Paraguay prepares launch of GuaraniSat-2 satellite

Paraguay is advancing its aerospace capabilities with the launch of GuaraniSat-2, the nation’s second satellite. Unlike its predecessor, which was built by Paraguayan engineers in Japan, GuaraniSat-2 is the first satellite to be entirely designed, assembled, and integrated within Paraguay. The project involved a multidisciplinary team of 40 to 50 professionals and received support from various academic institutions and international partners, including NASA and agencies from Japan and Mexico.

The satellite is scheduled for launch from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. To support this mission, student Nadia Ferreira has developed the ARAPY-1 experimental ground station. This project, created as her high school final work in collaboration with the Space Lab, utilizes three specialized programs to track the satellite, receive signals, and manage station control via rotating antennas. The station aims to enable Paraguay to monitor the satellite’s location and retrieve transmitted data directly from the country.