NASA Signs Earth Science Agreements With Brazil

[NASA News <hqnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Oct. 27, 2011

David Weaver 
Headquarters, Washington                                         
202-358-1898 
david.weaver@xxxxxxxx 


RELEASE: 11-362

NASA SIGNS EARTH SCIENCE AGREEMENTS WITH BRAZIL

WASHINGTON -- During a visit to South America, NASA Administrator 
Charles Bolden Thursday signed two cooperative Earth science 
agreements with Agencia Espacial Brasileira (AEB), NASA's counterpart 
space agency in Brazil. 

One agreement formalizes NASA-AEB scientific collaboration on the 
Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission, while the other 
extends an agreement for the Ozone Cooperation Mission. 

"Earth observation from space is vital to understanding our planet," 
Bolden said. "The technically skilled and dedicated researchers in 
Brazil are excellent partners for NASA, and we look forward to many 
more years of successful international cooperation in space-based 
Earth science." 

GPM is an Earth science mission led by NASA and the Japan Aerospace 
Exploration Agency (JAXA). It will provide advanced information on 
rain and snow characteristics, as well as detailed 3-D views of 
precipitation structure. NASA and AEB will study data distribution 
and the use of GPM's products in Brazil, coordinate cooperative 
research projects, and support the exchange of scientific and 
engineering personnel. 

The Ozone Cooperation Mission uses balloon-borne instruments launched 
from Maxaranguape, Brazil, to study concentrations of various 
atmospheric constituents. Results from the mission will contribute to 
the understanding of the Earth's ozone layer, its generation and 
depletion. They also will help calibrate and verify satellite remote 
sensors. NASA and AEB will share equipment, data, training and 
technical expertise. 

During his week-long visit to South America, Bolden is meeting with 
senior government officials in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Costa 
Rica, discussing potential cooperation between NASA and regional 
space agencies. This is the first visit of a NASA administrator to 
the region in nearly eight years. It is a testament to the 
increasingly strong capabilities of NASA's partners in these 
countries. 

For more information about NASA, visit: 


http://www.nasa.gov 

	
-end-



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