Project

Argentine microsatellite will participate in NASA's next lunar mission.

Marcelo Pagnola

DOI: 10.26303/j02d-5v72

What is it about?

The ATENEA microsatellite, developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering of the UBA and led by CONAE, will be launched as part of the Artemis II mission, scheduled for April 2026, on a ten-day manned flight that will fly over the Moon.

https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2025/06/04/un-microsatelite-argentino-participara-en-la-proxima-mision-lunar-de-la-nasa/

Why is it important?

Among ATENEA's functions are radiation dose measurements in various orbits—both low and deep—which will allow for the evaluation of shielding and commercial components. It will also test silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), optoelectronic devices that find applications in communications, sensors, and displays. Another task will be the collection of GPS data from altitudes above the satellite constellation, key information for maneuvers in geostationary transfer orbits. It will also validate long-range communication links, geared toward future deep space exploration.

Perspectives

These activities aim to raise the Technological Readiness Level (TRL) of several locally developed subsystems, positioning them for use in larger space missions. The satellite was selected by NASA after Argentina formally joined the Artemis Program in 2023. According to Martínez, the country's participation was formalized during NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's visit to FIUBA, where Argentina's entry as the 28th country to join the program was signed.

Dr. Ing. Marcelo R. Pagnola

INTECIN (UBA - CONICET)

Resources14 total

Who is involved?