The China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program, or CBERS, is a joint cooperative satellite initiative by CASC, the China National Space Administration, and Brazil's Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (National Institute of Space Research).

The partnership traces its beginnings to May 1984, with the formal CBERS program starting in 1988.

The joint venture at first consisted of two satellites: CBERS-1 and -2, launched on October 14, 1999, and October 21, 2003, respectively.

A third satellite, CBERS-2B, added new capability to the platform and was capable of surveying the entire surface of Earth in just 130 days.

It was launched in September 2007.

CBERS-2B was followed by a complete upgrade to the CBERS system for satellites -3 and -4, launched in December 2013 and December 2014, respectively.

The pair of identical satellites introduced a new Advanced Wide Field Imager Camera as well as a Panchromatic and Multispectal Camera, increasing the satellites' resolution while simultaneously allowing them to observe greater swaths of Earth's surface at a time.

CBERS-4A carries forward the latest round of upgrades while testing new equipment for use on future satellites.

(Image: CBERS Program)

The Chang Zheng 4B (Long March 4B) is a medium-lift rocket within China's launch vehicle family.

Flying for the first time on May 10th, 1999, it has two locations from which it can launch, the Taiyuan and Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centers.

At Taiyuan, the rocket as two launch pads, LA-7 and LA-9. At Jiuquan, it has a single launch pad: SLS-2 (South Launch Site 2).

It is manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Image credit: Xinhua

LC-9

One of three launch sites at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, LA-9 (Launch Area 9) hosts the Chang Zheng 2C, 4B, and 4C rocket variants.

The pad was used for the first time in October 2008.

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center is located in Kelan County, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China.

It became fully operational in 1968 and is used primarily to launch weather, Earth observation, and science missions to Sun-Synchronous orbits.

The launch site has also hosted Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile tests.

Taiyuan has three launch pads, LA-7, LA-9, and LA-16, and currently hosts the launches of the Chang Zheng 1D, 2C, 4A, 4B, 4C, and 6 rockets.