A Mexican Case Project to Encourage Space Technology and Technology Transfer in Developing Countries

Abstract

Space technology does not exist in all developing countries due to the lack of investment by the government and the lack of confidence among universities and industries. However, space development plays a vital role in the economic development of highly developed countries.Universities in developing countries generally do not have enough resources to develop professional space projects. In México, we have begun a simple project to encourage undergraduate electronic and communications engineering students and professors to participate in a space mission. We have called this mission the Didactic Satellite ITESMSAT CQ-MX1; it is a tethered balloon, an aerostatic satellite, the goal of which is to develop space technology and community services, such as tele-health or tele-education, and to practice the use of technology and technology transfer in both universities and private companies. This project could also provide a platform for learning, and for developing communications practices and courses that could be offered to industry at large. This paper its a summary of the complete ITESMSAT CQ-MX1 project mission, its technological development, the students’ abilities and objectives, the project development, international cooperation, technology transfer and technology promotion.KeywordsTechnology TransferSpace MissionGeostationary SatelliteSmall SatelliteSpace DevelopmentThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.