Data-Gathering Satellite Project To Restart
by Virginia Silveira
Sao Paulo GAZETA MERCANTIL 21 Jun 96
The National Institute of Space
Research (INPE) will restart developing the third data
gathering satellite (SCD-3), which had been postponed
because of the cancellation of bids to contract seven
enterprises to construct satellite systems in 1995. Legal
disputes over bids delayed the process, and the project
funds had to be returned to the government.
To accelerate the development of the SCD-3, INPE sponsored a new and single tender which will construct the entire satellite, from design to construction, including its operational integration and testing. Engineer Carlos Santana, INPE engineering coordinator general, explained that enterprises interested in participating in the new tender, whose documents will be published in August, may form associations with foreign enterprises.
He added: "Our only demand concerns the participation of Brazilian enterprises in the project, which should be at least 50 percent." He said the new tender will be awarded on the basis of the best technical proposal. INPE estimates show the development of the SCD-3 should cost about $20 million. The satellite will be ready within three years from the signing of the contract with the winning enterprise. The SCD-3 will perform the same functions as the first satellites of the series; that is, the retransmission of data on the environment through automatic stations spread all over Brazil. The only difference between the SCD-3 and the SCD-1 and SCD-2 will be the presence of a package to test a mobile telephone system. This experience will give INPE the background to start developing low- altitude communication satellites, within the project known as ECCO. Data gathering services are today rendered by the first satellite of the series, which was launched in February 1993. The satellite is reaching the end of its useful life, but it is still operating precariously. The launching of the second satellite, the SCD-2, scheduled for the first half of 1997, depends on the selection of the rocket, which will be made through an international tender.
The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) has stated that the tender document for the SCD-2 will be published in the second half of 1996. The initial proposal was to launch this satellite with the Brazilian-made VLS [Satellite Launch Vehicle], which is being developed by the Aerospace Technical Center (CTA). The rocket project suffered several delays because of a shortage of funds, and its launching timetable has been postponed until the end of 1997.
The qualification of the VSL, which was to have been established with the launching of the SCD-2, will be made with another satellite called SCD-2A. Engineer Santana said this satellite is already available to the Aeronautics Ministry at INPE, and it is ready for launching. The SCD-2A is a reproduction of the second satellite, and its development did not entail any additional cost to INPE. He said: "We assembled it from backup equipment of the SCD-2, which was not used during the tests."
CTA Director Brigadier Reginaldo dos Santos said the new delay in the VLS development program was to a large extent caused by the delay in the transfer of funds for the project in 1995. He said: "Almost 60 percent of the program's budget was transferred as late as December." This harmed contracts and purchases of components abroad. He explained that of the 19 million reals [R] provided for in the budget, only R7 million was transferred.
This year the CTA expects to receive R17 million for the VLS. The project, which is part of the Complete Brazilian Space Mission (MECB), has been underway for 15 years at a cost of $220 million. The investment involves the construction of a launching center in Alcantara which, the CTA say, will be ready at the end of 1996.
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