyond satellites, what other activities do you carry out from your agency?
-In addition to the satellites, we are also advancing the completion of the detailed engineering of the Tronador II/III satellite injector propulsion system and the recovery/completion of the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base launch site, which we hope to have operational in 2024. On the other hand, we intend to install a third telemetry station at the joint Antarctic base of Belgrano II – the closest to the South Pole of our country – for which we have already purchased the antennas and domes (spherical cover that protects the antennas from the weather of the white continent). These antennas have already been received and mounted at the CETT to check their proper functioning, before being transferred to the icebreaker Almirante Irízar and installed in their final location next to the joint Antarctic base Belgrano II. Likewise, we hope to receive very soon the CONEAU accreditation for the new Master in Space Systems which will be delivered by the Institute for Advanced Space Studies “Mario Gulich”.
RESOURCES THAT ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD
– What human and financial resources do they have?
-In addition to the budget we receive from the National Treasury, CONAE also has resources corresponding to loans from various international financial institutions, among which we can mention the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) . The funds provided by these multilateral credit institutions, as well as the cooperation agreements that we have signed and concretized in various very complex projects with the main world space agencies, are irrefutable proof of the prestige and high degree of development of the space sector. , both in public and in private.
-You mentioned the first countries in the world with which CONAE interacts, do they also work with Latin American space agencies?
-In fact, CONAE does not only collaborate with agencies of the main world powers, we also have and have had projects with agencies of countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, etc. Our country intends not only to increase national spatial development, but also at the regional level, which is why, from the beginning, we have tried to bring other Latin American countries to take a greater interest to the creation of scientific and industrial capacities according to their needs for the use of space.
LATIN AMERICAN SATELLITE INTEGRATION
-Concerning the Latin American sphere, what is the ALCE?
-After many years of negotiations, on September 18, 2021, the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) was officially created, to become a cooperation mechanism that improves Earth observation capacity through satellites with applications in agriculture, mitigation of disasters caused by natural and anthropogenic phenomena, security, border control and maritime littoral; oceanography; meteorology; exploration of natural resources; cartography etc. Within the framework of the ALCE, Argentina promotes collaboration between space agencies and meteorological services of the countries of the region to design, build, launch and operate a geostationary meteorological satellite that allows obtaining precise information to ensure greater safety of the air and sea. navigation and increase the productivity of agriculture and livestock, among other objectives.
– How will the satellite we are talking about be financed?
-In order to consolidate the leadership of the Argentine Republic in this regional meteorological satellite project, the MINCyT has provided a budget item to carry out the exploration of the advantages and functionalities that the meteorological satellite should have, to evaluate its economic feasibility, etc. On the other hand, through CONAE, our country will provide technical support for the formulation of the said satellite in collaboration with the Special Agencies of the countries of the region, actions which have been very well received by the members of ALCE and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional III (Latin America). We hope that in the coming months the constitution of various working groups will be finalized to advance in the definitions required by a space mission as complex and costly as the development of a geostationary meteorological satellite, which will require between five and seven years of design, construction, testing and almost $300 million between the cost of the satellite itself and its launch into geostationary orbit at an altitude of around 35,000 kilometers.
ARGENTINA COLLABORATES WITH BRAZIL
-With Brazil, what projects have you carried out or are in progress?
-The first four satellites encountered by CONAE were to carry out their environmental test campaigns at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in Brazil. This happened because our country at the time lacked the facilities, equipment and specialized personnel to subject the satellites to the demands they must endure during their launch and later when they orbit around the earth, such as very loud vibrations and sounds when launching and the wide temperature difference. In 2010, ARSAT created, together with the state company of Río Negro INVAP, the High Technology Testing Center of the Sociedad Anónima (CEATSA), which provided the country with the most modern facilities of Latin America to test satellites and systems/components for other industries. . Closer in time, INVAP succeeded in exporting a flight computer for one of its satellites to Brazil, which represented a revenue of nearly $20 million for this essential component for all satellite missions.
– Are you working on the construction of a common satellite?
-We are currently working with Brazil on the construction of the SABIA-Mar satellites, the integration of the flight model of which CONAE has already approached, which we hope to launch into space in 2024. For its part, the Agency Brazilian Space Agency (AEB ) will be the same in 2025. This satellite will have the function of studying the seas of the whole world, and in particular in the coastal regions of Argentina and South America, up to 650 km offshore, in addition to including inland waters. In this way, SABIA-Mar will bring a better knowledge of the Argentine sea and contribute to national sovereignty by promoting greater control and surveillance of our maritime coast, it will allow us to carry out scientific research and increase production. national on the basis of information related to fishing and hydrocarbons.
* The author holds a European Masters in Strategic and Technological Management, works as a Consultant for Companies and Governments in Defence, Security and Aeronautics.
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