São Paulo – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of Emirates airline, flew the Brazilian satellite Amazônia-1 from São José dos Campos, in São Paulo, Brazil, to Chennai, India. This was the first time the carrier ever flew a satellite developed in South America.
Amazônia-1 is also the first fully Brazilian satellite. It was designed at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The satellite will be launched in February 2021 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on the east coast of India.
The satellite will provide remote sensing information including images for monitoring deforestation, particularly in the Amazon. It might also be employed in agriculture across Brazil, in synergy with existing environmental programs.
Emirates SkyCargo carried out two simulations alongside the INPE prior to flying the satellite. The 22-ton device was disassembled and packed into shipping containers to prevent damage. Four INPE staff traveled along with the cargo on board the flight from São José dos Campos to Dubai and then to Chennai.
The Arab carrier has flown space technology cargo before. In 2018, it flew Khalifasat – the first satellite fully developed by UAE engineers at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre – from Dubai to Seoul. In Brazil, Emirates SkyCargo flies regularly into airports in São Paulo and the Viracopos airport in Campinas.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
