CURRENT EVENT: BRAZIL, ARGENTINA AGREE TO BUILD HYPERSPECTRAL SATELLITE

November 27, 2007 at 11:11 am | In Remote Sensing Law Current Events | Leave a Comment

Brazil and Argentina have agreed in principle to collaborate on the construction and launch of a hyperspectral Earth observation satellite for environmental monitoring and oceanography, the Brazilian space agency, INPE, announced Nov. 21.

The announcement followed a meeting of the two nations’ heads of state Nov. 20 in Brasilia. It said the satellite would carry a payload of about 800 kilograms, with about 700 watts of power. The sensor will include between 15 and 25 bands in the visible and infrared spectrum. Final technical specifications are to be decided early in 2008.

INPE said the joint work would further the two nations’ goal of becoming more independent in space-based sensors and less reliant on foreign suppliers whose products are often subject to export restrictions. INPE said the two nations would make the satellite the first in a series.

Brazil also has partnered with the Chinese government to produce a series of Earth observation satellites, called CBERS.

SOURCE: Space News