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Journal of Aeronautical History Revised 11 September 2018 Paper 2018/08 Review of Space Activities in South America Bruno Victorino Sarli, Space Generation Advisory Council, Brazil Marco Antonio Cabero Zabalaga, Space Generation Advisory Council, Bolivia Alejandro Lopez Telgie, Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ingeniería, Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Chile Josué Cardoso dos Santos, São Paulo State University (FEG-UNESP), Brazil Brehme Dnapoli Reis de Mesquita, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão, Açailândia Campus, Brazil Avid Roman-Gonzalez, Space Generation Advisory Council, Peru Oscar Ojeda, Space Generation Advisory Council, Colombia Natalia Indira Vargas Cuentas, Space Generation Advisory Council, Bolivia Andrés Aguilar, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional Facultad Regional Delta, Argentina ABSTRACT This paper addresses the past and current efforts of the South American region in space. Space activities in the region date back to 1961; since then, South American countries have achieved a relatively modest capability through their national programs, and some international collaboration, with space activities in the region led primarily by the Brazilian and Argentinian space programs. In an era where missions explore the solar system and beyond, this paper focus on the participation of a region that is still in the early stages of its space technology development, yet has a considerable amount to offer in terms of material, specialized personnel, launch sites, and energy. In summary, this work presents a historical review of the main achievements in the South American region, and through analysis of past and present efforts, aims to project a trend for the future of space in South America. The paper also sets out current efforts of regional integration such as the South American Space Agency proposal. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Since the late 1950s, space has become another dramatic arena for countries to prove their technological superiority, military firepower and, by extension their political-economical system. Argentina and Brazil started the first space activities in 1961 and 1967, respectively, with the launch of Alfa-Centauro and Sonda I rockets. Since then, individual South American countries have been developing space capacity to provide basic space-based services and small autonomy in this area. As the countries in the South American region develop their activities, the most significant steps have been initiated by such countries as Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. Brazil currently has a well-established institute of space research, has sent one astronaut to the ISS, and continues efforts to develop its own launch capability. Argentina is currently working in 208 Journal of Aeronautical History Revised 11 September 2018 Paper 2018/08 the construction of Tronador II, a light payload satellite injector, based on previous models (Tronador Ia and Ib) successfully launched from Punta Indio naval base. In Peru, the national Aerospace Research and Development Commission (CONIDA) launched Paulet-1, the first Peruvian space probe, in 2006 from Punta Lobos air force base. Bolivia is also making its mark in the sector with its first telecommunications satellite (2013) and recent efforts to develop a remote sensing satellite. In 2011, Chile put its Earth Observation satellite SSOT/FASAT-Charlie into orbit, providing the best resolution in South American region. Space programs in South America not only address a technological gap; they also offer a chance to inspire people and bring to their attention the potential and benefits of the space sector. This paper provides a historical review of the evolution of the space activities in South America and its relation with historical and political aspects, as well as important steps. In addition, this paper directly addresses the outcomes of the 2011 Defense Ministers meeting of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), where the representatives collectively decided to prioritize the creation of a South American Space Agency and its collaboration through UNASUR. Figure 1 This figure shows the national space agencies of Latin American countries, including previous institutional incarnations where applicable. Data compiled by author, image by MRoy Cartography. Following this introduction, section 2 discusses the proposed South American Space Agency and the UNASUR. Sections 3 to 9 present, respectively, a historical review of the main accomplishments of each country. Section 10 analyses past achievements and approaches as these relate to projecting future trends and collaboration 209 Journal of Aeronautical History Revised 11 September 2018 Paper 2018/08 2.0 THE SOUTH AMERICAN SPACE AGENCY The UNASUR treaty (1), signed in Brasilia, Brazil, on 23rd May 2008, is a legal instrument integrating the former countries of the Andean Community of Nations (Comunidad Andina de Naciones, CAN), the Southern Common Market (Mercado Común del Sur, MERCOSUR) and Chile, together with Guyana and Suriname. The enrollment of the entire region gave the union full legality with the Constitutive Treaty reaching force on 11th March 2011, thus making UNASUR a legal entity. As an entity with international legal identity, UNASUR aims at prioritizing political dialog, social policies, education, energy, infrastructure, financing and the environment, with a view to eliminating socioeconomic inequality in South America. The UNASUR bodies as well as its objectives mirror the European Union organization. Early negotiations about UNASUR considered the adoption of the communitarian European model and the enhancement of the existing legislation of CAN and MERCOSUR. The Sixth Space Conference of the Americas (CEA), held in Pachuca Mexico, in November 2010, approved the Pachuca Declaration, in which the creation of a Space Technical Consulting Group brought together representatives of the national agencies or government bodies in charge of space affairs. This working group aimed to support the CEA and its executive secretariat. In November 2011 the defense ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela and the deputy-minister of Uruguay agreed on the creation of a South American Space Agency during a meeting of the Defense Council of UNASUR. Goals for this agency will be to focus efforts placing satellites into orbit using a regional launch vehicle in order to reduce costs and increase technological capabilities. In accordance with the United Nations Outer Space Treaty (2), all the activities will be for peaceful uses. Within the framework of the South America Space Agency, Argentina proposes the development of a satellite launch vehicle, which aligns to the national Tronador project; however, some of the South American countries resisted the proposal. Nevertheless, the goal of technological cooperation in the satellites area seems to attract more attention of the Member States. During the November 2011 meeting, the Argentine Defense Ministry indicated its interest in developing a space agency project with UNASUR. Brazil has positioned against the proposal, based on the costs involved in creating new structures. Moreover, this objective does not align with the non- military characteristics of the Brazilian space program. The Brazilian argument is that disparity on the South American space capabilities would reduce Brazil’s advantages; however, the development of the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil is a strong motivation, which would allow development of a regional center for satellite final assembly, testing, launch, control, and tracking. Nowadays, there are still factions supporting the creation of a regional space agency, but governments still cannot agree about whether to support and fund the creation of such an entity. The South American Space Agency remains a goal that is being pursued in the region. 3.0 ARGENTINA Argentina’s history of space-related activities dates back to the mid-20th century, when following the practice of both the US and the USSR the government recruited scientists from Germany and other European countries to help develop the earliest Argentine rockets and aircraft. Argentina’s 210 Journal of Aeronautical History Revised 11 September 2018 Paper 2018/08 first activities in the space field date back to 1960, when the National Commission for Space Research (Comisión Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales, CNIE) was first established. The CNIE, working with local and international partners, carried out the first South American scientific atmospheric measurements using rockets and stratospheric balloons. In 1961, the government created the Center for Experimentation and Launching of Self-propelled Projectiles in the city of Chamical under the acronym CELPA. A second launch center, CELPA Atántico, was created near the coastal town of Mar Chiquita. Together with the Argentine Institute of Aeronautics and Space Research (Instituto de Investigaciones Aeronáuticas y Espaciales IIAE, a center depending from the Argentina Air Force), CNIE designed and constructed, and launched a family of one and two-stage sounding rockets. The first single stage rockets, Alfa-Centauro and Beta-Centauro, were launched in 1961. Later the IIAE developed a family of two stage sounding- rockets, with the first named Gamma-Centauro (launched in 1963), and latter creating others: Rigel, Orion, Canopus, Castor and Tauro. With this experiment, Argentina became the third nation to measure cosmic radiation, providing early evidence