Brazil and China launch joint development of CBERS-5 satellite

Brazil and China had concluded negotiations for the joint development of the CBERS-5 satellite, marking a major advancement in the China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) programme and the partnership’s first foray into geostationary satellites. 

The agreement was signed on 5 July during a meeting between Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This was reported by the  official website of Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

CBERS-5 will be Brazil’s first geostationary satellite and will place the country among fewer than ten globally capable of developing such advanced technology. It will be positioned over Brazilian territory and will be used for meteorological and environmental monitoring.

According to the Brazilian authorities, the satellite will provide critical benefits to Brazil across multiple areas, including energy generation, agriculture, urban development, and climate resilience. It will also strengthen the country’s capacity to anticipate and respond to extreme weather events such as droughts and storms. 

The satellite’s data will also be made freely available to Latin American and Caribbean nations, reinforcing the project’s collaborative nature and commitment to regional development.

Photo: official website of Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation