Brazil and the United Kingdom are going to work together in space: Brazilian satellite of Earth observation Amazonia-1 will include the British camera RALCam-3.
The co-operation will be by the Brazilian Institute of Spatial Research (INPI), under the Ministry of Science and Technology in Brazil, and by Rutherford Appleton Laboratory – part of the Science & Technology Facilities Council (RAL-STFC).
This co-operation was announced by Sergio Rezende, Minister of Science and Technology in Brazil, and Peter Collecott, British Ambassador in Brazil, during a press conference in the 60th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for Science Progress (SBPC), in the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), in the state of Sao Paulo.
The Amazonia-1 satellite – its launch is expected for 2010 – will be the first satellite of land resources entirely developed by Brazil, and it will use the Multimission Platform – MMP, a medium-size platform, which was also developed by INPE and other Brazilian industries as a part of the National Programme of Spatial Activities (PNAE), co-ordinated by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). The Amazonia-1 will also carry an optical instrument with a spatial resolution of 40 metres and a swath of around 780 kilometres.
The RALCam-3 camera will produce images with a resolution of the land surface of about 12 metres and 110 kilometres of image width. The technology used in this camera is new to Brazilian satellites and will enable the generation of high-definition images, which will be useful in the monitoring of the environment and the management of natural resources.
The partnership’s origins
This spatial co-operation, the first one between the two countries, resulted from a document signed by INPE and the RAL-STFC in April 2007 which aimed to stimulate collaboration between the two institutions, as a part of the Brazil-UK partnership in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
During President Lula’s official visit to the UK in 2006, the Action Plan in Science, Technology and Innovation was created and it set targets and priorities for both governments. This plan was consolidated in the Brazilian-British Year of Science and Innovation (March 2007-2008) which was organised by the British diplomats in Brazil and the Brazilian government, through the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and identified co-operation areas between British and Brazilian institutions. Due to the success of the Year of Science, both governments settled an agreement, taking another step towards bilateral co-operation. This co-operation, which includes the organisation of events, missions, and other activities, has also been promoting the link and understanding among universities, research institutes and companies from both countries in many areas of science.
Free data distribution
Combined with the CBERS (China Brazil Earth Resources Satellites), the Amazonia-1 will produce images more frequently and with more definition, which are more adequate when it comes to monitoring the environment and managing natural resources. Such images will be provided to the entire world, since Brazil, through INPE, adopts the policy of free data, this data thus being considered public property and made available through the Internet to anyone.
The Amazonia-1 and the Multimission Platform
The Amazonia-1 satellite is based on the Multimission Platform (MMP), developed by INPE. The MMP is a generic platform for satellites in the 500 kilograms classification. With 250 kilograms of mass, it provides the necessary resources regarding power, control, communication and others, to operate in orbit with a payload weight of 280 kilograms.
Amazonia-1’s current configuration already counts with the Advanced Wide Field Imager (AWFI) camera, yet to be developed by the Brazilian industry. Considering the MMP capacity, there is still a technical margin to include another complementary instrument to the mission that will represent a step forward in terms of technology and application. The British camera RALCam-3 has the ideal characteristics for this.
About the RAL-STFC
The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) is directly connected to the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) – the British research council responsible for managing technology and infrastructure for UK scientific research. Founded in April 2007 through the merge of CCLRC (Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils) and PPARC (Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council). RAL is also responsible for the Neutron & Synchrotron Facilities and a Central Laser Facility., and it’s space programme is also affiliated to the British National Space Centre. The STFC is one of the seven UK research councils responsible for the funding of scientific research.
