INPE - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais
The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) is a search unit of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT). INPE's main goals lie in fostering scientific research and technological applications and in qualifying personnel in the fields of Space and Atmospheric Sciences and Applications, Space Engineering and Technology, as defined by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT).
The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) was created due to the desire of a number of Brazilians in making their country to participate in the space conquest, initiated in the fifties. As the developed nations launched their first artificial earth satellites, Brazil started in this way.
On August 3, 1961, the Brazilian President Jânio Quadros signed a decree which created the Organizing Group for the National Commission on Space Activities (COGNAE) as a unit subordinated to National Research Council (CNPq). This group gave rise to the current National Institute for Space Research.
COGNAE, which soon became known as CNAE and afterwards originated INPE, started its activities by stimulating, coordinating and supporting studies on the space related area, besides breeding a team of skilled researchers and establishing cooperation with leading nations on the space area.
Initially, the research program developed in the CNAE laboratories in São José dos Campos- SP, INPE's main campus today, was closely related with studies in the field of space and atmospheric sciences. These studies included ionosphere sounding in the upper atmosphere through devices placed on the ground and mainly through scientific rocket payloads launched from Barreira do Inferno, Natal - RN.
On April 22, 1971, after extinguishing COGNAE, the Institute for Space Research (INPE) was created under a decree, subordinated to the National Research Council (CNPq). This decree stated that INPE was the main civilian executive organ for space research development in accordance with the directives of the Brazilian Commission for Space Activites (COBAE), an advisory organ of the Republic Presidency.
Gradually, the usage of meteorological, communications and earth observation satellites emerged as the most important activities of the institute concernig Brazilian needs. This motivated some projects such as MESA, for reception and interpretation of meteorological satellite images, SERE, for use of satellite remote sensing technique and aircraft earth resources monitoring, and SACI, for improving the educational system through broadcating, using a geostationary communications satellite. Until the mid-seventies, these were the main projects carried out by INPE.
On the late seventies, INPE entered a new era when the Federal Government approved the Complete Brazilian Space Mission (MECB); the institute, besides research and applications, started the development of the space technology. During the two decades while Brazil benefited from services of foreign satellites, it became clear that in a country of continental dimensions with imense and almost inhabitated areas, it was essential to develop its own space technology toward its specific needs.
On March 15, 1985, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) was created and INPE became part of it as an independent organ of the Direct Administration, with more financial and administrative autonomy.
During the eighties, INPE started developing priority programs such as the Complete Brazilian Space Mission (MECB), China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS), Amazônia Research Program (AMZ) and the Center for Weather Forecast and Climatic Studies (CPTEC). It also kept track of other countries' research on the space area, facilitating collaboration and partnership with them. During this period it also established its Integration and Tests Laboratory (LIT) which develops highly specialized activities essential to the Brazilian's Space Program success.
In the nineties, the first results of MECB happened to show up. In 1993, the first brazilian satellite (SCD-1) was launched showing the brazilian ability in the space area technology. In 1998, the second brazilian satellite (SCD-2) was successfully launched, performing even better than the first one. CBERS-1 and the Scientific Satellite SACI-1 will be the next ones to be launched at an early date. Due to the recognition of INPE in terms of space technology, Brazil was invited to participate, together with 16 other countries, in the construction of the International Space Station (ISS) , one of the biggest investments on the space area in the world today.
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