Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico – The first Mexican woman to set foot in space, Katya Echazarreta, will lead the first space camp to ever be held in Mexico this summer. Called Mission to Mars 2023, the aerospace camp will take place in Guadalajara from July 10 to August 4 and will allow up to 100 young people to learn about robotics, science and technology.
This was announced by Jalisco Governor, Enrique Alfaro, who said that the objective of this course, which will be held at the Ciudad Creativa Digital (CCD) and the Lunaria Planetarium, is to foster interest in space science.
Katya Echazarreta, a native of Jalisco and an electronics engineer from the University of California, recalled that, after her June 4, 2022 mission into space, she gave a series of conferences that were well-received by girls and boys from Jalisco who wanted to follow in her footsteps. From that moment on she decided to support those that she had inspired. This scenario led Katya to decide that she would work in Mexico to promote the first aerospace camp in the country. As she said, “a dream without opportunity cannot become a reality”.
Within the next few days the official call will be made, but for now it is known that the course will be aimed at young people between the ages of 13 and 15 that meet specific requirements.
According to the details issued at the press conference, the Mission Mars 2023 project will include workshops with themes such as:
- Robotics, design and programming
- Scientific dissemination
- Physical and psychological training
- Investigation of habitats and surfaces
- Sustainable crops and nutrition
- Mechatronics and electronics
- Development of prototypes, rockets and propulsion
- Simulators and execution of a flight
- Astronomy and observation of space phenomena
- Simulation of a space mission
In addition, it was announced that the Lunaria Planetarium will receive an investment of 60 million pesos for its complete reconstruction, both in infrastructure and equipment, which will be carried out with the advice and support of Katya Echazarreta.