Exploring Space Observation Stations in Argentina: Contrasting Strategies of Chinese and European Missions

2024-04-19 18:20:40

The mission of Argentine scientists and officials who visited the observation antenna that the European Union has in Malargüe, Mendoza

Hermeticism in one case and openness in the other. What was experienced between yesterday and today regarding the visits of Argentine officials, scientists and experts to the space observation stations that China and the European Union have in Argentina showed two opposite strategies for the same procedure in facilities that, it is presumed, , should fulfill the same mission for peaceful purposes and unrelated to any military activity.

The first performance took place yesterday, at the deep space observation station that the Chinese communist dictatorship built in Bajada de Agrio, an inhospitable area of ​​Neuquén. The operation of that base – which ultimately depends on the Armed Forces of that country – had been questioned, both by opinion leaders in Argentina and by the United States government. In line with the secrecy that surrounds all its actions, neither the Chinese government nor the station disseminated information.

Instead, the European Space Agency (ESA) provided detailed information on the entire procedure. In that sense, she explained that she hosted the visit of an official delegation from different Argentine government agencies to her Satellite Tracking Station, also known as Antena DS3, in the town of Malargüe, province of Mendoza.

The Chinese enclave in Neuquén where a space station that depends on the Armed Forces of that country was installed

As officially reported, Javier De Vicente and Michel Dugast participated, for the ESA; Diego Pazos, for the Telespazio company; Alejandro Cosentino, Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology; Jorge Antelo, Secretary of National Strategy; Raúl Kulichevsky, executive and technical director of CONAE and Jimena Schiaffino, director of Space and Nuclear Affairs of the Foreign Ministry along with officials from CONAE and ENACOM among others. Likewise, Celso Jaque, mayor of Malargüe, welcomed the delegation to the Mendoza city.

These national officials also traveled to Bajada de Agrio where the Chinese enclave is located and it was expected that, in coordination with officials who respond to the regime, the details of the visit and the tours they took at the Chinese National Launch Agency station would be disseminated. , General Satellite Monitoring and Control (CLTC), in Neuquén.

The tour of the facilities was led by Eng. Michel Dugast, ESA Station Engineer for the Malargüe station, who highlighted: “We were very pleased to receive this large delegation representing the national government at our station. ESA and Argentina have been cooperating for more than 25 years and this meeting is a new opportunity to update on the status of activities and the different missions that are controlled and monitored from this station.”

No secrets. The photo of the expert mission that went to tour the facilities of the European station

The European Space Agency highlighted that it maintains “permanent articulation with the community manifested in the different activities aimed not only at the scientific world, but also at society as a whole through actions in education at all levels.” And he gave as an example the Space Days at the Buenos Aires Planetarium, the permanent Rosetta exhibitions, missions on Mars and GAIA at the Malargüe Planetarium, Guided Visits to the Antenna for schools and the general public during the Open Weeks that are organized annually and a constant link with local educational authorities.

Diego Pazos of Telespazio, the Argentine company that is responsible for the maintenance and operational support of the station, assured that “since this Antenna began to operate, the maintenance and operational support of these facilities is the responsibility of a team of professionals from Telespazio Argentina, “composed of Argentine technicians and engineers who live in the city of Malargüe.”

The activities carried out at this Station reaffirm that Malargüe, and therefore the province of Mendoza, have a fundamental role in space research that is and will be, without a doubt, an advance in the scientific and technological development of humanity.

Images from the interior of the Chinese base in Neuquén

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