BackForward Satellite Programme: China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Chinese name of the programme: ZY (Zi Yuan = Resource).
  • Series of operational satellites for high-resolution land observation.
  • Joint China-Brazil programme: CAST responsible of development, INPE and CAST sharing responsibility for operations.
  • The platforms are actively stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design life time is 2 years for CBERS 1 & 2, 3 years for CBERS 3 & 4.
  • The satellites exploit sunsynchronous orbits around 10:30.
  • The replacement policy is based on launching satellites in sequence, roughly 6 months before the expected end-of-life of a satellite.
  • See detailed description at https://directory.eoportal.org/missions/cbers-1-2.
Data circulation
  • Selected images are stored onboard and downlinked to stations in China (Nanning and Wulumuqi) and Brazil (Cuiabá and Boa Vista).
  • Real-time downlink to a network of appointed acquisition stations in X-band.
  • All data concentrated to Cachoeira Paulista (Brazil) and Beijing (China) for processing and distribution.
  • Processing and distribution from INPE and the China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application (CRESDA)
Agencies CAST , INPE, CRESDA, AEB
Programme lifetime 1999 - 2023
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned