Chile

Young Space Activities Overview in Chile

In Chile most aerospace activities are focus on aeronautics and astronomy. Several amateur astronomers are spread in the country and have events throughout the year A few parties remembering Yuri’s first space flight have been organized throughout the years. During 2016, first Chilean built CubeSat Suchai (Satellite of the University of Chile for   Aerospace Investigation) should be launch. Few other CubeSat projects are on their way   at different Universities with strong involvement of the graduating stuents and young   professionals.

Country Specific Events in 2016

• • Scholarship for MSc and PhD abroad. Application form, applications dates and other details at http://www.becaschile.cl/.
• • 2nd regional SGAC event will take place in Peru, more details to follow.
• • FIDAE 2016, the bi-annual Aerospace and Defence fair will take place in Santiago between March 29th and April 3rd. It is anticipated that this version will have an important section devoted to space. More details available on the fair’s website http://www.fidae.cl
• • Launch of Suchai (1st Chilean CubeSat) is anticipated for this year
• • More events will be announced later in the year.
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Interesting Web Links for the Young Generation in Chile

• Council of Ministers for Space Development, website devoted to the Council as  well as Executive Secretariat and Scientific technical committee activities. Provides an   overview of the government lead developments in space affairs.
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• Suchai 1st Chilean CubeSat, currently assembled and waiting for its ride into space   throughout the year. The Space and Planetary Exploration Lab (SPEL) from the   University of Chile, which lead the project, has already secured funds for developing its   successors For more information check the website http://spel.ing.uchile.cl/suchai.html

• Aerospace Students Society, association of Aerospace Engineering students from  the University of Concepcion. Started in 2010,  has been re-activated in 2015 after a   brief pause. It carries out activities related to aerospace field, some of which are   opened for general public.
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• Space Operations Group (Chilean Airforce), group operating Fasat-Charlie  satellite, website contains a good description of the satellite characteristics, remote   sensing applications, news, and overall project description.
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• Robotic & Environmental Algorithms Laboratory (REAL): Formerly involved in the  development of a lunar rover as part of the GLxP Angelicvm team, focuses in “Robotic   technology closer to this world and beyond” Has developments in rovers, CubeSats and   active involvement with high schools.
• Angelicum GLxP, is one of the only two Latin American teams currently involved in the Google Lunar x-Prize, that plans to put a rover on the Moon, it comprises a cooperation between Academia and Industry.
• Scholarships for MSc and PhD abroad Becas Chile. Provides a set of different scholarships for studying both abroad and in the country.
• Aerospace Engineering at University of Concepción. It is the only university in the country that gives the major in Aerospace Engineering.
• Actualidad Espacial, a free-lance website that provides with information on the ongoing Aerospace and Astronomical activities .
• Servicio Aerofotogrametrico (SAF), is the body of the air force that deals with the distribution and purchase of images both form planes and the Chilean Satellite.
• Engineers Professional Association, organizes several engineering related activities during the year. Has a committees that organize talks related to space a few times a year.
• Atacama Solar Challenge, a solar power car race in the Atacama Desert. This car are built using a lot of aerospace technologies and material by teams of university students from all the country and from other Latin American Countries.
• National Aerospace Museum, located in Santiago has a collection of aerospace artefacts. The space exhibition counts with Moon rock samples from the Apollo time to a 1:1 model of the Fasat-Charlie satellite. 
• Public visits to ALMA, Saturday and Sunday mornings.
• Magellan Aerospace Industries (MAI), small company dedicated to diffusion of astronautics and astronomy in the region of Magallanes (South end of Continental Chile).

Suchai and Langmuir Probe [Source: http://spel.ing.uchile.cl/suchai.html] Technical Scientific Committee Members Introduction on September 2015 (centre and below, youngest member of the committee and former NPoC Alejandro Lopez). [Source:http://espacial.subtel.cl/consejo-de-ministros-presento-a-los-nueve-expertos-que-asesoraran-el-desarrollo-espacial-del-pais/] Atacama Large Milimiter Array (ALMA) observatory [Source: http://almaobservatory.org/]   One of the first images from the FASat-Charlie, taken on December 2011 over the world’s biggest Copper open mine Chuquicamata in the North of Chile