Argentina Launches Two Experimental Suborbital Rockets
Argentina launched two experimental suborbital rockets, the MET 3-SO Castor and the MET 4-SO Polux. The launches allowed for the testing of domestic designs for future launch vehicles.
The Argentine Ministry of Defense announced the launches.
The first launch took place on the night of Tuesday, November 3, from the Second Rocket Test and Launch Center (CELPA II Atlántico), and the second took place two days later, on Thursday, November 5.
The General Directorate of Research and Innovation carried out the second announced launch—MET 4-SO Polux—also from the center in the province of Buenos Aires.
An electronic warfare station, Buho drones, and a Cessna 182 aircraft from the Mar del Plata Air Base were deployed for tracking and recovery of the components. The Argentine Navy ensured the recovery of the payload from the sea.
Both tests were conducted as part of the Geminis campaign, which is overseen by the Argentine Air Force’s General Directorate of Research and Innovation.
MET stands for Modelo de Evaluación Tecnológica, or technology evaluation model. Vehicles in this family are suborbital sounding rockets with a detachable payload capsule. They are not designed to place satellites into orbit.
The program involves testing rocket systems and components in actual flight, collecting experimental data, gaining technical experience, and training specialists in launch operations.
The program’s goal is to develop technologies for future space projects. The Argentine Air Force views these tests as part of the development of its own space capabilities.
The first rocket in this series—the MET 1-SO Escorpio—was launched on May 22, 2025, from the same facility. During the first flight, the propulsion system, telemetry, encrypted data transmission, and avionics were tested. The capsule was recovered from the sea.
The second launch—MET 2-SO Crux—took place on November 13, 2025. Its primary objective was to test the engine casing during its reuse.
As a reminder, in early September, the President of Argentina reiterated his country’s claims to the Falkland Islands and announced sanctions against companies operating within the islands without Argentina’s permission.
Source: Militaryni
