Thanks to the presence of some of the most innovative companies in the world today Costa Rica
has become a major player in high-technology manufacturing, medical technology manufacturing,
professional services and believe it or not, the development of advanced plasma rocket
propulsion technology for space travel!
Since the year 2000 the number of companies in Costa Rica's manufacturing sector has increased
by 83%, Costa Rica's medical devices sector has increased by 288% and the services sector has
increased by 1,760%
Ad Astra is a rocket propulsion company dedicated to the development of advanced plasma rocket
propulsion technology. It was started by Franklin Ramón Chang Díaz a Costa Rican-American
engineer, physicist and former NASA astronaut who is a veteran of seven Space Shuttle missions.
His ambitious goal is to revolutionize space transportation and exploration, through the
development and commercialization of the VASIMR® engine and related technologies.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics named the Variable Specific Impulse
Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) among the top 10 emerging aerospace technologies of 2009 and
aerospace experts believe that a 200 Mega Watt VASIMR® powered space ship could make the trip
to Mars in as few as 39 days.
In an effort to help bolster this new industry, Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla is
seeking to attract more investment from aerospace companies and this week signed a decree
creating the National Council of Aerospace Industry which will be chaired by Clotilde Fonseca,
Minister of Science and Technology.
In an interview this week, the World Bank Director for Central America Laura Frigenti was
asked about the the prospects for Costa Rica this year, she answered: "They are very good.
We at the World Bank, look at Costa Rica with a lot of admiration. It is a country that has
much to offer the world in terms of good policies, results, particularly in the areas of
social policy, debt and openness to foreign direct investment."
And you saw in the news this week that out of 65 countries, a young Tico - Rafael Angel
Rodríguez Arguedas - just won the Gold medal in the World Olympics for Chemistry? He beat
other very talented contenders from countries that have typically performed well in this
field including the USA, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.
Good things are happening in Costa Rica, come be a part of it!
If you enjoy our newsletter and website, please feel free to forward this onto someone you love...
Scott Oliver - Founder of WeLoveCostaRica.com
Start by doing what's necessary;
then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible
then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible
