China, Brazil sign document on satellite data sharing

China, Brazil sign document on satellite data sharing
(Xinhua) April 19, 2010
China and Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding which gives both countries direct access to data from the satellites the two countries jointly developed, launched and operated. The document was signed by the president of the China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application, Xu Wen, and the general director of Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Gilberto Camara, in the Brazilian city of Sao Jose dos Campos, where the INPE headquarters are located. The INPE said on Monday the agreement has made the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite Program (CBERS) global.

Bolivia, China team up on communications satellite

Bolivia, China team up on communications satellite
(Reuters) April 1, 2010, By Eduardo Garcia
Leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales signed an agreement on Thursday that paves the way for the acquisition of a $300 million Chinese telecommunications satellite, the latest sign of deepening ties between the resource rich Andean country and commodity-hungry China. The satellite, which will be named after an Indian who led an uprising against the Spanish conquistadors in the 18th century, will improve Internet access and communications in remote rural areas, Morales said. Public Works Minister Walter Delgadillo said the accord signed on Thursday lays out the technical details of the project and the next step is to secure financing from China.

China Studies Moon Rocket

China Studies Moon Rocket

(Aviation Week) March 5, 2010, By Bradley Perrett

China is studying the design of a Moon rocket in the class of the Saturn V, as the Obama administration proposes canceling the U.S. successor to the Apollo launcher, Ares V. The country also is developing another new rocket, the “medium thrust” Long March 7, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology says. This new launcher joins the Long March 5 heavy rocket and the Long March 6, which was mentioned last year and is now defined as a “small-thrust” launcher. Long March 5, 6 and 7 will form a family of rockets, it says. Chinese space officials have said that the Long March 6 was based on the side boosters of the Long March 5.

Bolivia to create space program, launch satellite

Bolivia to create space program, launch satellite

(Washington Post) February 10, 2010

Bolivia says it has created a space agency to build and launch the poor South American country's first satellite. Public Works Minister Walter Delgadillo Terceros says the government will initially invest $1 million in the Bolivian Space Agency. He says Chinese experts have arrived in the country to take charge of the satellite's construction and launch. Construction of the third-generation DFH-4 satellite is slated to begin in March. The satellite will be named Tupac Katari, after an Aymara Indian who led indigenous rebellions against the Spanish colonial government in the 16th century.