One of the bilateral endeavors that Brazil and China are working together on is in the space research area where they have jointly launched satellites. The effort is now about to bear fruit.
The sale of images from the Brazil-China Earth Resources Satellite (Satélite Sino-Brasileiro de Recursos Terrestres) (Cbers-2) should bring revenue to Brazil and China of at least US$ 2.5 million in 2005. Half of the income will go to Brazil for reinvestment in space research.
During his visit to Brazil last week, the president of China, Hu Jintao, visited the Brazilian Cbers project and signed agreements with president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the commercialization of the images.
The two government also worked out the final details on launches of additional satellites: a Cbers-3 in 2008 and a Cbers-4 in 2010.
In September, Brazil’s Minister of Science and Technology, Eduardo Campos, reported that in January three data collection stations on the Zambeze River in Mozambique will be operational.
The total cost of the construction by the Brazilian Space Research Institute (INPE) is estimated at US$ 200,000.
When completed the stations will send data to the Brazilian-Chinese Cbers satellite which will retransmit information to Mozambique authorities on the status of the river every three hours.
Minister Campos explains that flooding is frequent along the Zambeze River and the cause of enormous damage to people and farm property and crops.
Agência Brasil
Translator: Allen Bennett