• China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS): in July 1988, Brazil and China signed
an agreement for the development of two advanced remote sensing satellites. Due to
the combination of financial and technological resources, a shared responsibilities
system was created (30% Brazilian and 70% Chinese), with the purpose of building a
complete image captioning system at international level;
• Brazilian Satellite Launching Vehicle (VLS-1)17: main Brazilian space project being
developed by the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE), of the Brazilian Air Force;
• Cyclone-4 Project, in partnership with Ukraine: this project is managed by Alcantara
Cyclone Space (ACS), a binational state enterprise of Brazilian and Ukrainian capital,
set up in August 2006, with the objective of trading and launching satellites using the
Ukrainian launching vehicle Cyclone-4 from the Alcantara Launching Centre in the
Brazilian state of Maranhão;
• Space Cooperation Project, Argentine-Brazilian Satellite for Oceanic Observation
(Sabiá-Mar): in November 2007, Brazil and Argentina signed an agreement to design
and launch a satellite for Earth observation for environmental and oceanic research
purposes. The project, which will be managed by a committee with representatives
from Argentina and Brazil, is in its initial phase. It is expected that the satellite for
oceanic observation will be launched in 2015; and
• Microsatellite Launching Vehicle Project (VLM-1): its objective is to develop a rocket
for launching microsatellites (up to 150 kilograms) in equatorial and polar orbits or
for reentry. The project will interface with others regarding the development of inertial
platforms rocket engines, and satellite launching. It is coordinated by the Brazilian
Space Agency and involves the Institute of Aeronautics and Space, foreign research
institutes (one German and the other Swedish) and private Brazilian companies.
The VLS project is detailed in chapter 5.
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DEFENSE WHITE PAPER
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CHAPTER 2 — THE 21st CENTURY STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT
The space sector, along with the cybernetic and nuclear sectors, is considered to be a
fundamental strategic sector for National Defense, as noted in the National Defense Strategy.
One of the main objectives of the Brazilian Space Program (PEB) is to reach autonomy
in the development of space activities. The program has a strategic nature; it permits the
monitoring and management of the vast national territory; it contributes to the mastering
of communication and information technologies; it enables meteorological forecasting as
well as air and sea traffic control; and it promotes the development of new space technology.
Among the main projects within the scope of the Brazilian Space Program, the following
are of note: