By Agatha Tomassoni Santos and Caroline Colbert |
The first Paraguayan satellite, called Guaranisat-1, was launched from the International Space Station and aims to monitor the development of the Chagas Disease in the country, contributing to the promotion of effective prevention measures. The Chagas Disease particularly affects vulnerable populations, therefore it represents a public health problem for the indigenous communities of Paraguay. The mission of the satellite, arising from the BIRDS-4 programmed, is to collect data in hard-to-access regions with the aid of terrestrial sensors, identifying the presence of the transmitting insect, kissing bugs, and of the protozoan Trypanosoma Cruzi.
Impacts on Defense and Security: The first Paraguayan satellite highlights the importance of space technology for humanitarian issues, in other words, the use and benefits of space technology for society’s development. Furthermore, it represents a milestone of the country’s space capabilities, which makes it possible to evaluate the use of its technology for future space missions.
Source: JOHNSON, Michael. Paraguay’s First Satellite Deployed From the International Space Station. NASA, 03/16/2021. Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/birds-4-paraguays-first-satellite