The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite aboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in August 2020.
Amazonia-1 is the first satellite designed, assembled and tested and by Brazil which is used to observe Earth. Mainly the satellite images will be helpful in observing and monitoring the deforestation in the Amazon region. This satellite has gained importance due to the recent fires in Amazon forests. In 2020, the Amazon deforestation has increased by 25%.
Amazon forests are most environmental balancing factor for the entire world. Climate and oxygen are well balanced by the Amazon forests globally. Rainfall and other climate-related factors majorly depend on these forests apart from some of the rarest species of plants and animals inside them.
The PSLV-C44 from the SHAR launchpad in Sriharikota will carry Amazonia-1 satellite. However, the date of launch is yet to be finalized by ISRO sources.
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The Amazonia-1 satellite launch is one among the 36 space and satellite missions planned by the ISRO in the next 2 years. As per the government sources from India, the Chandrayaan-3 and an uncrewed mission for Gaganyaan are among the next two years schedule. Chandrayaan-3 is a moon lander mission and Gaganyaan is India’s maiden human spaceflight mission.
In July 2014, both India and Brazil signed an agreement on cooperation to alter Brazilian earth station to receive and process data from the Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS) series.
ISRO will also make the data available to Brazil’s research unit of Science, Technology and Innovation – National Institute for Space Research (INPE). INPE mainly focuses on fostering scientific research and technological applications along with qualifying personnel in the fields of space and atmospheric sciences, space engineering, and space technology.
Also, there is an agreement between the two countries signed in January 2004 related to co-operation in the field of outer space. The data to be provided by ISRO’s remote sensing satellite ResourceSAT-1.