BRAZIL: FALLEN SPACE OBJECT RECOVERED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000296 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR OES/SAT, L/OES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA SENV KSCA BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL: FALLEN SPACE OBJECT RECOVERED REF: (A) 2008 BRASILIA 525, (B) 2008 STATE 87179 (U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On March 5, Post recovered from the Brazilian authorities the component of a U.S. space launch vehicle that fell in the State of Goias, Brazil, in late March 2008. The object, a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV),is in remarkably good condition and is stored at the Embassy awaiting finalization of plans for transporting it back to the United States. END SUMMARY ¶2. (SBU) Per REFTELS, on March 5, Embassy's Environment, Science & Technology, and Health (ESTH) Counselor and Assistant Air Attache went to the National Institute for Space Research's (INPE) laboratory in Sao Jose dos Campos, State of Sao Paulo, and obtained possession of the COPV that had come off the upper stage of a U.S. space launch vehicle launched on October 11, 2007 and which fell in the State of Goias, Brazil, in March 2008. INPE's Technology Director Marco Antonio Chamon oversaw the transfer of the object. He was joined by the Head of INPE's Integration and Test Laboratory (LIT) Petronio Noronha de Souza, the Ministry of Science and Technology's International Affairs Office's Senior Space Coordinator Alvaro Fabricio dos Santos, and a representative from the Brazilian Space Agency. The transfer of possession went smoothly. A receipt was signed by both sides and witnessed in both English and Portuguese; copies of those receipts have been sent to OES/SAT and the English text is provided in paragraph 4 below. The transfer was preceded by a tour of INPE/LIT's impressive facilities and followed by a discussion on possible future U.S.-Brazil space cooperation (SEPTEL). ¶3. (SBU) A visual inspection of the COPV showed that it seemed to be in remarkably good condition, retaining most of its spherical shape and its outer wrapping. It is stored at the Embassy awaiting finalization of arrangements to transport it back to the United States. ¶4. (SBU) TEXT OF RECEIPT: LETTER OF RETURN BETWEEN THE BRAZILIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SPACE RESEARCH - INPE, AND THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN BRAZIL The Brazilian National Institute for Space Research - INPE, hereinafter called INPE, represented by its Coordinator of Technology Management, Marco Antonio Chamon, and the Embassy of the United States of America in Brazil, hereinafter called U.S. EMBASSY, represented by its Counselor for Environment, Science and Technology, Richard James Driscoll, sign this instrument to formalize the return, provided in this act by INPE to the U.S. EMBASSY, of the component of a U.S. launch vehicle upper stage registered with the International Designator of 2007-046B in the United Nations Register of Space Objects, that fell from outer space on to Brazilian territory, in the State of Goias, late March 2008. This act is taking place in accordance with Article 5 of the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, in force since December 3, 1968, as well as with the Diplomatic Note # 383, of August 25, 2008, from the U.S. EMBASSY. In acceptance of this Letter of Return, the representatives of INPE and the U.S. EMBASSY sign it in 4 (four) versions, two in Portuguese and two in English. Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil, 05 March 2009. MARCO ANTONIO CHAMON Coordinator of Technology Management National Institute for Space Research - INPE RICHARD JAMES DRISCOLL Counselor for Environment, Science and Technology United States Embassy in Brazil Witnesses: Alvaro Fabricio dos Santos Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology Jon Mark Harrington Lt. Colonel, U.S. Air Force Assistant Air Attache United States Embassy in Brazil ¶5. (U) INPE released a brief notice - which it has posted on its BRASILIA 00000296 002 OF 002 website - about the transfer of the object (summarized below) the day before the ceremony, and there were photographers and a TV news camera crew covering the handover ceremony. INPE's March 4 release reads in pertinent part: On March 5, INPE will hold a ceremony to return to the American Government a component of a U.S. Atlas launch vehicle, which was found on March 25, 2008, on a farm in the City of Montividiu, in the State of Goias. The restitution of the piece complies with Article 5 of the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, in force since December 3, 1968, and with Diplomatic Note No. 383, of August 25, 2008, from the U.S. Embassy. After being examined by the National Commission on Nuclear Energy (CNEN),which concluded that it was not radioactive, the artifact was delivered to INPE's Fuel and Propulsion Laboratory (LCP) in Cachoeira Paulista (State of Sao Paulo State). The technical analysis revealed that the object is a high pressure nitrogen tank commonly used in auxiliary systems of liquid propulsion for rockets and satellites. In one of its extremities there was a mechanism with the characteristics of a heater, utilized in this type of tank to compensate for the diminishing internal pressure that occurs as the nitrogen is consumed. With a spherical form, the object was wrapped in carbon fibers. According to the technicians, this cover of carbon fiber was coming unglued, under a form of powder, as an effect of the object reentering the atmosphere. They conducted tests for significant concentrations of toxic substances or flammables, such as hydrazine, monometil-hidrazine, asymmetrical dimetil-hidrazine, among others, all of which has negative results. Only nitrogen was observed in a significant concentration. The tank came under the responsibility of INPE, an organ tied to the Ministry of Science and Technology, to hold it until its eventual delivery to its proprietor in accordance with international conventions to which Brazil is a signatory. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT. Despite initial bureaucratic delays on both sides, the return of the COPV went very smoothly. The Brazilians used this event as an opportunity to underscore their interest in enhancing U.S.-Brazilian space cooperation. While they described the increasing space cooperation with China, Argentina and Europeans, they stressed that Brazil would like to see a more prominent role played by the USG and U.S. companies. END COMMENT. KUBISKE