Although the space programme dates back to the 1960s, it was the 1979 approval of the so-called Brazilian Complete Space Mission that set Brazil on the road to self-sufficiency. The goal of this plan has been to develop the independent means to build and launch satellites, and Brazil has invested more than a billion dollars to that end.

This year the plan comes to fruition. The new VLS rocket, modest in size but 100 per cent Brazilian, should make its debut after a failed attempt to reach orbit in 1997. The first of two China–Brazil Earth Resource Satellites (CBERS) will be launched in July on a Chinese rocket. Brazil paid for 30 per cent of the satellite's US$100 million cost and built one of its three cameras. The country hopes to reduce its dependence on US Landsat and French SPOT images, and also to obtain more frequent pictures of the Amazon region.

Enjoying our latest content?
Log in or create an account to continue

  • Access the most recent journalism from Nature's award-winning team
  • Explore the latest features & opinion covering groundbreaking research
Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account
Continue with Google
Continue with ORCiD