President Alberto Fernández asked in Córdoba to “leave disputes aside”, to bet on a “look to the future and join forces” in pursuit of scientific and technological development to “put it at the service of the country” and, in this way, “reach every Argentine and Argentina and make your life simpler”.
This is how the head of state pronounced himself, heading the signing of a contract between the National Commission for Space Activities (Conae) and the company VENG to advance in the development of the Argentine satellite launcher Tronador II.
“We have a wonderful human capital to put at the service of the country; the disputes that arise when we have to vote but, later, we all join forces to be able to reach each Argentine and make their life simpler; that is the look to the future that we need”Fernandez stated.
At the ceremony held at the Teófilo Tabanera Space Center (CETT) in Córdoba, the President asked to value the “pride of being one of the 10 countries” with the capacity to “put satellites into orbit”.
Is that the future Tronador II launcher will be able to place satellites between 500 and 750 kg in orbit, at a distance of up to 600 kilometers from Earth, within the framework of an estimated investment of 9.73 billion pesos, within the framework of the Satellite Injector Project For Light Payloads.
“When I see so much Argentine intelligence well applied to the service of Argentines, I bet more on the development of science and technology,” said the President, who stressed that this type of enterprise means “gaining sovereignty.”
“When I see so much Argentine intelligence well applied to the service of Argentines, I bet more on the development of science and technology”
To advance the development of the launcher, from now until 2030 tests will be carried out with the vehicles called TII-70 and TII-150, prototypes that will serve to test the engines that the Tronador II-250 launcher will carry on board.
Simultaneously, work is being done on the development of the associated infrastructure, such as the test bench and the launch platform at the Manuel Belgrano Space Center (CEMB).
In addition to including the company VENG as the main contractor, the project involves the work of more than 50 national companies and public institutions of the Argentine national science and technology system.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Nation, Daniel Filmus, and the Governor of Córdoba, Juan Schiaretti, among other authorities, also participated in the event.
Also present were the secretary of Scientific and Technological Articulation, Juan Pablo Paz; the executive and technical director of CONAE, Raúl Kulichevsky, and the president of VENG, Marcos Actis.
As officially reported, the development and manufacture of the Tronador II is part of the Satellite Injector Project for Light Payloads (ISCUL) of the Conae Space Access program.
LIVE | President Alberto Fernández leads the signing of the contract between the @CONAE_Official and the company @veng_argentina to advance in the development of the Argentine satellite launcher Tronador II, in Córdoba.#ScienceIsFuture#PeopleFirst https://t.co/x0mRSUmQEm
– Pink House (@CasaRosada) October 3, 2022
