| | |  Technology News | September 2008 
Astronaut Lends Expertise to Mexico
 Jennie Rodriguez - Record
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| | Jose Hernandez (Calixtro Romias/Record) | | |
Jose Hernandez, the Stockton, California astronaut scheduled to fly into space next summer, is now involved in building a space agency in Mexico.
The proposed legislation entailing Hernandez's recommendations was introduced a year ago for establishing a technology research and development facility and a commercial launch platform for space tourism in Yucatan, Mexico.
The proposal has already been approved by Mexico's Congress and will be up for a Senate vote on Wednesday. If passed by the Senate and signed by President Felipe Calderon, who has pledged his support, construction of the agency could start by early 2009, according to Hernandez.
"The way I look at it, you're in the middle of making history for a country," Hernandez said in a phone interview Thursday, only hours after arriving in Houston from Mexico.
"My goal is for Mexico to become an accepted and respected partner in the technology industry," Hernandez said of the project, which is not under the sponsorship of his employer, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Aside from the Mexican project, Hernandez is scheduled for a NASA mission in July on space shuttle Atlantis to deliver equipment tothe International Space Station.
Hernandez, a Stockton native and University of the Pacific trustee, said the benefits of forming the partnership with Mexico include opening study prospects for U.S. science college students, as well as developing technology that could be used by space agencies such as NASA.
Hernandez is providing strategic advice for Mexico's space program proposed by Fernando De La Pena.
The two engineers met while De La Pena created a space-compatible borescope, used to inspect inaccessible items, for NASA five years ago. During that time, Hernandez suggested to De La Pena that he should initiate a space program when he returns to Mexico.
"He took it very seriously. Next thing I know he starts sending me drafts of legislation," Hernandez said. And for a year now, the two have been collaborating.
Besides benefits to the U.S., Hernandez said the space program will create more opportunities for Mexican residents in the science field.
"We're trying to set up a situation where people don't have to come to the U.S. for better opportunities," Hernandez said, "where Mexico is developed to the point that we see reverse migration."
The space agency will be dubbed Agencia Espacial Mexicana - Mexican Space Agency.
Hernandez said Yucatan, the location of the agency's commercial space tourism launch station, is geographically ideal for frequent commercial use because it's situated directly under the equator.
The close proximity into space means shuttles could carry more weight and save on fuel costs at the same time.
Also, Hernandez said the Mexican space agency's research and development division could build technology needed for establishing a base in the moon, a plan under way by space officials.
"When we go to the moon, we will need a lunar rover to drive around the moon; lunar positioning systems (similar to the Global Positioning System). We're also going to need habitats in the moon so astronauts can live in a short-sleeve environment," Hernandez said. "This spells out lots of opportunities for countries like Mexico to be space participants."
Contact reporter Jennie Rodriguez at jrodriguez(at)recordnet.com. |
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