The First 100% Brazilian satellite will be launched at the end of February

With information from Agência Brasil*

The first Earth observation satellite designed, integrated, tested, and operated by Brazil, will be launched on February 28, at 1h54 (Brasília time). The satellite, which was named Amazonia-1, will be launched on the PSLV-C51 mission by the Indian space agency Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at 10:24 am (India time).

The satellite is part of the so-called Amazon Mission, created to provide remote sensing data to observe and monitor deforestation, especially in the Amazon region. The mission will also monitor agriculture throughout the national territory with a high rate of return visits, seeking to act in synergy with existing environmental programs.

This will be the third Brazilian remote sensing satellite in operation with CBERS-4 and CBERS-4A. The last two were developed by Brazil in partnership with China. The Amazônia-1 has six kilometers of wires and 14 thousand electrical connections. It is a synchronous Sun (polar) satellite that will generate images of the planet every five days. It is capable of observing a range of approximately 850 kilometers, with 64 meters of resolution.

The useful life of Amazônia-1 is four years. The mission also foresees the launch of two more satellites, Amazônia-1B and Amazônia-2.

“The Amazon Mission will consolidate Brazil’s knowledge in the integral development of a space mission using satellites stabilized on three axes since the previous remote sensing satellites were developed in cooperation with other countries”, stated the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), in a note.

“The Brazilian space industry will have gained flight heritage in the equipment manufactured for the satellite, which opens up prospects for supply to other countries and space agencies”, added the Institute.