Brazilian Space Agency facts for kids
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| Agency overview | |
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| Abbreviation |
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| Formed | 10 February 1994 (formerly the Brazilian space program, 1961-1993) |
| Type | Space agency |
| Headquarters | Brasília, Distrito Federal |
| Official language | Portuguese |
| Administrator | Marco Antonio Chamon |
| Primary spaceport | Alcântara Space Center |
| Owner | Government of Brazil |
| Annual budget | R$180 million / US$45 million (2019) |
The Brazilian Space Agency (Portuguese: Agência Espacial Brasileira; AEB) is Brazil's main organization for space activities. It manages the country's space program. The AEB has a special launch site called Alcântara and another rocket launch site at Barreira do Inferno. It is the biggest and most important space agency in Latin America.
The Brazilian Space Agency took over from Brazil's earlier space program, which was run by the military. The AEB became a civilian agency on February 10, 1994. In 2003, the program faced a big challenge when a rocket exploded, which was a sad event for the team. But Brazil kept going! On October 23, 2004, they successfully launched their first rocket, the VSB-30, from the Alcântara Launch Center. Many more successful launches have happened since then.
Brazil also worked with the International Space Station for a short time. In 2006, AEB astronaut Marcos Pontes became the first Brazilian to travel to space. He visited the ISS for a week and did eight experiments chosen by the Brazilian Space Agency. In June 2021, the AEB joined the Artemis Accords. This means they will work with other countries to explore the Moon and Mars in the future, as part of the Artemis program.
Contents
History of Brazil's Space Program
In 1960, the president at the time, Jânio Quadros, started a group to create a national space program. This led to the formation of the Organization Group of the National Commission of Space Activities (GOCNAE) in August 1961. This group worked in São José dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo. Its scientists took part in international projects related to astronomy, geodesy (measuring Earth), geomagnetism (Earth's magnetic field), and meteorology (weather).
In April 1971, the GOCNAE was replaced by the Institute for Space Research, which is now called the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Brazil has been involved in aerospace since 1946, when the Technical Center of Aeronautics (CTA) was created. This center is now the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) of the Brazilian Air Force.
The Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA) was also created to train skilled people in advanced technology. The DCTA, along with ITA and the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE), are very important for the Brazilian space program.
In the early 1970s, the Brazilian Space Activities Commission (COBAE) was formed to manage the space program. In February 1994, this job was given to the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). The creation of the AEB meant that the space program would now be managed by a central civilian group, reporting directly to the President of Brazil.
In 2011, Argentina suggested creating a single South American space agency by 2025, similar to the European Space Agency. However, in 2015, the Brazilian Space Agency and the Ministry of Defense said no to this idea. They felt it would create too much paperwork and not enough results. They also thought Brazil would end up paying most of the costs due to its size.
Brazil's Launch Sites
Brazil has special places where it launches rockets into space.
Alcântara Space Center
The Alcântara Launch Center (CLA) is the main launch site for the Brazilian Space Agency. It is located on a peninsula in Alcântara, in the state of Maranhão. This area is great for launches because it doesn't have many people, it's safe, and it's easy to reach by air and sea. The most important reason is its closeness to the Equator. Alcântara is one of the closest launch sites to the Equator in the world. This is a big advantage for launching geosynchronous satellites, which need to be placed in a specific orbit above the Equator.
Barreira do Inferno Launch Center
The Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (CLBI) is another rocket launch base for the Brazilian Space Agency. It is in the city of Parnamirim, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. This site is mostly used to launch smaller rockets called sounding rockets. It also helps support the main Alcântara Launch Center.
Rockets and Launch Vehicles
The Brazilian Space Agency uses different types of rockets to send things into space.
Sounding Rockets
Sounding rockets are smaller rockets used to carry instruments into space for short research flights, usually not reaching orbit. Brazil has used several types of sounding rockets, including:
- Sonda I, Sonda II, Sonda III, Sonda IV
- VSB-30, VS-30, VS-40
- VS-50 (a future rocket that will use a new S-50 engine)
VLM (Microsatellite Launch Vehicle)
Brazil is working with Germany to build a special rocket for launching very small satellites, called micro-satellites. This rocket is named VLM, which stands for "Veiculo Lançador de Microssatelites" (Microsatellite Launch Vehicle). It will be able to put satellites weighing up to 150 kg into orbits between 250 and 700 km high. The first test flight was planned for 2022 from the Alcântara Space Center.
