some aspects of climate change based on the information it provides from observing the oceans, making use of highly sophisticated and high-performance optical instruments that we are developing in our Optics Laboratory,” Absi commented. Two Arsat communication satellites were launched in 2014 and 2015 – the first of their kind built and tested in Argentina – with a third in progress. “The ARSAT and INVAP teams are actively working on defining the requirements that the third satellite of the fleet [ARSAT-SG1], must have to cover the immediate communication needs of Argentina. The development of the project will have a schedule of 34 months from the signing of the contract. The new management of Arsat has an expansion plan for its fleet, so it is in its plans to continue deploying satellites after the ARSAT-SG1 is put into orbit,” stated Absi. The 2024 launch will provide broadband internet to currently unserviced areas. INVAP and Turkish Aerospace agreed in 2019 to develop low-coast communication satellites, creating GSATCOM as the vehicle to facilitate the arrangement. “This company is developing a family of electric- powered small geo-communications satellites with flexible communications systems, with the aim of addressing the international market. The ARSAT-SG1 satellite will make use of the technologies that GSATCOM is developing and this fact is very relevant, because it will demonstrate the benefits of this type of satellite in flight” explained Absi, who continued that the company “has the strength of having all the necessary capabilities ‘in house’ for the development of the entire value chain of the satellite industry. In other words, we cover the areas of design, production, integration, testing, environmental testing, launch campaign, operations, orbit testing and we even cover the area close to users, generating products, services and applications based on satellite information. At INVAP we not only develop the satellite platform, but we also have the capabilities and infrastructure necessary to design, produce, integrate and test very complex optical, radar and communications systems. Within our offer we offer training courses, consulting services, provision In Latin America, the road to space has never been easy, with low budgets and lack of technological development in most countries. Only Argentina and Brazil showed local development, with programmes for launch vehicles and satellites. While progress is slow, new steps are now being taken. Other than the activities of the nations identified below, Latin American space activity is largely limited to procurement of US or European satellites – in some cases with local participation – development of cubesats and some limited-scope R&D. Economic crises in Argentina and Brazil have depayed projects, though both nations continue to seek indigenous launch and satellite capacities. Argentina With the largest satellite development in the region, Argentina’s space activity is directed by the Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE), whose budget has been reduced over 70 % since 2017, to around $45 million in 2019 – and still decreasing, slowing or cancelling most projects. The only surviving vector programme is the ISCUL light payload satellite launcher, which comprises the Tronador vehicle, to be built by stateowned Veng. Initial test launch was in 2007, with the latest vehicle failed a test in 2017 due to problems with the fuel system, causing a reorganisation hampered by the pandemic and budget cuts. Tests scheduled for 2021 have yet to take place, aimed at testing engines for the Tronador-2 vehicle’s three stages – 30t, 10t and 4t thrust respectively – and injecting a test payload into orbit. Subsequent trials will see the deployment of a small satellite, with Tronador-3 capable of carrying a 1,000kg payload. Argentine satellite activity focuses on research satellites within international agreements, local research satellites and communications satellites. INVAP, as the main contractor, heads a supply chain of over 80 companies. Research craft include Saocom 1A and !B, with L-band SAR developed by INVAP – aimed at agricultural research and environmental monitoring. Launched in 2018 and 2020, they form part of the Italy/Argentina SIASGE emergency management system, which includes Italy’s four COSMOSkyMed spacecraft. Gabriel Absi, Space Projects Area Manager at INVAP, explained that “although there is an intention in our space agency (CONAE) to continue with the SAOCOM satellite programme, as of today there are no definitions of what characteristics the next satellites will have. CONAE is working very actively with end users to meet the needs and to better define the characteristics that the following satellites of the programme should have”. SABIA-Mar is an Argentine/Brazilian maritime research satellite that is more or less on schedule and scheduled for a 2024 launch. “Next year it’s planned to start with the construction of the model that will go to space, the purchases of the necessary components for the manufacture/integration of it have already begun. This satellite is highly relevant globally for the information it will generate and which will allow us to better understand Santiago Rivas Confronting the Struggle to Reach Space from Latin America 44 · MT 3/2022 Feature A VEX 1 rocket being tested in Argentina as part of the Tronador project. (Photo: VENG)
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