New Sino-Brazilian satellite to be lifted to Earth orbit by 2019

The sixth satellite jointly built by China and Brazil is scheduled to be launched next year, said space authorities from the two countries.

The Earth-observation satellite - designated CBERS-04A - will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit, always facing the sun 628 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Its cameras will photograph the ground, the China National Space Administration said in a statement on Thursday.

The satellite will be able to produce pictures covering 90 km, with high resolution. It will be capable of transmitting images to ground control in real time, the statement said.