VLS (Satellite Launch Vehicle)
The VLS, or Satellite Launch Vehicle, was designed to be the Brazilian Space Agency's main rocket for launching satellites. It was a four-stage rocket. The first three test rockets unfortunately failed to launch. The third one exploded on the launch pad in 2003, which was a major setback. The VLS project was eventually stopped in 2016.
Southern Cross Program
The Brazilian Space Agency was also planning a new family of rockets called the "Southern Cross" program, working with Russia. These rockets would have been based on Russia's Angara rockets. The program was named after the Crux constellation, which has five stars and is on the flag of Brazil. This program was also canceled by the Brazilian government. Instead, Brazil will focus on developing smaller rockets using more of its own technology.
14-X (Hypersonic Vehicle)
Brazil is also working on very fast technology called hypersonic technology. The 14-X is a special vehicle being developed with the Brazilian Air Force. It was launched in February 2022 by a VSB-30 rocket. It reached an altitude of 100,000 feet and a top speed of Mach 10, which is ten times the speed of sound!
Rocket Engines
The Brazilian Space Agency has developed many different engines for its rockets. These engines provide the power needed to lift rockets and satellites into space. Some examples include:
- S-10-1 solid rocket engine, used on Sonda 1.
- S-30 IAE solid rocket engine, used on Sonda 3 and VSB-30.
- S-40TM IAE solid rocket engine, used on VS-40 and VLS-1.
- L5 liquid fuel rocket engine, tested on VS-30.
- S-50 IAE solid rocket engine, planned for VLM-1 and VS-50.
Satellites
The Brazilian Space Agency has many satellites orbiting Earth. These satellites are used for different purposes, such as taking pictures of Earth, helping with military communications, and observing our planet. Many more satellites are being developed for the future.
| Satellite | Origin | Type | Operational | Status |
| SCD1 |  Brazil |
Earth observation |
1993–
|
Active |
| SCD2 | Brazil |
Earth observation |
1998–
|
Active |
| CBERS-1 | Brazil /  China |
Earth observation |
1999–2003
|
Retired |
| CBERS-2 | Brazil / China |
Earth observation |
2003–2007
|
Retired |
| CBERS-2B | Brazil / China |
Reconnaissance |
2007–2010
|
Retired |
| CBERS-3 | Brazil / China |
Earth observation |
2013
|
Launch failure |
| CBERS-4 | Brazil / China |
Earth observation |
2014–
|
Active |
| SGDC-1 | Brazil |
Communications satellite |
2017–
|
Active |
| CBERS-4A | Brazil / China |
Earth observation |
2019–
|
Active |
| Amazônia-1 | Brazil |
PMM - "Plataforma Multimissão" (Multi-mission Platform) |
2021–
|
Active |
| SGDC-2 | Brazil |
Communications satellite |
2020s
|
Planned |
| SABIA-Mar 1 | Brazil /  Argentina |
PMM - "Plataforma Multimissão" (Multi-mission Platform) |
2020s
|
Planned |
| Amazônia-1B | Brazil |
PMM - "Plataforma Multimissão" (Multi-mission Platform) |
2020s
|
Planned |
| Amazônia-2 | Brazil |
PMM - "Plataforma Multimissão" (Multi-mission Platform) |
2020s
|
Planned |
| GEOMET-1 | Brazil |
Earth observation |
2020s
|
Planned |
| LATTES-1 | Brazil / China /  United States /  Japan |
Space weather (EQUARS) and X-ray space telescope (MIRAX) mission |
2020s
|
Planned |
| SABIA-Mar 2 | Brazil / Argentina |
PMM - "Plataforma Multimissão" (Multi-mission Platform) |
2020s
|
Planned |
| Carponis | Brazil |
Remote sensing |
2020s
|
Planned |
Brazilian Astronauts
Marcos Pontes, a lieutenant colonel in the Brazilian Air Force, is an astronaut for the Brazilian Space Agency. He was the first Brazilian to go to space. He launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 29, 2006, aboard a Soyuz-TMA spacecraft. Pontes arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on March 31, 2006, and lived and worked there for 9 days. He returned to Earth on April 8, 2006. Later, in 2019, Pontes became Brazil's Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communication until 2022.
