Brazil and China are due to launch a second satellite in September as part of their joint space program to monitor climate and environmental change.

The CBERS 2 satellite will be launched from China and will continue the monitoring carried out by the CBERS 1 which was sent into space in 1999 to monitor deforestation in the Amazon jungle, weather patterns and agricultural crops.

Brazil, which is Latin America's leading space nation, is contributing one third of the financing to the joint program, which has an estimated total cost of about US$600 million.

A statement from the Brazilian Space Agency said China is currently considering the terms of the deal between the two countries, which is planned to include two more remote sensing satellites in coming years. The plan is to gradually transfer production to Brazil for the next two satellites.

(Cri.com May 20, 2003)