India-Brazil space sector opens a new chapter in space sector coop through Amazonia-1 launch

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in its first mission of 2021, on Sunday successfully launched the Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh signalling a chapter in the space sector partnership between New Delhi and Brasilia.

Amazonia-1 is the first Earth Observation satellite to be completely designed, integrated, tested and operated by Brazil. The satellite will provide remote sensing images to observe and monitor deforestation, especially in the Amazonia region, as well as monitor the diversified agriculture throughout the country. Marcos Pontes, the Minister of Science & Technology and Innovation of Brazil (a former Brazilian Air Force Test Pilot and the first Brazilian Astronaut in space) witnessed the launch, following an invitation from India.

Amazonia-1 is an optical earth observation satellite of National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil. This is the first satellite which is completely designed, integrated, tested and operated by National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil.

Amazonia-1 mission will strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.

The launch will be a boost to the Space reforms under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by the Indian government. The co-passenger satellites include SDSAT nanosatellite built by Space Kidz India and UNITYsat (combination of 3 satellites) jointly built by Indian academic institutions.

Space sector has been identified by the leadership of India and Brazil as a major area of collaboration. The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Department of Space, India and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) in March 2002 followed by a Framework Agreement in 2004. A Joint Working Group on Space has been constituted under the Agreement. A meeting of the India-Brazil Joint Working Group on Space was held in January 2020 during which both sides identified priority areas for cooperation.

India and Brazil have been collaborating in Data sharing and satellite tracking of Indian satellites on a semi-commercial basis, ET has learnt. In 2007, an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in Augmentation of Brazilian Earth stations was signed, which allowed access to Brazilian ground stations to remote sensing data from the Indian satellites, including from Resourcesat-2. Brazilian earth stations of Alcantara and Cuiaba are being used by ISRO to receive and process data of Indian Remote Sensing satellites. They have also been provided tracking facilities to Chandrayaan – 1 & 2 and ASTROSAT. Two officials from Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) participated in ISRO’S ‘UNNATI’ (UNispace Nanosatellite 4 Assembly & Training by ISRO), an 8-week long training programme on nano-satellite building.

Apart from bilateral cooperation, both countries are also working closely under the BRICS framework. BRICS is currently discussing a proposal for ‘BRICS Virtual Constellation of Remote Sensing Satellites’ in order to establish a mechanism to share remote sensing satellite data.