Space Science emerging field in Honduras

Abstract

In this article we present the main facts, arguments and procedures that led to the creation of the Faculty of Space Sciences at the NAUH. As a consequence of the Resolution of adoption of the new university academic structure that made not explicit reference to the location of the Central American Suyapa Astronomical Observatory, it became necessary to appeal to the University Council to not only give her location and recognition of this university unit, but the institutional academic space for its faculty and students to continue working in an emerging scientific field. In order to contextualize the facts, what Space Science are and which the efforts of the international scientific community led by the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the United Nations in pursuing the development of space science, especially for the benefit of the developing countries, are explained. We present significant achievements of the Central America Suyapa Astronomical Observatory in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Science and Geographic Information Technologies and in Archaeoastronomy, all these fields in which its faculty and students have had a national and international recognition. We mention the articles of the new laws and by laws directly related to the establishment and operation of a faculty or a university center. This includes derivative of the corresponding procedure, specifying the one that led to the creation of the Faculty of Space Sciences. Among the conclusions are, the flexibility of the new university laws and the space that the University Council, as governing body of university provides to the institutional academic development; the challenges staff and students of the Faculty of Space Sciences have to take this unit forward.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/ce.v2i1.1078

Ciencias Espaciales 2(1) 2009 145-181