INPE - National Institute For Space Research

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History

1961	Presidential decree creates the GOCNAE (Grupo de Organização da Comissão Nacional de Atividades Espaciais) ( Group for the Organization of the National Space Activities Commission), INPE’s embryo.

1963	The GOCNAE becomes the CNAE (Comissão Nacional de Atividades Espaciais) (National Commission of Space Activities).

1964	The Aeronautics Ministry establishes the GTEPE (Grupo de Trabalho de Estudos e Projetos Espaciais) Workgroup of Space Studies and Projects).

1965	First campaigns for launching INPE work-loaded probing rockets, from Barreira do Inferno Launching Center (Natal/RN).

1966	The GTEPE is created. Beginning of the Meteorologia por Satélite (Meteorology by Satellite) (MESA) program – reception of meteorological images.

1968	Beginning of the post-graduation courses.

1969	Beginning of activities in remote sensing.

1971	The CNAE is extinct. INPE (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais – National Institute of Space Research) is created, associated to the CNPq. The Comissão Brasileira de Atividades Espaciais (Brazilian Commission of Space Activities) (COBAE) is created.

1972/ 1973	Implementation of the remote sensing Satellite data reception station, in Cuiabá (MT).

1979	The MECB (Missão Espacial Completa Brasileira) (Complete Brazilian Space Mission) is approved. It is established that INPE will develop data collecting and remote sensing Satellites, and CTA will develop the Satellite launching vehicle and the implementation of a Brazilian launching Center.

1980	Transfer of the Centro de Radioastronomia e Astrofísica Mackenzie (CRAAM) (Mackenzie Radioastronomy and Astrophysics Center) over to INPE.

1982	First scientific expedition to Antarctica. Investment in infrastructure for the Complete Brazilian Space Mission: Integration and Tests Laboratory (1983-87) and the Satellite Tracking and Control Center (1987-89).

1985	The Science and Technology Ministry (MCT) is created. INPE passed over to the MCT, as an autonomous organ.

1986	Creation of the Associated Laboratories – Plasma, Sensors and Materials, Computing and Applied Mathematics and Combustion and Propulsion. Beginning of the burned land monitoring program.

1987	Inauguration of the Integration and Tests Laboratory.

1988	Execution of the Cooperation Agreement between Brazil and China, aiming at the development of Satellites (CBERS-1 and CBERS-2).

1989	The SCT (Secretaria Especial da Ciência e Tecnologia) (Special Science and Technology Bureau) is created as an organ integrating the Republic’s Presidency. Start-up of PRODES – Project Brazilian Amazonian Forest Monitoring by Satellites, with annual data survey about data on the deforestation of Legal Amazonia.

1990	INPE is denominated Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (National Institute for Space Research) and integrated to the SCT/PR Republic’s Presidency Science and Technology Bureau’s basic structure.

1992	SCT becomes the Science and Technology Ministry (MCT), and INPE is integrated to it in the condition of a specific organ.

1993	SCD-1, the first data collecting Brazilian satellite, wholly developed by INPE, is launched from Cape Canaveral, in Florida, USA.

1994	INPE creates CPTEC (Centro de Previsão do Tempo e Estudos Climáticos) (Weather Forecast and Climatic Studies Center). Brazilian Space Agency is created to replace COBAE.

1995	MCT’s Regulatory Structure is created and INPE comes to integrate it, in the quality of a Singular Specific Organ.

1998	Launching of the SCD-2, also from the American base in Cape Canaveral, in Florida..

1999	Launching of the CBERS-1 – Earth Resources Chinese-Brazilian Satellite, from a Taiwan base in China.

2002	Execution of a new cooperation agreement between Brazil and China for the development of Satellites CBERS-3 and CBERS-4.

2003	Launching of Satellite CBERS-2, also from the Taiwan Chinese base. SCD-1 completes tem years in orbit. SCD-2 completes five years in orbit. The Amazonian monitoring system gains a digital image classification, which is made available on Internet.

2004	Free CBERS image Catalog is made available on Internet. Nation-wide Thunderbolt Monitoring Network is made available on Internet. INPE Supercomputer places Brazil among the eight countries with high processing capacity in weather and climate numerical forecast.

2005	Amazonian Deforestation Real Time Detection Program Data (Detecção de Desmatamento da Amazônia em Tempo Real (DETER) are made available on Internet. INPE reaches the 100-thousand CBERS images distributed, thus becoming the largest world CBERS image distributor. Integration and Tests Laboratory totalizes 1000 clients served.

2006	Free CBERS image catalog is extended to whole South America. The United States receive CBERS images.