SGAC Paraguay

National Points of Contact
Paraguay

Welcome to SGAC Paraguay!

SGAC Paraguay aims to bring together students and young professionals across the country who are passionate about the space sector and its potential for national development. As a newly established community in 2026, our mission is to connect local talent with the global space ecosystem, while supporting the growth of Paraguay’s emerging space sector.

We aim to create opportunities for engagement, knowledge exchange, and international collaboration, empowering the next generation of Paraguayan space professionals.

If you are interested in the space sector, we encourage you to join our community. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, whether you are an engineer, scientist, policymaker, or simply curious about space and its applications.

To stay connected and receive updates on opportunities, events, and activities, you can join our SGAC Paraguay WhatsApp group. Please feel free to reach out to the National Points of Contact for more information or to get involved.

Stay in touch with us

National Context

Paraguay’s space sector is in an early but steadily developing stage, driven primarily by governmental initiatives, academic efforts, and international cooperation.

A key milestone in this process was the establishment of the Paraguayan Space Agency (Agencia Espacial del Paraguay, AEP) in 2014, which laid the foundation for the country’s space activities and its long-term strategy for capacity building.

Satellite Development and Capacity Building

The development of GuaraníSat-1, Paraguay’s first 1U CubeSat, marked a significant milestone in the country’s entry into space activities. The mission was funded by the Paraguayan Space Agency (Agencia Espacial del Paraguay, AEP) and designed primarily as a capacity-building initiative, with the objective of developing local expertise in satellite engineering and operations.

GuaraníSat-1 was launched on April 28, 2021, and later deployed into orbit from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 1, 2021, marking Paraguay’s first presence in space. The satellite was developed in Japan by Paraguayan engineers as part of their Master’s and PhD programs in Space Systems Engineering at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech).

Beyond the satellite itself, this experience played a critical role in human capital development, resulting in the first Paraguayan PhD and the first Master’s degrees in Space Systems Engineering, and laying the foundation for future national capabilities.

Building on this progress, Paraguay is currently working on GuaraníSat-2, a planned 3U CubeSat, with a target launch by the end of 2026. Unlike its predecessor, GuaraníSat-2 is expected to be the first satellite fully developed in Paraguay, representing a major step toward strengthening local engineering capabilities and achieving greater technical autonomy in satellite design, integration, and mission operations.

Together, these missions reflect a progressive approach to space development in Paraguay, evolving from internationally supported capacity building to increasing national ownership and technical independence in the space sector.

International Cooperation

Paraguay has strengthened its international engagement through cooperation with Japan, particularly through the partnership between the Paraguayan Space Agency (Agencia Espacial del Paraguay, AEP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This collaboration focuses on knowledge transfer, technical training, and the development of national capabilities in the use of space technologies.

A key component of this cooperation is the “Project for the Management of Space Programs Applied to Socioeconomic Development”, a USD 1 million initiative, through which Japanese expertise supports AEP in areas such as Earth observation, geospatial analysis, and satellite data applications, while enabling the training of Paraguayan professionals.

More recently, this partnership has expanded to include a significant investment of approximately USD 24–25 million for the development of new infrastructure in Paraguay. This includes the establishment of facilities for the development and testing of CubeSats, inspired by the model of the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech), aiming to strengthen local engineering capabilities and support future national satellite missions.

Overall, the AEP–JICA partnership represents a key pillar in the development of Paraguay’s space sector, combining technology transfer, human capital development, and infrastructure expansion to support long-term growth.

Academic and Student Initiatives

Academic institutions play a key role in the development of Paraguay’s space ecosystem, with active student participation in research and technical initiatives.

Polytechnic Faculty of the National University of Asunción (Facultad Politécnica, FP-UNA):

  • Space Technologies Research Group (Grupo de Investigación en Tecnologías Espaciales, GITE)
  • Aerospace Propulsion Systems Research Group (Grupo de Investigación en Sistemas de Propulsión Aeroespacial, GISPA)
  • Electronics and Mechatronics Research Group (Grupo de Investigación en Electrónica y Mecatrónica, GIEM)
  • Aerospace Club (Club Aeroespacial, FP-UNA)

Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Asunción (Facultad de Ingeniería, FIUNA):

  • Space Science and Technology Club (Club de Ciencias y Tecnologías Espaciales, CCTE)

These groups are involved in research, technical development, and hands-on learning in areas such as satellite technology, propulsion, and engineering systems. Alongside these initiatives, space-related topics are also explored through academic projects and thesis work within both faculties.

SGAC in Paraguay

The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) established its presence in Paraguay in 2026, marking the beginning of a structured effort to connect Paraguayan students and young professionals with the global space community.

As a newly formed community, SGAC Paraguay aims to bring together individuals interested in the space sector, foster collaboration, and promote access to international opportunities such as scholarships, events, and Project Groups. It also plays a key role in integrating Paraguay into global discussions on space activities and empowering the next generation of space professionals.

Outlook

With a strong focus on education, capacity building, and international cooperation, Paraguay is positioning itself as an emerging space nation.

The combination of institutional efforts, academic initiatives, and the growing engagement of young professionals through platforms such as SGAC is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of the space sector in Paraguay.

Upcoming Events

Please keep an eye out for scholarships and interesting Webinars, Workshops and opportunities to learn more about Space and its applications in their respective SGAC sites.

Interesting WebLinks

Paraguayan Space Agency (Agencia Espacial del Paraguay, AEP), National authority responsible for the development of space activities in Paraguay, including satellite programs, international cooperation, and capacity building.

Space Technologies Research Group (Grupo de Investigación en Tecnologías Espaciales, GITE), Polytechnic Faculty, National University of Asunción (Facultad Politécnica, FP-UNA)

Aerospace Club (Club Aeroespacial, FP-UNA), Polytechnic Faculty, National University of Asunción (Facultad Politécnica, FP-UNA)

Aerospace Propulsion Systems Research Group (Grupo de Investigación en Sistemas de Propulsión Aeroespacial, GISPA), Polytechnic Faculty, National University of Asunción (Facultad Politécnica, FP-UNA)

Electronics and Mechatronics Research Group (Grupo de Investigación en Electrónica y Mecatrónica, GIEM), Polytechnic Faculty, National University of Asunción (Facultad Politécnica, FP-UNA)

Space Science and Technology Club (Club de Ciencias y Tecnologías Espaciales, CCTE), Faculty of Engineering, National University of Asunción (Facultad de Ingeniería, FIUNA)

GuaraniSat-1

GuaraniSat-1

GuaraniSat-2

GuaraniSat-2