Currently, the team working on Quetzal-2 It is made up of more than 60 people, with an average age of 21 years. 60% of the members are women, who actively participate in areas such as mechanical design, manufacturing, electronics, programming, communications, dissemination and project management.
Quetzal-2 will be delivered in 2028 for launch into space. We invite readers to follow these articles, published on the first Thursday of each month in this section.
Some members of the team share their experience in the UVG Aerospace Laboratory and in the development of Quetzal-2.
“He taught me to trust”
“Knowing about the existence of Quetzal-1 awakened in me the dream of contributing to the space development of Guatemala. I set out to be part of the project and I achieved it since my first year of university, and today, in my fourth year, I can say that this trajectory has been the driving force that taught me to fully trust my abilities. I want my story to serve to inspire more women to pursue Stem careers – science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in English – and so that they know that the path requires effort, but that their dreams are worth fighting for because “There are no limits, when we dare to take the first step.”
Mercedes Castillo, 4th grade student. year of Mechanical Engineering
“Promote science”
“My motivation to be part of the UVG Aerospace Laboratory comes from the desire to demonstrate that marketing is much more than advertising or sales. For me, it is a strategic tool, capable of promoting science, innovation and technology in Guatemala, which connects people with projects that have the power to transform the future. Being part of initiatives like Quetzal-2 has allowed me to unite my passion for marketing with a larger purpose: to inspire, communicate, impact and give visibility to the enormous talent that exists in our country.”
Lucia del Cid, 5th grade student. year of International Marketing & Business Analytics
Also read: Guatemala will return to space with its second satellite
“Each person contributes”
“Many times we believe that large projects are only for professionals with many years of experience, but within the laboratory I understood that every project begins with people who solve problems, test ideas and work together from different areas. I learned that there is not only one way to contribute: someone can design parts, program, do tests or even plan workshops to disseminate the project. The experience has helped me learn much more than in my career with real applications and to understand that each person contributes to make the entire project work.”
Daphnne Juárez, 3rd grade student. year of Mechanical Engineering
“Inspire other women”
“It is incredible to be part of such a large project with such a significant impact, surrounded by super-high-powered people, from whom I learn something new every day. One of the things I like most is being able to apply many of the things I am learning in my classes in real life. In addition, it has been an opportunity for both academic and personal growth, because it has challenged me to continue learning and trust more in my abilities. I hope that my experience can inspire more young people, especially girls, so that they can also achieve their goals in engineering.”
Marcela Cordón, 2nd year student. year of Industrial Mechanical Engineering
“Very great satisfaction”
“The experience, together with such capable and passionate people, has helped me understand concepts in a completely different way. Taking what I learned in the laboratory to classes has been one of the most relevant personal and academic satisfactions I have had. Before I saw a career in the aerospace field as something very far away for Guatemala; but, being part of the laboratory has shown me that there is a way to grow and build important things in our country. I can imagine a future dedicating myself to what I am passionate about and contributing to the development of the industry. “space”.
Débora Castillo, 2nd year student. year of Mechatronic Engineering