AWS (Amazon Web Services) and the Brazilian Space Agency closed an agreement this Wednesday (16) that promises to help boost the space sector in Brazil. The partnership, a Term of Strategic Intent and Cooperation, has already entered into force, but the practical measures will still take some time to be implemented.
One of the goals of the partnership is to expand the access of Brazilian startups in the space area to AWS tools, which include processing data obtained by satellites.
However, there is still no date set for start-up companies to enjoy the benefits of the partnership. The federal government plans to hold events in the coming months to attract projects that can be met.
The agreement also provides support for the creation of national programs for space research and development in Brazil, new ways to democratize access to space-related data and technical assistance to create a regulatory framework for the sector in Brazil. Neither the government nor Amazon mentioned the amounts involved.
“The space sector is expected to generate US$ 10 trillion over the next ten years. These are enormous resources, and having a giant in the sector looking to Brazil and our startups is all we want”, said Nestor Forster, Brazil’s ambassador to the US. .
The agreement was signed at the Brazilian embassy in Washington. The Brazilian government has sought space partnerships with the US and is part of NASA’s Artemis project, which plans to send a woman to the moon.
The Brazilian government also hopes that the partnership will help expand the use of the Alcântara Launch Center in Maranhão to transform the base into an industrial hub for the space sector, as São José dos Campos (SP) became a center dedicated to production. of planes.
“Our expectation is that by the end of this year we will have companies announcing regular launch services in Alcântara”, said Carlos Moura, president of AEB.
The US and Brazil signed an agreement for the Americans to use the Alcântara base for rocket launches. The agreement was signed by Jair Bolsonaro with the then American President Donald Trump, in March 2019, and later approved by the Congresses of both countries. The decree promulgating the treaty was signed by the Brazilian leader in February 2020.
Moura also said the country was planning ways to capitalize on the wave of space tourism, in which private companies are taking billionaires on short trips off-planet.
“The companies [de turismo espacial] today they make launches in bases that are in distant places. Alcântara has easy access and several other tourist attractions close by, such as Lençóis Maranhenses, São Luiz with its historical heritage, wonderful beaches. We are studying ways to integrate space tourism with other forms of tourism,” said the AEB president.
AWS, a sector of Amazon that offers access to cloud servers, among other products, has a division dedicated to systems used in launching and operating satellites and rockets, and has worked in partnership with NASA and several manufacturers in the aerospace sector.
“This agreement provides tools, training and education that will help ensure Brazil remains a space leader in Latin America for generations to come,” said Jeff Kratz, AWS General Manager for the Public Sector.
