NASA Supports UNAM-IPN Space Module Testing

Researchers from UNAM and IPN have successfully tested modules 5 and 6 of the Experimental Module for Iterative Design for Satellite Subsystems (EMIDSS), marking a key milestone in Mexico’s aerospace technology development. The tests, conducted in collaboration with NASA, reflect the growing capabilities of Mexican institutions in advancing space research.

Rafael Prieto Meléndez, a researcher at UNAM’s Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (ICAT), explained that the modules—designed for scientific research—were launched aboard stratospheric balloons in 2024, reaching altitudes of over 38 kilometers. These tests are part of an ongoing effort to develop CubeSat nanosatellites, compact devices that enable advanced near-space research.

EMIDSS-5 was included in a Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility campaign and launched from New Mexico on August 22. Equipped with a CubeSat engineering model, the module provided researchers with critical data on its performance in space-like conditions and tested electronic instrumentation developed in Mexico.

Prieto highlighted the importance of NASA’s support, noting that the agency’s cost-free launch opportunities allowed researchers to gather essential data for future advancements.