Satellogic from Argentina invites young rocket scientists to Open Space contest

Contxto – This Friday, our favorite Argentine spacetech will reveal an ambitious initiative for would-be rocket scientists at the Buenos Aires planetarium. Anybody up to 25 years old will have the opportunity to develop their own space module or nanosatellite alongside Satellogic.

In the end, Satellogic will announce the winner in May 2020. According to reports, the lucky team can anticipate joining the startup during its upcoming space mission. 

In collaboration with the Open Space non-profit created by Academia Exponencial and Satellogic, this is Argentina’s latest attempt to promote science, technology and engineering among young people. 

Known for its youth programming, Open Space «is a source of inspiration that promotes our values ​​related to teamwork, challenging limits and lifelong learning,» said founder and CEO of Satellogic, Emiliano Kargieman.

Supplemental support will also come from the Buenos Aires Ministry of Education, the Aerospace Technology Center of the University of La Plata, among other state and private organizations. 

Requisites

To participate in this exciting effort, there must be teams of at least two Argentines under 25 years old. Together, they must create a report outlining the project to present prior to the December 31 deadline. 

Proceeding this stage, a jury will evaluate the proposals and invite standouts to participate in the second phase. With technical and financial support from Open Space, this is when they will craft a space module or nanosatellite. 

“This idea that we are promoting seeks to remind us that the future depends on putting ourselves at the service of young people,” said Ignacio Peña, one of the founders of the Exponential Academy. «When we propose it, we Argentines are capable of achieving things that seem impossible.” 

Jurors will evaluate proposals based on a number of factors. Some of these include originality, purpose, expected impact, presentation, cost, as well as feasibility. 

Satellite technology

Founded in 2010, Satellogic manufactures low-orbiting economic nanosatellites for various «vertically integrated markets,» meaning specific industries, trades, or even professions. In other words, players dependent on the company’s satellite technology to optimize operations.

Customers come from various sectors, including agriculture, finance, insurance, in addition to energy. Obtaining this data that combines AI and data science, clients can improve efficiency and productivity with the information provided. 

Recently expanding to India, China, and the United Kingdom, Satellogic continues to leverage lightweight nanosatellites to provide geospatial data to partners. The company also recently found success at a competition in South Korea.

-JA