The first space program for satellite development in Central America is being developed in Costa Rica with the help of small, private donations.

According to a news report published in March by international news agency EFE, the Central American Aeronautics and Space Association, or ACAE, has kicked off a Kickstarter campaign to collect the $75,000 needed to launch the first satellite made in Costa Rica.

The ACAE’s goal of financing the launch into space next year of a diminutive cube-shaped satellite, measuring 10 centimeters (4 inches) on each side, needs less than $4,000 to reach completion. As of April 18, 729 backers had pledged $71,364 with 45 hours to go.

The Irazu project is being developed in conjunction with the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC). The $75K funding is needed to to carry out a real space mission that will become the proof of concept of a platform for monitoring climate change in the tropical forests of Costa Rica.

As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, the Irazu project was declared to be of public Interest by the government in 2014. ACAE is working as a catalyst between government, academia industry and civil society in order to take advantage of the available resources in the region.

The picosatellite project, which will utilize CubeSat technology, includes a remote station segment where measurements will take place. The team will use devices called “dendrometers” in a remote forest located in the northern part of Costa Rica, to measure forest growth. Also, sensors will be used for temperature, humidity, rain, wind direction, and air pressure, among other variables.

Readers can visit the Irazu Project’s Kickstarter page and choose from various donation levels.

As of today, 15 backers have donated $1,000 or more to become Mission Commanders, which means that they will attend the launch party in Costa Rica in 2017 and their names will be carved on the satellite as it travels across space. This donation level also includes a cool, embroidered mission patch.

For a $10 pledge, your name will also be launched into space in digital format, which could make it easy for extraterrestrial beings to discover (assuming they have compatible apps, the right drivers installed in their devices, software updates beamed from Earth, etc.)