Morazán MRZ-SAT CubeSat project for integration of the Central American Nations through collaboration in Space
- Paper number
IAC-19,B4,1,13,x50093
- Author
Mr. Luis Monge, Costa Rica, Costa Rica Radio Club
- Coauthor
Ms. Maria Molina, Costa Rica, University of Costa Rica
- Coauthor
Mr. Carlos Enrique Alvarado-Briceño, Costa Rica
- Coauthor
Prof. Fernando José Zorto Aguilera, Honduras, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH)
- Coauthor
Prof. Eduardo Joaquin Gross Muñoz, Honduras, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH)
- Coauthor
Prof.Dr. Javier Mejuto, Honduras, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH)
- Coauthor
Mr. Moacir Becker, Costa Rica, International Space University
- Coauthor
Prof. Víctor Carol Hernández, Guatemala
- Coauthor
Mr. Oliver Ernesto Sierra Pac, Guatemala, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, USAC/CUNOC
- Year
2019
- Abstract
Morazán is a project for the integration of the Central American Nations through collaboration in Space. It consists in developing a CubeSat by Honduran professionals, with the collaboration of Costa Rican experts — developers of the first Central American Satellite —, and Guatemalan professionals. As a region with high exposure to natural disasters and with territories ranked among the highest risk in the world, the satellite’s scientific mission will be the development of an early warning system for floods and landslides. This system will operate in remote zones with little to no access to communications; additionally, the use of the same system for post-emergency communications will be tested. Morazán was the last president of the late Central American Republic. A man ahead of his time, progressive, forward-thinking, and, most importantly, he was a true believer in the integration of the territories that constitute the Central American countries as the only way to promote progress in the region. This region faces multiple challenges in the areas of security, natural disasters and poverty, as it hosts the most violent cities in the word, the second poorest country in the western hemisphere, and its countries rank in the top 10 places most prone to natural disasters in the world according to UN University. In the 21st century, with the democratization of technology access, Morazán’s ideals gain new relevance, as international cooperation is key to face the aforementioned challenges. The Central America Association for Aeronautics and Space (ACAE) has the goal of promoting Central American collaboration for access to space technology. Back in April 2018, ACAE successfully launched the first Central American satellite, named Batsu-CS1, as part of Project Irazú. Batsú, developed by Costa Rican professionals, was a proof-of-concept satellite devoted to developing the human capacities to perform a space mission from beginning to end. The next logical step is to develop the next mission with two main objectives: first, to carry out a space mission based on more strict requirements and developed by a scientific team that has in mind the societal challenges of the region. Second, to promote collaboration among nations through knowledge transfer. In particular, from the Costa Rican developers of the region’s first satellite and Guatemalan recipients of the second Kibo-Cube grant to Honduras; a non-space fairing nation with a myriad of opportunities to benefit from the access to space technology, and coincidentally the birthplace of president Morazán.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-19,B4,1,13,x50093.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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