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Argentina's ATENA Satellite Reaches for the Moon
2 Apr
Summary
- Argentine microsatellite ATENEA to test navigation and radiation measurement.
- ATENEA is the sole Latin American payload on NASA's Artemis II mission.
- Satellite will measure deep space radiation beyond Earth's magnetic field.
An Argentine-built microsatellite, ATENEA, is participating in NASA's Artemis II mission, marking a significant international collaboration. Developed by the University of Buenos Aires with support from Argentina's space agency CONAE, ATENEA is the only payload from Latin America selected for this crewed lunar mission, which is scheduled to launch soon.
ATENEA, roughly the size of a shoebox, will travel approximately 72,000 kilometers from Earth. Its primary objectives include testing experimental navigation systems by harnessing faint signals from Earth's GPS satellites and measuring radiation levels far beyond our planet's protective magnetic field. This offers Argentine scientists a unique opportunity to study deep space conditions.
The mission aims to gather data crucial for developing future space-based GPS systems capable of accurately determining spacecraft positions in deep space. Despite facing funding reductions under President Javier Milei's government, Argentina's space sector continues to develop world-class technology, as highlighted by project director Fernando Filippetti.