| Name | Position | Time in space | Launch date | Mission | Mission insignia | Status | |
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Marcos Pontes | Mission Specialist | 9d 21h 17m | March 30, 2006 | Soyuz TMA-8 Missão Centenário Soyuz TMA-7 |
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Active, on stand-by |
Space Operations and Commands
Brazilian Aerospace Command
The Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE) is a Brazilian air and space command created in 2017. It is part of the Brazilian Air Force. This command is in charge of planning, guiding, carrying out, and controlling Brazil's air and space missions. The Brazilian Navy and Brazilian Army also work with this organization.
Space Operations Center
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The Space Operations Center (COPE) is a special building opened in 2020. It works under the Aerospace Operations Command. Its main job is to operate and watch over all of Brazil's satellites.
Bingo Radio Telescope
The Bingo radio telescope is a big project involving the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Brazilian Space Agency, the [[National Institute for Space Research|National Institute for Space Research (INPE)], and international partners from Europe and China. This telescope will have two huge dishes, each 40 meters wide. They will collect radio waves from space and send them to special detectors. Bingo will help scientists study the universe by looking at radio waves in a specific range. Most of the parts for Bingo were made in Brazil.
International Cooperation
Brazil works with many other countries on space projects.
Cooperation with China (CBERS)
China and Brazil have worked together very well in space. One of their most successful projects is the China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program (CBERS). This program develops and operates Earth observation satellites. These satellites help both countries get images of Earth and learn more about our planet. This cooperation is a great example of how two developing countries can work together in space.
International Space Station (ISS)
The Brazilian Space Agency also partnered with NASA for the International Space Station. They signed an agreement in 1997 to develop equipment for the Space Station. In return, NASA would let Brazil use its facilities on the ISS and give one Brazilian astronaut a chance to fly to space. Due to some costs, Brazil left the main program in 2007. However, NASA still funded some smaller Brazilian-made parts for the ISS, which were installed in 2009.
Cooperation with Ukraine (Ciclone 4)
In 2003, the Brazilian Space Agency and Ukraine's space agency agreed to create a joint company called Alcântara Cyclone Space. This company planned to launch satellites from the Alcântara Launch Center using Ukraine's Tsyklon-4 rocket. Brazil later pulled out of this program in 2015.
Cooperation with Japan
In 2010, Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) agreed to work together on a program called REDD+. This program aims to reduce deforestation. For example, they monitor illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest using data from Japan's ALOS satellite. Both Brazil and Japan are also part of the Global Precipitation Measurement project, which studies rainfall around the world.
Artemis Program
On October 21, 2020, the United States invited Brazil to join NASA's Artemis Space Program. Brazil officially joined on June 15, 2021, by signing the Artemis Accords. This means Brazil will work with the U.S. and other international partners to explore the Moon starting in 2024, and Mars and beyond in the 2030s. Brazil's role includes developing a special lunar robot for future missions.
BRICS Satellite Constellation
On August 18, 2021, the AEB signed agreements with the space agencies of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). They plan to work together to develop a group of remote sensing satellites. These satellites will help with global challenges like climate change, big disasters, and protecting the environment. Ground stations in these countries will receive data from the satellites.
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See also
In Spanish: Agencia Espacial Brasileña para niños
- Aerospace Operations Command Brazilian space command
- Alcântara Space Center (CEA)
- National Institute for Space Research (INPE)
- Aerospace Technology and Science Department (DCTA)
- Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA)
- Embraer S.A. (Brazilian aerospace and defense company)
- Avibras (Brazilian aerospace and defense company)
- List of government space agencies
- List of Brazilian satellites
