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In the framework of the state visit President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Chile and Brazil signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in space activities for peaceful purposes, aimed at promoting joint plans and projects in space affairs.
The event took place at The Air and Space Museum, located at the Cerrillos Air Base of the Chilean Air Force, is currently under construction at the National Space Center (CEN).
protocol Signed by Luciana Santos, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil, and Aisén Etcheverry, Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile, And formally confirm the intention of the two countries to cooperate in space activities for peaceful purposes and carry out projects of common interest.
Countries will identify areas for developing joint plans and projects in accordance with their respective national space policies.
With this, Cooperation between the two countries will enable the exchange of scientific, technological and innovative information on space affairs; and the identification and promotion of collaborative research and development projects and programs.
It will also allow the exchange of information on activities, public policies, practices, laws and regulations related to scientific, technological and innovative research and development in the space field; the development of visits and exchanges of scientists, technicians or other experts; among other cooperative activities.
President Borik stressed at the ceremony The purpose of the exchange with Brazil on this matter “is precisely related to this, to update Chile with strategic partners such as Brazil to adapt to the speed of this change.”
“Through this memorandum, we seek to deepen exchanges in space activities, thereby promoting joint research on our planet and the changes it is undergoing. Information, public policies, laws and regulations, scientific and technological exploration, promotion of cooperative projects, and other tasks.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressed the strategic importance of space development and cooperation in this field. “It is a pride to be able to share the Brazilian institutional experience with the young Chilean Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, created in 2018.”
“The Memorandum of Understanding signed by our ministers will allow us to explore joint initiatives in the aerospace sector and other cutting-edge fields. I am convinced that this center will become an important asset for the economic, scientific and technological development of Chile and that our collaboration will take us further,” added the Brazilian president.
National Space Center (CEN)
It is part of the land segment of the National Space System and is currently under construction at the Cerrillos Air Base of the Chilean Air Force (FACH) and is expected to be launched in the second half of 2025.
That is why, before the ceremony began, the leaders, together with the Commander in Chief of FACH, Hugo Rodríguez, and the students of the school participating in the Space Education Program of the Air Force School, made a memory in a capsule that will be incorporated in the construction of the National Space Center.
Boric said: “Together with President Lula, we placed some commemorative coins in the time capsule as a symbol of the brotherhood of our peoples, our common dreams and what we are sure we can achieve by working together. I hope this gesture of solidarity represents our unwavering commitment to creating a more prosperous future for our people and the entire planet.”
Moreover, he added, at the National Space Center “satellites will be assembled, our satellites will be put into orbit, the information we obtain from space will be processed, and this will also allow us to prepare new talents to continue developing knowledge in these areas.”
The center will bring together in one place research, development and innovation capabilities on space issues and is one of three satellite stations being developed in Chile that will become part of the National Satellite System (SNSAT). The other two stations will be located in Antofagasta and Punta Arenas.
Its goal is to promote research and development of space technologies in Chile and to serve as a meeting place for the countries of the region to promote their respective space programs through multilateral links. The center will allow the development of projects ranging from basic research to demonstration in an operational environment.
The planned building area is 5,800 square meters with four floors. The planned investment is $19 million for infrastructure and $15 million for equipment. It is expected to be launched in the second half of 2025.
120 people will work at its facilities, including Chilean Air Force officers as well as academics and researchers from universities, research centers, and national and international industry.
The facility will house a mission control center for operating SNSAT satellites in orbit and a space technology development laboratory where satellites will be assembled, integrated and tested, among other technologies.
It will also have a data science laboratory to process information obtained from space, which it considers a data center and supercomputer. There will also be research, innovation, entrepreneurship and talent promotion laboratories to generate human capital in the space field and connect academia with industry.
Elon Musk attended
During the event, President Boric He mentioned Elon Musk, the mogul at Company X.
Lula revealed in his speech “The space sector is more strategic than ever for a country’s development and there is no activity today that does not require space infrastructure. Despite its importance, the aerospace industry is one of the areas in which inequality between countries is greatest.”
Regarding the Brazilian president’s remarks, Boric added, “As the president said, I want to emphasize one point in his speech: space is not for millionaires who can spend money to see the Earth from above, or for some people who develop projects and become rich, but space must also be a place where all of us who live on Earth can benefit from it.”
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