It is the first nanosatellite developed and launched by Mexico as a result of the collaboration of the UPAEP, NASA and the AEM
Authorities from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) met with the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, at the National Palace, this Tuesday, April 23, to celebrate, among other things, the milestone represented by the AztechSat. 1, the first Mexican nanosatellite developed by students and professors from the Popular Autonomous University of the State of Puebla (UPAEP), which was launched in December 2019 from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX company rocket and was put into orbit in February 2020 from the International Space Station.
In the meeting that was also attended by the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, it was highlighted that AztechSat-1 is the result of collaboration between UPAEP, NASA and the Mexican Space Agency (AEM), and marked a transcendental moment in the history of Mexican space exploration by becoming the first nanosatellite developed and launched by Mexico.
This achievement not only represented a significant technological advance, but also symbolized the talent, dedication and potential of the country’s scientific and academic community.
During the meeting, the NASA commission presented President López Obrador with a commemorative painting that remembers this historical milestone. The work captures the essence and meaning of AztechSat-1, as well as other collaborations that both countries have had in the aerospace field, highlighting its importance in the context of space exploration and international cooperation.
With the presence of Bill Nelson, head of NASA, and Pamela Melroy, one of the only two women who has commanded a space shuttle, they discussed, among other issues, whether Katya Echazarreta, a young Mexican astronaut, can go to space again, as well as the cooperation in fire control, water supply and use of nearby satellites for communication throughout the territory.
It was noted that President López Obrador received this gift with emotion and gratitude, highlighting the importance of strengthening collaboration between Mexico and NASA in the field of space exploration.
This meeting not only reinforces the ties of cooperation between Mexico and the United States in the space field, but also highlights the potential and capacity of the Mexican scientific community and UPAEP professors and students to contribute to the advancement of exploration. space worldwide. In addition, it lays the foundations for future collaborations and joint projects that promote the scientific, technological and space development of Mexico.
