A New Experience on the International Transfer of Space Technology
- Paper number
IAC-14,E7,7-B3.8,7,x23730
- Author
Mr. Alvaro Fabricio Dos Santos, Advocacy General of the Union - AGU, Brazil
- Year
2014
- Abstract
The first Brazilian Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite – SGDC - will meet Brazil’s plan for satellite development, including the National Broadband Program and strategic defense. In order to discuss the SGDC Project, the Brazilian Government established a consultant multidisciplinary group whose consensus indicated that the contract for the construction of SGDC by a foreign company should include binding plans of technological absorption, as well as of transfer of technology. This way, the SGDC Project could increase the development of the Brazilian space industry. Concluding its work, the group proposed the creation of a mixed-capital company, where the state company Telebras (of the Ministry of Communications) would perform the public part. Due to its commercial success in the global market of airplanes, the Brazilian private company Embraer was invited to join the SGDC Project. The company Visiona Space Technology, of which Embraer holds 51\% share and Telebras 49\%, was created on May 29, 2012, to act as a prime contractor of the SGDC Project. In September 2013, Visiona and Telebras signed the contract for the management and construction of SGDC. On February 15, 2013, Visiona issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) regarding the SGDC Project. On August 12, 2013, it was announced that the proposal of the French company Thales Alenia Space had been selected for the development of SGDC and its ground segment. The contract between Visiona and Thales Alenia Space was signed on December 12, 2013. Because of this contract, the Brazilian Space Agency and Thales Alenia Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding to regulate the technological absorption and the transfer of technology to Brazil and its industries, during the SGDC’s development. Within the SGDC Project, the transfer of technology involves the systems of communication, attitude \& orbit control, ground control, and control \& propulsion software. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the probable results derived from the mentioned Memorandum of Understanding, which represents a remarkable achievement in the history of space activities.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-14,E7,7-B3.8,7,x23730.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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