The US State Department has introduced the Space Catalyst Partnership (SCP) to facilitate international access to the American commercial space sector. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the initiative on September 10 in Lima. The program aims to align foreign aid with the growth of the US space industry.
The inaugural project, valued at $6.5 million, focuses on providing satellite internet to rural areas in southern Peru. This two-year initiative is the first to utilize foreign aid funds to support American space companies. The specific contractors for the Peruvian project have not yet been named.
Participation in the SCP is restricted to signatories of the Artemis Accords. Peru became the 41st member of these agreements in 2024. While the State Department will coordinate with Congress to secure funding for future projects, the total budget for the partnership remains undefined.
The program is positioned as a competitive response to China's expanding space footprint in Latin America. China currently operates a deep space station in Argentina and maintains satellite programs in Bolivia and Venezuela. SCP participants are not explicitly prohibited from working with Chinese suppliers.
