Developing a space program for Mexico

Mexican Space Agency (AEM) formation is triggering a series of actions to coordinate research groups, companies and governmental agencies together, in order to develop in a more orderly fashion technology, services and space applications. The aim is to produce conditions for establishing an industrial environment that will allow Mexico to integrate into the International Community of countries with quality space research and development. A strategy for the initial phase is presented, based on a series of projects for developing micro and nano satellites projects for LEO using COTS technology. An network focused on Space R&D supported by CONACYT (National R&D Council of Mexico), integrated by Universities, companies and R&D centers is working together with the AEM for this purpose. In order to define some projects that would help leading the countries development in this initial stage is hazardous however the networking model coupled with the general strategy set by AEM will allow the development an integration of a healthy environment for space R&D and industrial development in the Mexican space area.