China, Brazil Extend CBERS Satellite Program

Chinese Minister Xu Dazhe’s visit to AEB (third from left to right). Photo: Valdivino Jr / AEB

[Via Satellite 07-21-2014] China and Brazil have agreed to continue the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) program with an additional satellite, CBERS 4A. Xu Dazhe, China’s minister of science, technology and defense industry also expressed interest in creating CBERS 5 and 6 satellites as part of a 10-year plan between the two countries. Discussions regarding the cooperation plan are scheduled to resume by the end of 2014.

CBERS 4, the most recent satellite in the collaborative series, is on schedule to launch on Dec. 7, 2014. The previous satellite, CBERS 3, was lost during a launch failure of the Chinese Long March 4B rocket in 2013.

In addition to extending the program, the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and the National Space Administration of China (CNSA) signed a memorandum of understanding for shared satellite data and remote sensing applications.