Costa Rica discusses creation of national space agency

Costa Rica is getting a Space Force.

Well, not really. Knowing Costa Rica, it wouldn’t have any military implications. And it probably wouldn’t be called “Space Force.” (Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country, after all.)

A year after Project Irazú — a satellite designed and built in Costa Rica — was launched into space, a law proposal to create a national space agency was presented before the Legislative Assembly.

The proposal was spearheaded by the following people, who are pictured in this story’s featured photo: 

• Congresswoman Aida María Montiel
  
• Johan Carvajal Godinez, researcher and professor from the Space Systems Laboratory (SETEC Lab) of the Electronic Engineering School at the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC) 
  
• Dr. Eldon Cadwell, Director of the Industrial Engineering School of UCR
• Adolfo Chaves Jimenez, researcher and lecturer from the SETEC Lab of the Electronic Engineering School at TEC
  
• Maria del Rocío Cerdas, adviser to the office of Congresswoman Montiel
  

Aida María Montiel shared details of the law proposal.

“Space science has been crucial to improve the quality of life of humanity and has helped pioneer research that has led to genetic improvements for plants and animals,” she wrote.

“[The proposal] also includes consideration of creating a Space Center in Liberia, Guanacaste, which will coordinate efforts in research, innovation in the development of alternative energies and new space technologies, communications and robotics, among other topics.”

This story was made possible thanks to The Tico Times 5% Club. If only 5 percent of our readers donated at least $5 a month, we’d have our operating costs covered and could focus on bringing you more original reporting from around Costa Rica. We work hard to keep our reporting independent and groundbreaking, but we can only do it with your help. Join The Tico Times 5% Club and help make stories like this one possible.