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AEB and Amazon Web Service (AWS) Sign Strategic Declaration of Intent

The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have signed a Strategic Intent and Cooperation Agreement. The initiative, with which the Brazilian Embassy in Washington also collaborated, is the first of its kind for AWS in Latin America, and will support the innovation and continued growth of the country's space industry.

AEB plays an important role in the Context of Latin America, being responsible for a wide variety of space activities related to space transport, satellites, research and applications. AEB has supported the strengthening of The Brazilian rocket launch infrastructure, production and exploration of space systems. It also offers support for educational and research activities in astronautic and related sciences. In addition, AEB is NASA's bilateral partner in ionospheric research and a signatory to the Artemis Agreements for the joint exploration of the Moon.

Cooperation between AEB and AWS describes three specific areas of collaboration designed to support the Agency's long-term economic and technological development goals. These educational, economic and political initiatives will benefit the Brazilian government, Brazilian commercial space organizations and space-focused startups.

Initiatives include:

1. The Brazil/AWS Space Collaboration for Economics and Development (B/ASCEnD). Through this initiative, the Brazilian Space Agency and AWS will work together to promote the growth of the Brazilian space industry by establishing national space research and development (R&D) programs, providing training resources and driving startups. Specifically, AWS will provide stakeholders with access to the AWS Activate Program and AWS Activate Founders Program, both providing credits, technical training, and business support to qualified startups. This effort also gives professionals access to AWS training and certification programs.

The initiative also creates an opportunity for AEB and AWS to identify promising space technology initiatives that can support the goals of other government organizations. The goal behind this collaboration is to promote innovation for future missions related to science, space exploration and national security. 

2. The AWS Open Data Sponsorship Program. This initiative aims to encourage collaboration between the Brazilian Space Agency and its partners by creating a centralized repository of spatial data. This will allow stakeholders to easily access and analyze spatial data, using cloud tools and technologies, in support of a variety of Brazilian space ventures.

3. Policy, Strategy and Regulatory Support for Space Development. The Brazilian Space Agency and AWS will engage in discussions on national policies, strategies and regulatory measures in support of Brazil's civil, commercial and national security space objectives.

"The agreement between the Brazilian Space Agency and Amazon Web Services is a concrete initiative for greater integration of the Brazilian private sector and our aerospace industry with the U.S. ecosystem of innovation, the world's most advanced space field," said Nestor Forster Jr. Brazil's ambassador to Washington. that produces results for Brazil in terms of economic and technological," he added. 

"The agreement with AWS is an important step to foster our space industry, at a time when Brazil aims to insert itself more strongly in the space market, such as in the segment of access to space, with the spaceport of Alcântara," said Carlos Augusto Teixeira de Moura, president of the Brazilian Space Agency.

CLA is also known as the Brazilian Window for Space. Its location, on the northern Atlantic coast of Brazil, is considered ideal for satellite and rocket launches, because it is situated only 2 degrees south of the Equator. Earth's fastest rotation speed near the Equator allows spacecraft to reach the speed needed to enter orbit using fewer propellant. Cla's location is also great thanks to the absence of extreme weather events and low air traffic density. CLA is used for activities that include spacecraft integration, final payload testing, rocket launches, mission logistics support, weather forecasting, tracking, command and control, and telemetry.

This Strategic Declaration of Intent is the latest step in AWS's long-term commitment to Brazil and Latin America, uniting the public and private sectors through the power of cloud computing services to promote IT modernization, innovation, economic development, education, and workforce creation and employment. In 2020, AWS announced a $1 billion investment to expand data centers in São Paulo and strengthen infrastructure in South America. That same year, Brazil was the first country in Latin America and the second in the Western Hemisphere to offer AWS EdStart, the AWS Educational Technology Program (EdTech) that helps edtech start-ups create teaching and learning solutions in the AWS cloud. 

"AWS is proud to support Brazil's mission to drive innovation and growth in the space industry," said Jeff Kratz, general manager for the Latin American, Canada and Caribbean regions and the AWS global public sector. "This agreement provides tools, training and education that will help ensure that Brazil continues to be a space leader in Latin America for generations to come."