Argentina is about to launch a rocket that will place the country among space powers

Argentina could soon join an international space elite thanks to the initiative of Tlon Space, a national private company preparing to achieve the first private orbital launch from Argentine territory.

Founded by entrepreneurs Pablo Vic and Gerardo Natale, the startup develops cutting-edge space technology with the goal of providing access to space, a milestone that would put the country on par with powers like the United States, Russia, China, or India.

The rocket at the center of this feat is the Aventura I, an ultralight vehicle completely designed and built in Argentina. With a height of 10 meters (32.8 feet) and a weight of less than one ton, it is designed to carry up to 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of payload —such as nanosatellites— to altitudes between 500 and 850 kilometers.

The launch location

The launch will take place from the new Malacara Spaceport, located in Lobería, Buenos Aires province, a strategic enclave with ideal geographical conditions for space missions.

The ability to launch rockets both eastward and southward makes Malacara an exceptional location on the global aerospace map, with operational flexibility that few countries can offer. Meanwhile, the United States relies on Florida or California, Argentina could position itself as a new development hub for Latin America in this sector.

The company Tlon Space has been developing space technology for over 15 years. In parallel with the growth of giants like SpaceX or Blue Origin, Vic and Natale have bet on creating accessible, lightweight, and efficient rockets from the southern part of the world.

With the support of the National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE) and strategic alliances like the one they maintain with Innova Space, the goal is ambitious: six launches per year and a production capacity of up to 200 rockets annually.

The launch date

Although the launch has not yet been officially confirmed —May 9 was one of the possibilities—, the entire country is closely following this moment. If successfully achieved, Aventura I will become the first Argentine rocket to reach orbit from national soil, marking a turning point for the local aerospace industry.

The milestone occurs within the framework of a paradigm shift promoted by the government of Javier Milei, advancing in its intention to deregulate strategic sectors and promote the protagonism of the private sector in traditionally state-controlled areas.

In this context, Tlon Space's feat reflects the new momentum that scientific innovation is taking under a logic of economic freedom and betting on national talent.

Far from science fiction, the Argentine space dream seems about to happen. This time, with a private company, Argentine technology, and the ambition to go much further.