CBERS 6 / ZY-1 TBA

CBERS 6 [INPE]

CBERS 6 (China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 6) is a planned joint Earth observation satellite developed under the longstanding cooperation between China and Brazil in the CBERS (China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) program. The satellite will feature a radar-based observation payload and is currently scheduled for launch in 2028.

Unlike its predecessors, which primarily carried optical payloads, CBERS 6 will be the first in the series to employ Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology. The satellite will carry an X-band SAR radar, supplied by China, enabling Earth observation independent of daylight or weather conditions. This marks a significant enhancement over the optical imaging capabilities of earlier CBERS missions, which are limited by cloud cover and lighting conditions.

CBERS 6 will be built on the Plataforma Multimissão (PMM), or Multi-Mission Platform, a Brazilian satellite bus developed by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The PMM was previously validated in orbit with the Amazônia 1 satellite, launched in 2021.

The addition of SAR capabilities will significantly expand the scope of the CBERS program. The satellite will be capable of collecting high-resolution radar data for applications including:

• Monitoring and control of deforestation and wildfires, especially in the Amazon basin
• Border surveillance and coastal monitoring
• Urban planning and infrastructure studies
• Management of water resources and vegetation
• Support for agriculture, including soil moisture analysis and crop monitoring

CBERS 6 will operate in synergy with existing optical satellites in the series, providing complementary data for a range of scientific, environmental, and strategic uses. The mission reinforces the long-term China-Brazil collaboration in space technology and contributes to the sustainable management of natural resources through advanced Earth observation.