Argentina will develop satellite technology with IDB support

(MENAFN- Caribbean News Now) WASHINGTON, USA — Argentina will develop satellite technology to increase the effectiveness of public policies for managing disaster risk and enhancing productivity with a $60 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The program's general objective is to help increase the effectiveness of public policies for managing disaster risk, enhancing productivity, and improving the productive performance of sectors that use satellite monitoring. Its specific objectives are to (i) improve the monitoring and response capacity of government agencies responsible for disaster risk prevention and management by providing satellite images using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology; and (ii) improve satellite information to support the performance of productive sectors that use the specific applications developed through the program.

The project will use lessons learned to build and launch the SAOCOM 1A satellite for the development and commissioning of the SAOCOM 1B satellite, which will be launched in March 2020.

SAOCOM satellites are for terrestrial observation and to collect data use a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna that detect soil moisture and provide information in any weather condition or time of the day. The satellites will also have an image reception and processing platform with SAR technology, as well as the software and hardware updates required to download data generated.

The SAOCOM 1A and 1B will be part of a unique constellation of satellites system in the world, which will include four other satellites of the Italian Space Agency. This system will bring benefits for agriculture, territorial planning, natural resource management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, both in Argentina and in other countries in the region. It will also contribute to the advancement of scientific research and decision-making for productive and social purposes, with emphasis on promoting entrepreneurship in technological services with high added value.

The project is expected to increase productivity volume harvested per area sown of the most important crops in the country (corn, wheat, sunflower, and soybeans). Aggregate returns are also expected in the medium term with the use of satellite information for productive purposes or the prevention or management of climatic risks.

The IDB loan of $60 million has a term of 25 years, with a grace period of five and a half years and interest rate based on LIBOR. The local counterpart will be $31 million. The project will be in charge of the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE), a decentralized agency that operates under the ministry of education, culture, science, and technology.

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