China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program
| Country of origin | China / Brazil |
|---|---|
| Operator | CNSA / INPE |
| Applications | Remote sensing |
| Specifications | |
| Bus | Phoenix-Eye 1 |
| Design life | 2-3 years |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Production | |
| Status | Operational |
| Built | 5 |
| On order | 1 |
| Launched | 5 |
| Operational | 1 |
| Retired | 2 |
| Failed | 1 |
| Lost | 1 |
| First launch |
CBERS-1 14 October 1999 |
| Last launch |
CBERS-4 7 December 2014 |
| Related spacecraft | |
| Derived from | Ziyuan |
The China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program (CBERS) is a technological cooperation program between Brazil and China which develops and operates Earth observation satellites.
The basis for the space cooperation between China and Brazil was established in May 1984, when both countries signed a complementary agreement to the cooperation framework agreement in science and technology. In July 1988, China and Brazil signed the protocol establishing the joint research and production of the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellites (CBERS). Brazil, emerging from a long military regime, sought to abandon the Cold War logic and establish new international partnerships. China was dedicated to its great internal reform, but was also seeking international partnerships to develop advanced technologies. The agreement was advantageous for both countries. Brazil had the chance to develop medium-size satellites at a time when it was only capable of building small ones (100 kg size). China had an international partner that posed no military threats and that was receptive of foreigners.
Brazil and China negotiated the CBERS project during two years (1986–1988), exchanging important technical information and visiting each other’s facilities, and they concluded that both sides had all the human, technical and material conditions to jointly develop an Earth resource observation satellite program. The Complementary Protocol on Cooperation on Space Technology was renewed in 1994 and again in 2004.
In Brazil, the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE or National Institute of Space Research) and the Brazilian Space Agency (Portuguese: Agência Espacial Brasileira; AEB) are involved with the program, as is the Brazilian industrial sector. In China, organizations involved include the China Academy of Space Technology (a sub-entity of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation), the China National Space Administration and various other organizations.
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