The first CBERS-2B images are available for visualization on the web. Today in test phase, the normal operation for image distribution to the users will start in approximately in one month. Launched on September 19th from the Taiyuan Base, the satellite is the third of the CBERS Program, well succeeded space cooperation with China that made Brazil, through its National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the biggest satellite image supplier in the world.

More than 320,000 CBERS images were distributed in Brazil to around 15,000 users of several public and private institutions, proving the economic and social benefits of free data offer. In China, after the adoption of similar politics as in Brazil, more than 200,000 images were distributed, being the Ministry of Earth and Natural Resources the main user.

The CBERS images are also supplied free of charge to those South American countries that are in the coverage area of INPE´s reception station in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso state. From 2008, the CBERS images will be distributed to Central America, Caribe and Africa countries, after other data reception stations start their operation.

See the first images of Sino-Brazilian satellite in the link: http://www.cbers.inpe.br/?content=galeria_imagens_2b&hl;=en

From Rondônia, one of the first images acquired by the WFI camera shows the Porto Velho capital at the edge of the river Madeira and also earth occupation projects that put in evidence the typical deforestation in the region.