Second Chinese-Brazilian satellite fulfils five-year mission in orbit
22/10/2008 17:15
The second earth resource satellite, CBERS-2, developed jointly by Brazil
and China, fulfilled its five years' mission in orbit yesterday, the National
Institute of Space Investigations of Brazil (INEP) said.
The CBERS-2 was
launched on Oct. 21, 2003 by the Chinese Long March 4B rocket from Taiyuan
launch facilities in China. Sample images from CBERS-2 were made available on
Jan. 10, 2007.
It was the second satellite of the Chinese-Brazilian Earth
Resource Satellite (CBERS) program, agreed by both countries 20 years ago to
develop, launch and operate satellites together.
The first satellite,
CBERS-1, was launched on Oct. 14, 1999 and operated for four years till August
2003.
The agreement between the two countries foresees the launch of two
other satellites, the CBERS-3 and CBERS-4, till 2013.
The CBERS is currently
part of the main Earth-observing mission programs in the world, together with
the US Landsat, French Spot and Indian ResoruceSat.
According to the INEP,
the program is a successful example of South-South cooperation on high
technology.
Xinhua
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