Argentina's UNLP USAT 1 CubeSat heads to SpaceX launch

The USAT 1, a 3U CubeSat built entirely by engineers and students at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) in Argentina, has been shipped to Spain. There, the aerospace firm UARX integrated the satellite into the dispenser that will release it once in orbit.

The satellite is scheduled for launch from the United States in October aboard a SpaceX rocket. USAT 1 serves as the technology demonstrator that enabled the later development of the ATENEA microsatellite, which was selected by NASA to fly as a secondary payload on the Artemis II crewed mission to lunar orbit.

The project began in 2021 through a collaboration between UNLP’s Centre for Aerospace Technology (CTA) and its Electronics and Navigation Systems group. The satellite was transported to Europe as hand luggage by university staff to meet strict lithium‑battery regulations, and final checks on weight, dimensions and fit were performed before the dispenser was sealed.