Argentina's National University of La Plata is joining hands with NASA and Dassault Systems Solutions in a project that will see the Argentine engineering and aeronautics experts collaborating in the building of a climate change monitoring satellite.

The partnership was hailed as the first collaboration of its kind, mainly because of NASA's decision to outsource some of the key work.

Dassault Systemes, a major player in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management solutions and the Argentine university unveiled their key contributions to Project Aquaries-SAC-D, a satellite mission that uses scientific applications that help predict climatic changes accurately.

UNLP used Dassault Systemes solutions to design, develop, test and manage two of seven major instruments that make up the SAC-D Aquarius project.

Argentine industry analysts hailed the announcement as a major advance for Argentina as it endeavors to regenerate its aerospace and defense industries. Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has set military industry modernization as of her announced goals.

SAC-D resulted from an international partnership between Argentine, French and U.S. companies. The partnership includes the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Center, Dassault Systemes and Argentina's National Commission for Space Activities, known by its Spanish acronym of CONAE or Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales.

Dassault Systemes has headquarters in Velizy-Villacoublay, France but operates most of its operations in the Americas from regional headquarters in Lowell, Mass. The company has more than 130,000 customers in 80 countries.

Students at UNLP's Faculty of Engineering and Aeronautics Department used Dassault Systemes' ENOVIA V6 for live online collaboration and program management, the companies said in a joint news release.

Also used in the project were CATIA PLM Express for the design of multiple structure modules and SIMULIA for satellite structural calculations.

Dassault Systemes helped simplify the complex tasks involved in conducting multiple version reviews, tracking and approving design, document and drawings changes.

"This is the first time NASA has outsourced scientific components to CONAE and UNLP, and because of our 3D PLM expertise and training, we were able to actively participate in all stages of design, production and testing of these two key instruments and beyond to delivery," said Alejandro J. Patanella, executive director in UNLP's faculty of engineering and aeronautics.

UNLP has invested in 3D PLM technology and boasts one of the best equipped PLM centers in the region. Dassault Systemes solutions at UNLP help train new generations of engineering professionals who will be responsible for the design, testing and maintenance of new products and services.