# South American university CubeSat launches

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-american-university-cubesat-launches
> Updated: 2026-07-30T01:58:31.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 3.

In late July 2026 the Universidad Nacional de La Plata’s 3U CubeSat USAT 1 was shipped from Argentina to Spain, where the aerospace firm UARX installed it in a dispenser for a future SpaceX launch. Final weight, dimension and fit checks were completed before the dispenser was sealed, and the satellite was slated for an October launch from the United States.

A few days later the university confirmed that USAT 1, weighing about three kilograms, would carry a GN S‑based payload to collect atmospheric and surface data. The satellite’s design underpins the larger ATENEA microsatellite, selected as a secondary payload for NASA’s Artemis II mission, reinforcing its role in an international lunar program.

By the end of July the satellite had arrived in Spain and was awaiting transfer to the United States for its scheduled SpaceX launch. The same update also announced Paraguay’s GuaraníSat‑2 – the nation’s second, entirely domestically built microsatellite – as another payload bound for the same launch. Developed with partners from NASA, Mexico, Italy and Japan, GuaraníSat‑2 will study Earth's magnetic field anomalies and provide amateur‑radio services. Both satellites now stand ready for the October US launch.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-30: Argentina's USAT 1 and Paraguay's GuaraníSat-2 ready for US launch

Argentina's UNLP-built USAT 1 and Paraguay's domestically built GuaraníSat‑2 are set for US launch, showcasing South American university microsatellite development and international cooperation.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentinas-usat-1-and-paraguays-guaransat-2-ready-for-us-launch

### 2026-07-27: Argentina's UNLP USAT 1 CubeSat set for SpaceX launch in October

Argentina's UNLP-built USAT 1 3U CubeSat, weighing ~3 kg, has been integrated in Spain and will launch on a SpaceX rocket from the U.S. in October, testing GNSS Earth‑observation techniques and serving as the技术

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentinas-unlp-usat-1-cubesat-set-for-spacex-launch-in-october

### 2026-07-24: Argentina's UNLP USAT 1 CubeSat heads to SpaceX launch

Argentina’s UNLP-built USAT 1 CubeSat arrived in Spain, was integrated by UARX and is set for an October SpaceX launch from the US, acting as a testbed for the ATENEA satellite bound for NASA’s Artemis II.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentinas-unlp-usat-1-cubesat-heads-to-spacex-launch

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Cite as: South American university CubeSat launches. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-american-university-cubesat-launches