ISRO-launched Amazonia-1 to monitor deforestation in Brazil
The India-Brazil joint venture in Space Technology will offer new opportunities for companies and the launch of a satellite would open the door for multiple business, trade and governmental opportunities, Brazilian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marcos Pontes, said at the launch of Amazonia-1 by India Space Research Organization (ISRO) on 28 Feb 2021.
Speaking during a virtual interaction, he explained that Amazonia-1 is an optical earth observation satellite and is intended to provide remote sensing images to observe and monitor deforestation, to improve the real-time detection system of deforestation in Brazil, especially in the Amazonia region, and to monitor the diversified agriculture throughout the country.
The Minister said that new satellite would open the door for multiple business, trade and governmental opportunities. Brazil has also requested for India’s support in procurement of material and systems for its launch vehicle programme.
Since early 2000s, India and Brazil have signed cooperative instruments for exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, both at the government level (2004) and space agency level (between ISRO and Brazilian Space Agency AEB in 2002). In line with the provisions of the agency level MoU, JWG was formed in 2007. The Joint Working Group (JWG) (reconstituted with new members) had a meeting in January 2020.
Cooperation possibilities in future space science missions, utilizing ISRO’s PS4 orbital platform, space weather studies etc. were discussed at the meeting held by Pontes and Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh.
“While India began its Space journey much after several other countries, today, we are in a position to provide inputs from Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan to the premier institutions of the world like the NASA of the USA.
The extension of applications of Space Technology to different sectors and areas brought ‘ease of living’ for common man. He said, whether it is railways or smart cities, agriculture or disaster management, highways or defence, Space technology is contributing in a big way, Dr. Singh pointed out. #Science #technology #investment #projects /fiinews.com
