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	Brazil Unveils Satellite's First Image By Andrew Bridges Chief Pasadena Correspondent posted: 06:05 am ET 29 October 1999

Brazil Unveils Satellite's First Image

The Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology has released the first image acquired by its CBERS-1 satellite, launched October 14.

The Wide Field camera image shows a 186-by-186 mile (300-by-300 kilometer) swath of jungle in the state of Amazonas in northwestern Brazil, including portions of the Rio Jurua, a tributary of the Amazon. The image was taken October 21.

The CBERS-1 satellite - thats China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - is the first of two remote-sensing probes the countries have planned. The joint project has been 11 years in the making.

Scientists hope to use the satellites to monitor changes in the environment in both China and Brazil, including those brought on by deforestation, fires, flooding and drought.

Given the size of both countries, the capability to observe these occurrences from an orbital vantage point should be a boon to those concerned about environmental change. According to Brazilian officials, they also hope to market CBERS-1 imagery to compete with American and French ventures.

CBERS-1 was launched from Taiyuan, China aboard a Chinese Long March 4-B rocket along with SACI-1, the Scientific Application Satellite Project.

Although engineers have been able to determine SACI-1 reached its proper orbit and has deployed its solar panels, they have not been able to establish contact with the small satellite.