School of Satellites: An art and social experiment in Mexico

Paper number

IAC-15,B4,1,9,x31535

Author

Mr. Juan Díaz Infante, Mexico

Year

2015

Abstract

Ulises I is a satellite and a piece of art. The idea started in 2010 in Mexico
City, and it was designed as a project of residence for the Fonoteca Nacional
(national sound archive) to be presented during Play! Festival as an art
exhibition in June 2011. 

The idea of building a satellite is a statement and a poetic action. We want to change reality. Mexico for the last 6 years has been immersed in a drug war declared by Mexico´s last president. Over 50,000 deaths are related to this
action. There is a need to change this reality, the solution is to launch a
mission to space successfully as a citizen's group. This independent action
will prove reality can be changed and the future can be transformed in our
own terms.


In 2010 in Mexico, the Mexican Space Collective  was founded, a citizen based organization specialized in sending art projects to space. Founded one year prior to the Mexican Space Agency. Since then, the collective has finished constructing the Ulises 1 (tubesat) and from that experience there are another 3 missions being planned in parallel. The knowledge gathered during the experience generated the founding of the School of Satellites. All our information is being told as a travel log or a diary. We are working with institutions, universities, corporations and private citizens. We have generated a business model that is an example for other citizen organizations to follow. The effort being done from a country in the process of development with very little experience of going to space.

Our school of satellites pursues the continuation of space work in small satellites using the paradigm of STEAM, in a mission based environment. We are changing the conversation of the country, generating what we call the "other space race".

Abstract document

IAC-15,B4,1,9,x31535.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-15,B4,1,9,x31535.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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