The China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite carried by the Chinese Long March 4B rocket will be launched in Taiyuan in China on the 18 September 2007.

The CBERS programme, which is being developed jointly by Brazil and China since 1988, represents a successful example of South-South co-operation in high-tech initiatives and is one of the pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Currently CBERS is one of the main remote sensing programmes in the world along with the American LANDSAT, the French SPOT and the Indian ResourceSat.

The CBERS satellites, which are developed in Brazil by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), constitute an element of great significance within the context of The National Spatial Initiatives Programme (PNAE) co-ordinated by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). In addition to promoting the development of the Brazilian Space industry, the CBERS Programme generates employment in the high-tech sector which is fundamental for the development of Brazil.

The CBERS satellites have provided Brazil with an additional tool for the management of its territory. Their images are used all over Brazil in applications in areas such as forest surveillance and support for agriculture. The data relayed by the Chinese-Brazilian satellites are used, for instance, by the Brazilian Government in a successful effort to fight deforestation in the Amazon.

Since April 2004, over 350 thousand CBERS images were distributed to over five thousand Brazilian institutions. In China, following the adoption of data distribution policy that is similar to that of Brazil, over 200 thousand images were distributed and the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources is the main user.

Furthermore, both Brazil and China have been distributing CBERS images freely to the neighbouring countries and offering technical training programmes on the use of the images. As from 2008, distribution of CBERS images should also begin in Central American, Caribbean, African and South-eastern Asian countries as the new data reception centres become operational. The CBERS satellites have increasingly become a fundamental tool for international co-operation benefiting developing countries.

CBERS-2B is the third Sino-Brazilian satellite to be launched. CBERS-1 was launched in 1999 and operated until 2003, when the CBERS-2 was launched, which continues to be operational. In order to ensure the continuity in data reception, Brazil and China agreed to develop the CBERS-2B in 2004. At least two other technologically more advanced satellites in this series are planned: CBERS-3, to be launched in 2010, and CBERS-4 in 2013.

The Minister for Science and Technology, Sérgio Machado Rezende, will be present at the launch accompanied by the Brazilian and Chinese diplomatic authorities and representatives from the spatial sector. During his stay in Beijing, the Minister will be meeting Chinese authorities to discuss the continuity of the Sino-Brazilian co-operation programme aimed at peaceful uses of the outer space.

Source: Ministry of External Relations