Argentina is poised to contribute a locally-developed microsatellite, “Atenea,” to NASA’s upcoming Artemis II lunar mission, marking a high-profile achievement for teh nation’s space program[[2]]. However, the announcement has ignited a political dispute, with opposition figures alleging that the current management is taking credit for work initiated under previous leadership. The debate centers on the funding adn development of the Atenea project and its ties to earlier initiatives like the USAT-1 microsatellite[[3]], as well as agreements established with NASA in 2023.
Argentina is set to participate in NASA’s Artemis II mission, deploying a locally-built microsatellite named “Atenea.” The inclusion marks a significant step for the nation’s space program and highlights the growing international collaboration surrounding lunar exploration.
The announcement has sparked debate within Argentina, with members of the Peronist political faction questioning the current government’s claim to the initiative. They assert that the participation stems from groundwork laid during previous administrations. Marena Galmarini, a Buenos Aires legislator, voiced her criticism, stating, “‘¡No se cuelguen de mis tetas!’” – a colloquial expression roughly translating to “Don’t try to take credit for my work!”
Galmarini detailed her concerns in a post on X, accusing the administration of Javier Milei of “attaching itself to the work of others” while simultaneously “defunding science.” She emphasized the importance of the USAT-1 microsatellite project, developed by the National University of La Plata (UNLP) in 2023, as a crucial precursor to the Atenea project.
“In 2023, during the Peronist government, a key visit to NASA took place, initiating the technical development and necessary political agreements that enabled adherence to the Artemis agreements,” Galmarini explained. “This formalized space cooperation for lunar missions and Argentina’s inclusion in this mission.”
She further stated that Atenea was funded and developed entirely by public and state institutions, many of which have since faced budget cuts under the current government. These institutions include VENG S.A., the Institute of Radioastronomy (IAR), the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), the Universities of La Plata (UNLP) and San Martín (UNSAM), and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).
Galmarini took issue with the government’s claim on Friday that the NASA partnership was made possible through “efficient resource allocation” and the “elimination of unnecessary social or political expenses.” She countered this assertion, stating, “There are no budget cuts for unnecessary social and political expenses, nor is there support for Science and Technology.” She accused the government of implementing “cruel austerity measures” and “taking credit for the immense work of others.” She concluded her post with a quote attributed to former President Juan Domingo Perón: “The only truth is reality.”
Former President Alberto Fernández quickly echoed Galmarini’s statements, writing, “Putting things in order. This is how things happened, beyond the always-false narrative of the libertarians.”
Fernández also shared a message from his former Minister of Science and Technology, Daniel Filmus, who accused the government of “lying” and affirmed that the agreement with NASA was secured during the Peronist administration. “We congratulate the researchers at CONAE and the Universities of La Plata and San Martín, who, despite Milei’s drastic cuts (-40%), designed the satellite that will be part of Artemis,” Filmus stated. “The agreement with NASA, the participation, and the satellite are all from 2023. Milei is lying, as always.”
Fernández reiterated his congratulations to the researchers and criticized “the false narrative of the libertarian government.”
The Artemis II mission, in which Argentina will participate through Atenea, represents the return of a crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo 11 program that carried astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to become the first humans to walk on the lunar surface. This mission is a key step in re-establishing a sustained human presence in space.
During the journey, NASA will conduct studies on the impact of radiation and deep space on the human body, and will validate the technology needed for Artemis III, the mission planned to land humans on the lunar surface in 2027.
