On 14 June, 2007, the corresponding preparatory work for ERTS-02B cooperatively-developed by China and Brazil has been accomplished, which is to be lifted off into the space environment simulator for a series of important large-scale tests such as vacuum thermal test etc, lasting about 20 days. Today, Mr. Sun Laiyan, Deputy Minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and Administrator of CNSA, made a special trip to the experimental field to inspect and guide the work; and called on the engineering technicians from both China and Brazil participating in the tests.

Mr. Sun Laiyan emphasized that ERTS-02B is of great importance, to which the leaders of both China and Brazil attach high importance. ERTS-02B is not only expected warmly by the users from both China and Brazil, but also will be brought into the program of international disaster reduction charter, which will give important play to the monitoring of global catastrophes.

Mr. Luiz Neves, the Brazilian Ambassador to China and Mr. Chen Duqing, the Chinese Ambassador to Brazil also visited the scene in company. After the vacuum thermal test, the satellite will be transported to Taiyuan Satellite Launching Complex, which is expected to be lunched in September or October, 2007.

The final assembly and test work of ERTS-02B cooperatively-developed by China and Brazil began in Brazil Space Research Institute in June, 2006. With the associated efforts of the engineering technicians from both China and Brazil, various tests such as the electric performance test, vibration test and noise test for ERTS-02B were successfully completed. The satellite was returned to China in April of this year. The coming vacuum thermal test is to simulate the vacuum thermal envirement in space for the satellite to be tested for series performances, so as to find out the existed problems on technology and quality and to ensure the normal function after the satellite is lunched into the orbit.