Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31067: Irazú: Central America's First Satellite to Monitor Earth's Forests from Space

The Irazú mission is a remarkable milestone—not only for Costa Rica but for the whole of Central America. Spearheaded by the Costa Rica Institute of Technology, in collaboration with ACAE and the Kyushu Institute of Technology, this mission represents the region's first foray into space-based environmental monitoring.

Launched aboard the ISS during Expedition 55/56, Irazú is a CubeSat designed to collect data on forest growth and carbon dioxide levels in Costa Rica’s rainforests. By doing so, it offers real-time environmental metrics that are crucial for conservation science.

This compact satellite is equipped with sensors to track atmospheric conditions and forest health. By analyzing these data, researchers can better understand how tropical ecosystems are affected by climate change and human activity.

What sets Irazú apart is not just its mission but also its collaborative development. Local engineers, university students, and international scientists worked together, turning this project into a powerful educational and technological achievement.

Beyond data collection, Irazú serves as a proof-of-concept for nations with emerging space programs. It demonstrates that with the right partnerships and passion, smaller countries can play a significant role in global space exploration.

The mission also aligns with the broader goals of the ISS—to democratize space science and offer a platform for diverse, global research initiatives.

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