Brazilian Satellite Program Depends on the Budget

Hello reader!

It follows one communicates published in english on the day (21/06) in the website of the “Agência Brasil” noting that the future of Brazilian Satellites Program depends on the budget.

Duda Falcão

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Brazilian Satellite Program

Depends on the Budget

Gilberto Costa

Repórter da Agência Brasil

Editor The News in English: Allen Bennett

21/06/2011 - 10:22

Brasília – In July the federal government will decide on what it wants to accomplish with its space program and how much it is willing to spend on those goals. In August the budget goes to Congress as part of a multi-year plan (“Projeto de Lei do Plano Plurianual – PPA”) for the period 2012 – 2016.

During that period Brazil has plans to launch three satellites (September 2012 the Cbers 3 satellite, for earth observation, in a partnership with China; in 2013, a totally Brazilian satellite, the Amazon 1; and, probably in September 2014, Cbers 4, another partnership satellite with China). Development and launch costs are estimated at $200 million.

According to Marco Antônio Chamon, at the National Institute of Space Research (“INPE”), the money for technology development has already been allocated. “The budget for these satellites is not a complicated problem… All the parts are under order. What we want to avoid in the future is the present situation where we do not have a single satellite in space under our control,” declared Chamon.

However, a study (“Caderno de Altos Estudos”) by the Science, Technology, Communication and Informatics Commission in the Chamber of Deputies points out that spending on the Brazilian space program has been insufficient and irregular. According to the study, quoting a legislative consultant, Roberto de Medeiros Filho, Brazilian outlays for satellites (less than $150 million per year) is around 10% of what China, Russia and India spend, and even South Africa. Medeiros Filho asks: “Why is Brazilian spending, besides irregular, so low compared to other countries with space technology? It seems the country does not have a national plan or stratagem to protect its strategic programs and projects.”

In spite of the uncertain future and the present Brazilian satellite “blackout,” the country receives a constant flow of satellite images, which permit it to monitor deforestation. George Porto Ferreira, at the Environmental Protection Institute (“IBAMA”), says the rainforest is being monitored effectively. “Our situation is normal. We do not foresee any lack of satellite images in our efforts to protect the environment.”

IBAMA gets satellite images from INPE, which has cooperation contracts with the United States, Europe and India that allows it to monitor the rainforest in real time and releasedperiodical evaluations. Ferreira calls Inpe “an important partner.”

Source: Website of the Agência Brasil - http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br