MEXICO CITY, July 13 (Xinhua) -- A CubeSat, or miniature satellite, to be made by Mexicans will be launched into orbit by U.S. space agency NASA in 2019, Mexico's national space agency said on Thursday.
According to the Mexican Space Agency (AEM), the CubeSat "AzTechSat-1" will be developed by a team of academics and students from the Popular Autonomous University of the State of Puebla (UPAEP) in central Mexico.
Javier Mendieta, the AEM's general director, said the collaboration project "sets a precedent for the entire country and the UPAEP."
The CubeSat will be sent into space aboard a container that supplies the International Space Station, and be able to communicate with other satellites already in orbit "to improve the transmission of data towards earth," he said.
CubeSats are composed of 10-cm cubic units and each weighs little more than 1 kg.
On Thursday, the university signed a collaboration agreement with the AEM to have its electronic engineering faculty lead the project involving students in a variety of specialties.
The UPAEP is financing the project with the help of sponsors to promote the fields of science and technology in Mexico.
