Abstract:
In February 1994, the Brazilian government announced that it would abide by the MTCR, and created the Brazilian Space Agency to take over the space program from the Brazilian Commission for Space Activities (COBAE). The Brazilian Space Agency, which acquired its first directors in March 1994, is a civilian agency whereas the COBAE was connected to the Brazilian Armed Forces General Staff. The move is an attempt to divorce Brazilian space efforts from its military and thereby ease the "veritable blockade" on the Brazilian space program caused by US suspicion that Brazil is operating a parallel missile program. In 1993, a Rand study commissioned by the White House concluded that the Brazilian space program was "not economically viable," suggesting that the program's true purpose was the production of missiles. Friction between the US and Brazil reached a high point in 1993 when Brazil stepped up its participation in a joint space launch program with the PRC. The military indicated that Brazil might attempt to gain technology denied it by the US from Russia or China.

The Brazilian space launch vehicle (SLV) is expected to put a communications satellite into orbit in 1995. This vehicle is the third Brasilsat Series, out of four. The SLV is slated to receive $40 million "between now and 1995," an increase over the years since Fernando Collor was the president of Brazil. The joint Brazilian-Chinese effort seeks to put the first of two satellites into orbit in 1996. According to director of the National Institute of Space Research (INPE), located in Sao Jose dos Campos (SP), Marcio Barbosa, "Our space mission has not only created about 5,000 highly specialized jobs, it transferred First World technology to different sectors of civilian industry."

However, despite assurances offered to the US as to the non-military nature of the Brazilian space program, it is unlikely that Brazil will get an infusion of the most modern technology. According to director general of the Brazilian Space Agency Major General Ajax Barros de Melo, Brazil will have to develop its SLV on its own. Ajax de Melo indicated that Brazil would abide by the MTCR, but would not formally sign, following the example set by Russia and China. Ajax de Melo also stated that "if you build a rocket and put it into orbit, you can aim it anywhere you want. We have that capability and the Americans know it. That's what sovereignty is."