Brazilian space program
[3] Since 1964, in an attempt to build a satellite launch vehicle (Veículo Lançador de Satélite--VLS), Brazil has developed a series of sounding (research) rockets, named Sonda I, II, III, and IV.
The SCD-1, sometimes referred to as the "green" satellite, is used by Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais) agencies.
Until 1994, the military directed most of the space program through the Ministry of Aeronautics, which is in charge of the Department of Science and Aerospace Technology (CTA, for Ciência & Tecnologia Aeroespacial).
In 1971, a joint civilian-military committee, the Brazilian Commission for Space Activities (Comissão Brasileira de Atividades Espaciais - Cobae), was established and placed under the CSN (National Security Council).
Cobae was chaired by the head of the Armed Forces General Staff (Estado-Maior das Forças Armadas—EMFA) and was in charge of the Complete Brazilian Space Mission (Missão Espacial Completa Brasileira--MECB).
Within Brazil's MECB, civilians have been primarily responsible for satellite production, and the armed forces have been in charge of developing launch pads and rockets.
In an attempt to place the MECB more firmly in the hands of civilians, Brazil's President Itamar Franco signed a bill on February 10, 1994, creating the Brazilian Space Agency (Agência Espacial Brasileira--AEB).
The AEB was created in part to deflect criticism from the United States government, which viewed with alarm the involvement of Brazil's military in the MECB.
The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) worked with the INPE, sharing data, helping to develop and implement scientific experiments, and training the institute's technicians and scientists.
Likewise, the United States Air Force worked with Brazil's Ministry of Aeronautics and established a number of data-exchange agreements with the CTA that covered such matters as weather forecasting.
In the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, many United States policy makers were concerned with Brazil's MECB because of the possibility of diverting space-launch technology to a ballistic missile program.
Some experts argued for the dismantlement of the VLS long-range rocket upon accession, in line with Argentina and South Africa discontinuing similar programs over weaponization concerns.
In 2011, Wikileaks revealed that the U.S. government has tried to stop the creation and production of rockets in Brazil, demanding that Brazilian partners, such as Ukraine, not transfer their technology in this area to the country.
The restriction was registered in a telegram sent by the U.S.' Department of State to their embassy in Brasilia, January 2009, as follows:"We do not support Brazil's native space launch vehicle program.
... We want to remind the Ukrainian authorities that the US does not oppose the establishment of a launching platform in Alcântara, as long as such activity does not result in the transfer of rocket technologies to Brazil."
