The launch window is open between 1:18 p.m. EST and 2:15 p.m.
The MXAO-1 Earth-observation satellite was developed through a collaboration between the borough government, the University Cluster based in western Mexico City and the Mexico-based applied science firm Macrolab.
It will ride to orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket as part of SpaceX's Smallsat Rideshare Program, which carries dozens of small payloads from multiple countries on a single launch.
The initiative began in late 2024 after newly elected borough chief Javier Lopez Casarin convened rectors and directors of universities located in Alvaro Obregon.
According to University Cluster director Pedro Diaz de Leon, the area hosts several of the country's top academic institutions, creating a unique concentration of research capacity.
"We have an epicenter of intelligence and innovation. We needed a single project that could bring everyone together," he told UPI.
Building the satellite required navigating significant technical hurdles. The multispectral camera needed for high-resolution imaging is not commercially available and had to be custom-built with parts from South Africa, Switzerland and Finland.
Additional components were sourced from South Korea, Europe and North America, creating a supply chain spread across multiple continents. Final assembly took place in Santa Fe, a district of Mexico City, under Macrolab's supervision.
"The satellite includes parts manufactured in several regions of the world. Integrating them into one functioning system was one of the biggest challenges," Diaz de Leon said.
Once in orbit at about 311 miles, MXAO-1 will produce multiband imagery to support local government planning and public services. The imagery will help authorities identify landslide risks, monitor ravines and green areas, track illegal dumping, and assess housing conditions.
"Earth-observation satellites reveal phenomena that are invisible from the ground, from vegetation that can clog waterways to neighborhoods where socioeconomic vulnerability requires more attention," Diaz de Leon said.
Lorenzo Martinez, director of Macrolab, said the first images are expected within days of launch. The satellite will circle Earth about 15 times per day and revisit the same location every three days, enabling continuous monitoring.
"Students and research centers will be able to access the data for free and use it to solve specific problems. It is a model that produces new knowledge and creates real economic impact," he said, noting that MXAO-1 can also capture imagery from Mexico through South America on request.
According to Macrolab, the project's total cost was between $4 million and $5 million. The company invested roughly $1.1 million for engineering and assembly. The borough did not contribute funding.
Martinez said placing a small satellite on a SpaceX rideshare mission typically costs between $300,000 and $500,000, depending on size and mass.
The Mexican federal government played a regulatory role, Diaz de Leon said. The borough consulted the Mexican Space Agency, now part of the national Digital Innovation Agency, for technical reviews and authorization procedures.
"They do not usually work with Earth-observation satellites, but they showed strong interest and supported the regulatory process," he said.
Transporter-15 will carry satellites from 16 countries and will be streamed live by SpaceX and the project's official channels.
Related Links
Macrolab
Microsat News and Nanosat News at SpaceMart.com
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