As NASA's Artemis II mission nears launch, the University of Buenos Aires' Faculty of Engineering (FIUBA) is finalizing preparations for the Argentine CubeSat Atenea, one of four international microsatellites selected for deployment. FIUBA's student-led team is on-site at Cape Canaveral, building on the January announcement of Argentina's participation.
Following the Argentine government's confirmation in January 2026 of Atenea's inclusion on Artemis II—the first crewed lunar orbit mission since Apollo 17—FIUBA has played a key role in the 12U CubeSat (approx. 30 x 20 x 20 cm). Argentina was chosen from nearly 50 countries vying for 14 payload slots, with only four nations selected, as noted by FIUBA Dean Alejandro Martínez.
Atenea, traveling in the Orion Stage Adapter with three other microsatellites, will deploy about five hours post-launch. It will validate radiation measurement in low/deep space, shielding and commercial components, silicon photomultipliers, GPS beyond constellations, and long-range comms—elevating Technology Readiness Levels for future missions.
CONAE leads, with FIUBA, UNLP, UNSAM, CNEA, Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomía, and VENG S.A. contributing. FIUBA's team, mostly students under Fernando Filippetti, stresses real-flight heritage. Filippetti and Guillermo Salvatierra are in Cape Canaveral for final checks.
The free-return trajectory will aid Artemis III's lunar landing plans, marking the closest human lunar approach since 1972.
