Brazil's SGDC satellite cleared for manufacture

The Brazilian Air Force announced on 9 January that the Geostationary Defence and Strategic Communications Satellite (SGDC) has completed its design review and received approval for manufacturing.

The SGDC is the first satellite to be completely controlled by Brazilian institutes. All its systems and subsystems were inspected in detail during the review. The 5.8-tonne satellite will launch in the second half of 2015 and orbit 35,786km above the surface of the earth. It will have a 15-year lifespan and provide exclusive military communications channels.

The satellite will also facilitate the implementation of the National Broadband Plan (PNBL), bringing quality communication to the most remote regions of Brazil, which still depend on fibre optic routes. Its design and control programme also called for technology transfer, which will allow Brazil to disseminate the technology in several domestic areas - especially to the defence industry.

The design review took place in Toulouse, France. Experts from Telebras, the Brazilian Ministry of Defense, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and the Visiona company participated.

Col. Hélcio Vieira Junior, commander of NUCOPE-P, said: 'This was the last step before manufacturing begins of a satellite that will be extremely important for the Ministry of Defense and for Brazil. In 2015, buildings will be built where the SGDC will be controlled. One will be in Brasilia, at the Sixth Regional Air Command, and the other in Rio de Janeiro, at the Naval Radio Station.'