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Challenges and Opportunities of the Mexican Space Agency

Javier Mendieta, Mexican Space Agency

San Jose, California, June 17, 2013

IPPW 10San Jose State University

Overview• Space activities in Mexico today• The Mexican Space Agency• Where should Mexico be in 2030?• Current challenges• Opportunities• A plan to turn Mexico into a significant

space actor in 2030• Conclusions

Experimental Space Activities in Mexico

1980s: “Morelos” Satellites System, contracted with Hughes & NASA. Development of space experiments for the NASA space shuttle container program, in collaboration with USA universities

1970s: National Comission of Outer Space.Sounding rockets

Mexican space experiments

Experimental Space Activities in Mexico

2000s: SATMEX Satellites System, contracted with Hughes, Boeing, Loral & ESA.Diverse small satellite projects: SATEDU, CONDOR, SENSAT.

1990s: “Solidaridad” Satellites System, contracted with ESA & Hughes.Development of the SATEX-1 microsatellite.Development of the UNAMSAT microsatellites.

SATEX-1

Companies: 260States: 16Employees: 31,000+

NORTHEASTCoahuila (7)Nuevo León (29)Tamaulipas (11)

SOUTHEAST REGION:Yucatán (3)Guerrero (1)

CENTRAL REGION: Distrito Federal (8) Edo. de México (7) Querétaro (35)San Luis Potosí (6)Puebla (3)

WEST REGION: Aguascalientes (2) Jalisco ( 6 )Zacatecas (1)

NORTHWEST REGION:Baja California (55) Sonora (43)Chihuahua (37)

Source: Dirección General de Industrias Pesadas y de Alta Tecnología, SCT, ProMéxico y FEMIA

Aerospace Industry in Mexico

Mexican aerospace sector

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MexSat Satellite System

Process for the creation of AEM

2nd Stage

¤ Approval of the Law that creates the Mexican Space Agency

30 July 2010

¤ Board of Goverment first meeting

¤ Start of operations

1 November 2011

7 September 2010

16 November 2010 11 April 2011

¤ National consultation forums

13 July 2011

¤ National Space Policy

Publication

Dirección 1111/14/2011

National Space policy

1. The State as authority and responsible

7. Productive sector development

2. Towards autonomy in certain areas 8. Human capital

3. Sovereignty and Security Protection

9. Coordination, regulation and certification

4. Protection of Population 10. International cooperation

5. Environment sustainability 11. Space activities public awareness

6. Scientific research, technology and innovation

development

12. Funding13. Organization and

management

Vision and Mision

Vision Mision

That AEM will be an enabler to allow that Mexico could be a recognized nation in the development and use of space science and technology to improve the quality of life of all Mexicans.

Transform Mexico into a country with scientific activities and world class space technology developments, focused on social needs and articulated to leading edge industrialization programs, contributing to the country’s competitivity.

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Vision 2030 Mexico makes significant contri-

butions to space S&T

PlanningAnd

Funding

Industrial development and competitiveness

InternationalAffairs

andSecurity

Science and technology development

Human capital development in the space field

Organization

First Year Activities

Collaboration Agreements and MoU’s

Mexico´s space vision (2030)• Turn Mexico into a significant

international space player– Significant space infrastructure built

mostly with indigenous capabilities– Space awareness of population– Adequate human capital– Significant space industry, focused on

niches– Contribution to space exploration and

research

Challenges • Increase public funding• Increase participation of Mexican

industry in R&D operations• Foster interaction between academic

researchers and industry• Tackle global challenges (climate,

security, connectivity…)

Opportunities• Growing need for space applications • Growing aerospace industry• Population bonus• Scientific base• New federal administration• Geopolitical location• Free trade agreements• Growing interest in space tourism

Mexican Space Research• ASTRONOMY, ASTROPHYSICS, GEOPHYSICS• SPACE COMMUNICATIONS• EARTH OBSERVATION• OCEAN SCIENCES• EARTH SCIENCES• ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES• NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT

REDCyTE

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Linking vision and strategy

Goals StrategyMexico has adequate space infrastructure • Develop joint programs between government and

industry to generate space infrastructure

Mexico has a globally competitive space industry

• Develop private space science and technology industry sector through PPPs

Mexico has a robust space science and technology base

• Human capital development through alliances with universities, industry, state governments and international partners

Mexican people have awareness and appreciation for science

• Advocate the importance of space science and technology and its benefits among the population

Mexico as a space global player which contributes to space exploration and research

• Establish partnerships with space advanced countries

• Participation in international projects

Mexico´s road map of the space industry

Frameworka) National Development Planb) National Infrastructure Plan

Nationwide project:• A Satellite Early Warning System for

natural disaster prevention, mitigation and management.

• Building capacities for communications satellites and for scientific platforms.

11/14/2011 Dirección 24

Ongoing projects for capacity building

1. Stratospheric Balloons Technology demostrator, human capital development

2. CanSats Technology demonstrator, human capital development

3. Cubesats (SENSAT/SATEDU) Technology demostrator, capacity building

4. CONDOR Project Seismic sensor, multiespectral camera

5. Project Quetzal Atmospheric observation

6. SATEX 2 ProjectImaging national needs

Capacity building, multimission platform

Less than a 1m resolution

Mexican Space development: Timeline

Additional Actions• CONACYT-AEM Trust Fund dedicated to

funding space projects.• Regional development supported by

States• International collaboration

Conclusions

• Human capital development the key for success

• Strong program for capacity building • Early warning and disaster

management a key priority.• Space infrastructure: a change of

vision• Gradual involvement of Mexico in

international space exploration projects

Thank you!

director.general@aem.gob.mx