Mexico's First Aerospace Congress Explores Industry Challenges

Mexico's first aerospace congress, "Personas Espaciales," took place at Frontón México. Designed to bring together experts, students, and the general public, the event attracted over 1,000 attendees and explored the challenges and opportunities facing Mexico's emerging aerospace industry.

Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican woman in space, spearheaded the event with the goal of inspiring future generations in Mexico and Latin America. The congress featured 12 international experts, including renowned figures such as Mario Arreola, Gustavo Cabrera, and the closing speaker, Mexican-American astronaut José Hernández.

Discussions covered critical topics such as payloads, lunar exploration, space technology, and the future of crewed flights. Participants engaged in panels and conferences addressing marketing, commercialization, and business development in the space industry.

"I want to help young people in Latin America who dream of reaching space," said Katya Echazarreta, a UCLA graduate and electrical engineer. She has been advocating for a reform to amend articles 28 and 73 of the Mexican Constitution to allocate more resources to the local aerospace industry.

In 2024, the Mexican Space Agency (AEM) received just over US$3 million in funding, the lowest among major space agencies worldwide. For comparison, NASA's budget for 2024 is US$27.2 billion, and China’s space budget stands at US$8.9 billion.

"The lack of funding and outdated laws hinder the growth of the aerospace industry in Mexico. If we want a Mexican astronaut mission, with astronauts selected and trained in Mexico, we must act now," Echazarreta remarked.

A significant aspect of Echazarreta's advocacy is her push for constitutional reform to facilitate the development of Mexico's aerospace industry. The reform, which was approved by the Mexican Congress in April 2024, focuses on increasing the budget for AEM and creating the legal framework needed to support commercial space activities, including rocket launches.