[Satellite TODAY 04-19-10]  Brazil, India and the Republic of South Africa signed an agreement to develop and launch a new civil satellite program into space, government officials from the countries confirmed April 16 at the ISBA Summit, held in Brazil.
    South Africa will provide the platform for a pair of satellites, with most of the instruments provided and installed by Brazil. The spacecraft will be launched by India in 2012 and 2014. The first satellite will be used for Earth observation and the other for space weather and climate studies.
    “A joint satellite could lend support areas like agriculture, education, energy, health, information and communications, trade and transport responding to the modern world,” South African President Jacob Zuma said in a statement.
    Details of the satellite’s budget have not been released.

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