The second earth resource satellite, CBERS-2, developed jointly by Brazil and China, fulfilled its five years' mission in orbit on Tuesday, the National Institute of Space Investigations of Brazil (INEP) said.

The CBERS-2 was launched on October 21, 2003 by the Chinese Long March 4B rocket from Taiyuan launch facilities in China. Sample images from CBERS-2 were made available on January 10, 2007.

It was the second satellite of the Chinese-Brazilian Earth Resource Satellite (CBERS) program, agreed by both countries 20 years ago to develop, launch and operate satellites together.

The first satellite, CBERS-1, was launched on October 14, 1999 and operated for four years till August 2003.

The agreement between the two countries foresees the launch of two other satellites, the CBERS-3 and CBERS-4, till 2013.

The CBERS is currently part of the main Earth-observing mission programs in the world, together with the US Landsat, French Spotand Indian ResoruceSat.

According to the INEP, the program is a successful example of South-South cooperation on high technology.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2008)