BRAZIL: SPACE COOPERATION POTENTIAL

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000290 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR OES/SAT, L/OES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA ETTC SENV ECON KSCA BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL: SPACE COOPERATION POTENTIAL (U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) Technology Director Marco Antonio Chamon sees many opportunities for cooperation with the USG and with U.S. space businesses. Brazil is open to supplying for free the USG with the remote sensing information from the Brazil-China CBERS satellites, though the Chinese would need also to agree. Chamon urged the USG to look again at the export control rules - International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) - which are greatly impeding Brazil's ability to select U.S. suppliers. The Brazilians would be open to working out arrangements and assurances that would give the USG confidence that the technology would not go astray. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On March 5, Embassy's Environment, Science & Technology, and Health (ESTH) Counselor and Assistant Air Attache met in Sao Jose dos Campos with Brazil's National Institute for Space Research's (INPE) Technology Director Marco Antonio Chamon and with the Head of INPE's Integration and Test Laboratory (LIT),Dr. Petronio Noronha de Souza. Before the discussion, Noronha provided a tour of the impressive LIT facility. The expanded facility includes one large and one medium-size chambers to test equipment for extremities of space (vacuum, heat and cold); vibration tables; a large chamber to test for high decibel sound waves; and an area to test electromagnetic waves. Noronha opined that it was the best facility in the Southern Hemisphere. This high assessment was shared by Dr. Amit Sen of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Aquarius Project Manager. Dr. Sen was at LIT to make arrangements for LIT to test the U.S. equipment for the Aquarius project, which will go on an Argentine platform. LANDSAT - CBERS COOPERATION ¶3. (SBU) Chamon expressed INPE's appreciation for the support by provided by NASA with LANDSAT imagery, which is essential for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon. He said that Brazil has been cooperating with China on a series of satellites under the CBERS program. Brazil has just set up an arrangement with South Africa and China to provide Africans with CBERS imagery. INPE is willing to provide the USG with CBERS imagery, though it would have to be a tripartite agreement with China. INPE is committed to a policy of providing free access to its remote sensing imagery, Chamon underscored. EXPORT CONTROLS IMPACT ON BRAZIL ¶4. (SBU) According to Chamon, Brazil over the years has been developing their satellite industry and now has cooperation with China, Argentina, and Europe, as well as the United States. However, Chamon believes that U.S. export controls, especially ITAR, have affected access to possible deals with U.S. suppliers. He commented that the U.S. firms were often the best and with lower prices. He recognized that there were concerns about the technology getting into the wrong hands, and said Brazil is willing to work out satisfactory arrangements, whether through end user restrictions or something else. One example of a technology Brazil is looking to acquire is shortwave infrared radars (SWIR),which would help Brazil obtain a look through the clouds that cover the Amazon for most of the year. This information would help with Brazil's efforts tocombat illegal deforestation. ¶5. (SBU) As wit other areas of defense-related partnership, cooperation in space will be facilitated by the conclusion of an information sharing agreement similar to a General Security of Military Information Agreement(GSOMIA). The Defense Department is currently in the process of arranging the reciprocal visits that are a precondition for such an arrangement. KUBISKE