Mexico City, July 21, 2023.- The Colibri Space Lab team, with the objective of exploring new horizons, traveled to the other side of the world thanks to the ILAN Foundation. Israel, a nation worthy of admiration due to the resilience it has shown since its foundation and which is reflected in the various technological advances that we were able to witness during a 10-day trip.
Pakal Program: NALI award winner
We were able to make the trip because, as members of the Space Laboratory at Universidad Panamericana, we applied for a competition called theNALC University Innovation Awardswhich provides recognition and encouragement to those innovative talents seeking inspiration and learning opportunities.
NALI is a foundation that creates value by recognizing and nurturing the talents of visionaries linked to Israeli innovation. It aims to address the most important challenges, proposing solutions to improve the quality of life of people and the progress of their nations.
The project with which we competed was the Pakal Programwhich consists of a series of three missions in which new space propulsion technology and a miniaturized mechanism capable of obtaining atmospheric density measurements in low Earth orbit will be tested . Thanks to this program we were awarded on November 16, 2022.
Trip to Israel
A total of 10 students from the three Panamericana campuses (Aguascalientes, Mexico City and Guadalajara) went on this adventure between June 19 and 27. During our visit we visited three areas of Israel: Jerusalem, southern Israel and Tel Aviv.
While in Jerusalem we were able to visit the following places: Israel Innovation Authority, OrCam Company, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Wailing Wall, the Holy Sepulcher, the Holocaust History Museum and the Friends of Zion Museum.
While in southern Israel we were able to go to the Ashalim Solar Power Plant, the Ben Giron Desert House, the Dead Sea, Masada, stargazing at the Ramon Crater and we were also able to go on a van ride where we were able to observe the flora and fauna of the Negev desert.
Finally, in the city of Tel Aviv, we visited the Steakholders Company, Peres Center for Innovation, Sarona Market, Ichilov Hospital and the Nanosatellite Laboratory of Tel Aviv University.
An encounter with innovation
This trip was more than just a sightseeing tour; it was an encounter with the innovation, science and culture of a nation that has demonstrated its ability to overcome challenges .
In addition, this experience allowed us to understand the importance of the recognition and encouragement provided by entities such as the ILAN Foundation, by promoting innovative talent and its constant search to improve the lives of people and the development of their countries.
As a member of the lab team, I can assure you that we all return with new perspectives, inspiration and learning that will impact the future of the space program we are developing. Let's keep putting Mexican talent into orbit!
Author's data
Ximena Rojas Arriaga
Media & Marketing team leader of the Colibri Mission Space Laboratory.
