UNLP launches USAT-1 Argentine university nanosatellite via SpaceX

The Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) is set to launch USAT-1, the first Argentine university nanosatellite, on October 1. The CubeSat, measuring 10x10x34 cm and weighing approximately 3 kg, will be deployed via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Developed by researchers, students, and faculty from the Aerospace Technology Center (CTA) and the Electronic Navigation and Telecommunications Systems group (SENyT), the mission aims to validate domestic technology in orbit. The satellite will utilize GNSS signals to perform Earth observations, measuring atmospheric parameters such as pressure, temperature, and humidity, as well as soil characteristics including moisture, vegetation, and roughness.

The project represents a significant achievement in cost-effective aerospace engineering. While similar instruments on the international market can cost millions, the USAT-1 was developed for a fraction of that cost, with an estimated investment of approximately 70,000 USD for materials and scholarships.