Nicaragua puzzles over space plans amid socio-political turmoil
The National Assembly of Nicaragua has approved the creation of a National Secretariat for Outer Space, despite remaining one of the region’s poorest countries. Copyright: AxeEffect/Wikimedia Commons, (Creative Commons 3.0)
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Nicaragua has created a new National Ministry for Extraterrestrial Space Affairs, The Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, which is drawing amused reactions on social media in a nation that has been struggling since anti-government protests three years ago. The agency was approved by 76 legislators Wednesday in the country’s congress, which is dominated by President…
Nicaragua has created a new National Ministry for Extraterrestrial Space Affairs, The Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, which is drawing amused reactions on social media in a nation that has been struggling since anti-government protests three years ago. The agency was approved by 76 legislators Thursday in the country s congress, which is dominated by President Daniel Ortega s Sandinista Party. Fifteen opposition legislators abstained. In a country that has a hard time supplying its people with food, fuel and coronavirus vaccines, it is not clear exactly what the ministry is supposed to do. It will be under the control of the Nicaraguan army, which has no space program. The law says the ministry will promote the development of space activities, with the aim of broadening the country s capacities in the fields of education, industry, science and technology.
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