CBERS for Africa and CBERS-2B status

From May 12 to 15, I've been to Cachoeira Paulista, SP to install 2 computer racks to be used in the CBERS for Africa project.

Getting the racks in the appointed place was not an easy task.

Each rack contains a complete system for CBERS reception. There are 3 PowerEdge servers, one for each channel: CCD1, CCD2 and HWDT-Q, a disk array and a tape changer, plus a desktop computer used for displaying the Moving Windows and for checking the satellite schedule.

We receive HWDT-Q in order to extract the WFI stream and GPS and Star Sensor data. The HRC stream won't be processed. In time the racks will be sent to Africa.

In his last trip to China, Lula signed an agreement for CBERS-2B reception in South Africa, the Canary Islands and Egypt. The Chinese are already receiving data in South Africa and our tests in Maspalomas (Canary Islands) and Aswan (Egypt) went well. There are still some tests to be made with the antenna in Maspalomas, they are scheduled for May 11-24. Unfortunately CBERS-2B entered safe mode on May 12, it appears its due to some problem in the attitude control system. Let's hope its fixable.