National Institute for Space Research

History

On August 13, 1961, President Jânio Quadros signed a decree which created the Organizing Group for the National Commission on Space Activities (COGNAE). This group would give rise to the current National Institute for Space Research. COGNAE, which shortly after became known as CNAE, started its activities by stimulating, coordinating and supporting studies on space related areas, besides breeding a team of skilled researchers and establishing cooperation with leading nations on the space area. On April 22, 1971, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) was created, subordinated to the National Research Council (CNPq). Its first Director was the electronic engineer Fernando de Mendonça. INPE would be the main civilian executive organ for space research development in accordance with the directives of the Brazilian Commission for Space Activities (COBAE), an advisory organ to the President. Until the mid-Seventies, the main projects carried out by INPE included the usage of meteorological, communications and earth observation satellites. This engendered other projects such as:

• MESA – reception and interpretation of meteorological satellite images
• SERE – use of satellite remote sensing technique and aircraft earth resources monitoring
• SACI – improved the educational system through broadcasting, using a geostationary communications satellite INPE entered a new era when the Brazilian government approved the Complete Brazilian Space Mission (MECB) at the end of the 1970s. The institute, besides research and applications, started the development of the space technology for specific needs, essential for a country of continental dimensions with immense uninhabited areas. 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. During the 1980s, INPE started developing priority programs such as:
• Complete Brazilian Space Mission (MECB)
• China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program (CBERS)
• Amazon Research Program (AMZ)
• 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 Space Program. In the 1990s, the first Brazilian satellite (SCD-1) was launched. Since 1994, the Brazilian Space Agency has been responsible for Brazil's space program. INPE works in close cooperation with the agency. In 1998, the second Brazilian satellite (SCD-2) was successfully launched, performing even better than the first one. CBERS 1 was launched in 1999, CBERS 2 in 2003 and CBERS 2B in 2007. In August 2019, the chief of the agency, Ricardo Galvão, was fired by science minister Marcos Pontes after a period where Galvão had a public argument with Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro over the validity of data from DETER, a satellite system monitoring deforestation. Bolsonaro stated that the data had been altered to attack his government and Galvão called him a coward in response.

Directors

References

References

1. Salvador Nogueira. (August 17, 2020). "Agência Espacial Brasileira zera orçamento do Inpe para pesquisa em 2021".
2. INPE. "História".
3. [https://www.science.org/content/article/brazilian-institute-head-fired-after-clashing-nation-s-president-over-deforestation Brazilian institute head fired after clashing with nation's president over deforestation data]. ''Science'' (4 August 2019). Retrieved 23 August 2019.
4. (2019-10-02). "Cientista Fernando de Mendonça conhece o Observatório da Indústria da FIEC".
5. "Nelson de Jesus Parada".
6. (2021-07-24). "INPE/MCTI lamenta falecimento do ex Ministro Marco Antonio Raupp".
7. (1989-01-30). "Márcio Barbosa assume a direção do INPE".
8. (2000-11-30). "Diretor do Inpe assume cargo na Unesco".
9. (2001-02-22). "FHC indica diretor interino do Inpe".
10. (2001-10-29). "Novo diretor do INPE toma posse hoje".
11. (2005-05-11). "Comitê de Busca inicia trabalho de escolha do novo diretor".
12. (2005-04-28). "Disputa por verba derruba diretor do Inpe".
13. (2012-05-14). "Leonel Perondi é o novo diretor do INPE".
14. (2005-12-12). "DISCURSO DE POSSE DO NOVO DIRETOR DO INPE".
15. (October 2016). "INPE has a new director".
16. (July 2020). "Ricardo Magnus Osório Galvão: The physicist who would not bend".
17. (2019-08-02). "Diretor do Inpe diz que discurso sobre Bolsonaro 'causou constrangimento' e será exonerado".
18. (2019-08-14). "Nomeação de diretor interino do Inpe é publicada em 'Diário Oficial'".
19. (2020-08-02). "Conheça a trajetória de Clezio Marcos De Nardin, o novo diretor do Inpe".
20. (2023-01-02). "MCom e MCTI terão ampla troca de cargos, com exonerações de Lula".
21. INPE. (2023-01-04). "INPE no Twitter".