Caracas, October 30th - At the closing of the 1st International Space Congress, the Government announced the roadmap for developing the Venezuela's first mini-satellite, an initiative that seeks to boost national capabilities in the aerospace field.
The message, delivered at an event televised by VTV And broadcast on television, he insisted on the need to "go fast" and consolidate agreements already approved to take the project from announcement to execution with a tight schedule.
What exactly has been announced
The Executive has given the green light to the construction of a small satellite, defined as minisatelliteand has left the door open to developing larger-scale systems later. The immediate priority is the technical and logistical definition to attempt a "soon" launch, in a context of growing interest in the low-orbit satelliteswithout them having been disclosed specific dates.
Who will lead the project
The initiative will be coordinated by the Military Scientific Council, the Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE), and the Humberto Fernández-Morán Great Mission for Science, Technology and Innovation, with the Ministry of Industry responsible for pushing the deadlines and the articulation with the productive fabric.
According to the official announcement, “all necessary efforts” have been approved for the early stage: planning, definition of requirements, identification of suppliers and technology partners, as well as the financing and manufacturing model.
Cooperation with China and other ongoing programs
The president asked to accelerate, in parallel, the activation and launch of the communications satellite Great Cacique Guaicaipuro, within the framework of cooperation with the People's Republic of China, a relationship that ABAE has maintained for almost two decades.
In addition to telecommunications, both countries maintain agreements in the exploration of deep space and research of celestial bodies, a collaborative ecosystem that could provide knowledge transfer and technical support to the new minisatellite.
The context: International Space Congress in Caracas
The announcement was made at the Teresa Carreño Theater, during the closing of the International Space Congress, with guests from Brazil, China, Russia and FranceThe meeting aimed to share progress, challenges, and a common strategy to promote the peaceful use of space.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Gabriela Jiménez, emphasized the need for a global governance of space, open science and shared agendas that contribute to development, a vision aligned with the commitment to our own satellite capabilities.
What remains to be specified
Specifications regarding the Useful loadthe satellite's mass or its target orbit. Details regarding the launch platform and the testing campaign schedule have also not been provided, although the official call is to comply with readiness.
In practice, the following steps include the design of the satellite bus and subsystems, payload integration, ground validation (environmental and functional), the launch contract and the deployment in orbit.
Implications for the country
Beyond the technological milestone, the project is interpreted as a move to reinforce the technological sovereignty and to train specialized talent in space engineering, electronics, communications and mission control, with a potential driving effect on the local industry.
If internal deadlines are met, the first minisatellite could become a testing platform for future missions and a benchmark for applied innovation to public services, observation or communications, depending on the approach that is ultimately made public.
With presidential approval, inter-institutional coordination, and international cooperation on the table, a decisive phase begins to transform the goal of Venezuela's first mini-satellite in an operational program with a real and measurable impact.
