The Artemis Project will go to the Moon and beyond. Mexico will be a strategic partner for this initiative, which will generate new knowledge, jobs, and economic growth.
NASA’s Artemis Project will take humans to the limits of space where no one has gone before, and Mexico will be a strategic partner in that mission. (Photo: NASA)
Mexico is teaming up with NASA for the Artemis Project, which will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon.
Our country will be part of this mission as a strategic partner who will provide human capital and technology to establish a lunar base and acquire the knowledge to take the next step: setting foot on Mars.
This initiative is the continuation of the Apollo project, which 52 years ago took humans to the Moon and led to the development of space science and technology.
Artemis will usher in a new era of space exploration. In Greek mythology, she was a goddess, Apollo’s twin sister. The project is a symbol of continuity with a focus on gender equity and an inclusive vision.
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In the official ceremony at which the inclusion of Mexico was announced, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard highlighted that Mexico is the 14th producer of aeronautical parts in the world. In the next eight years, it will be the tenth.
Although many don’t know it, the country has the skills and knowledge to aspire to be in space.
“We’ve full confidence in Mexico’s capabilities and potential, which are immense, and we’re going to make them a reality,” he said.
He says that the perception that complex things can’t be done in Mexico will be a thing of the past.
Ken Salazar, ambassador of the United States (US) to Mexico, celebrated this agreement in which “the US and Mexico will go to places where humanity has not gone before. It’s a big dream but it’s a dream based on reality.”
He also mentioned the effort of José Hernández, an American astronaut of Mexican origin, also present at the ceremony, who knocked more than 10 times on NASA’s door until finally the opportunity opened up and he was able to travel to the International Space Station as a flight engineer.
And like him, there are many people who want to make their way in that nation, but “the [United States] government must open the door as well,” said the ambassador.
Esteban Moctezuma, Ambassador of Mexico to the US, who was responsible for presenting Mexico’s formal inclusion in the NASA program, said that “space is the spearhead for innovation and signifies science, technology, jobs, new industries, and workforce development in highly specialized tasks for Mexico.”
In fact, during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s visit to Washington D.C. for the North American Leaders’ Summit, the president had a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris, who invited Mexico to join the Artemis Project.
After consulting within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and analyzing Mexico’s possibilities at the National Space Council Meeting on December 1, the Vice President announced the country’s inclusion in Artemis. Kamala Harris is particularly interested in three things:
First, promoting rules and regulations for Space, such as preventing space junk; second, tackling the climate crisis; and third, creating a large workforce, as Space represents an enormous opportunity to generate multiple specialized jobs and skills.
Mexico joins 13 nations that want to cooperate in space exploration in a peaceful and coordinated way in the project led by the United States.
According to Javier López Casarín, President of the Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Chamber of Deputies, Artemis will trigger inclusive and sustainable growth that generates well-being in the country.
“The project will undoubtedly revolutionize the history of humanity by establishing the principles for cooperation and civil exploration of Mars, the Moon, comets, asteroids, all for peaceful purposes,” said Olga Sánchez Cordero, Senator of the Republic.
Also present were the Governor of Hidalgo, Omar Fayad, representing the National Conference of Governors; Salvador Landeros, head of the Mexican Space Agency; Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials Martha Delgado, undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, and Roberto Velasco Álvarez, head of the North America Unit; Senator Bertha Caraveo; and Miguel Torruco, Minister of Tourism, as well as other officials.
