Address: Av. dos Astronautas, 1758, 12227-010 São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
Astroscience, Aerospace, Environmental Science
The National Institute for Space Research, known by its Portuguese acronym INPE (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais), is a Brazilian federal institute headquartered in São José dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo. It is a research body rather than a conventional university, but it runs master’s and doctoral training and is listed in this directory for that academic role.
The institute traces its origins to a decree of 1961 that created an organizing group for the National Commission on Space Activities, later known as CNAE. INPE itself was created on 22 April 1971. Among the early Brazilian satellites associated with it are SCD-1, the first Brazilian data-collecting satellite, and SCD-2, which was launched in 1998.
INPE takes part in the CBERS programme with China, whose first satellite, CBERS-1, was launched in 1999, and it runs the PRODES and DETER systems used to monitor deforestation in the Amazon. Its work also covers weather and climate forecasting, including through the Center for Weather Forecast and Climatic Studies (CPTEC).
Domains taught:
Aerospace, Astroscience, Ecology and Sustainability
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
International partnerships with NASA, ESA, and Brazilian agencies
Research:
Research on climate, satellite technology and aerospace
University of São Paulo, based in the city of São Paulo, lists engineering and life sciences, giving a broader university setting for related studies.
State University of Campinas, in Campinas in São Paulo state, lists engineering and bioengineering among its specialties.
University of Brasília lists engineering, social sciences and environmental sciences, the last of which touches the Earth-observation side of the institute.
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro lists engineering, marine science and physics, and sits in Rio de Janeiro.
Federal University of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte, lists engineering and life sciences.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial in Spain, at Torrejón de Ardoz near Madrid, lists aerospace technology and space systems, so it is a close match for a space-oriented institute.
Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur in France pairs geosciences and oceanography with space-related research, echoing a mix of space and Earth science.
Universität Bern in Switzerland lists space research and climate science among its specialties, a combination that also fits the Brazilian institute.
University of Leicester in the United Kingdom lists space science, archaeology and genetics, with space science as the shared strength.
Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Belgium lists fluid dynamics, aerospace engineering and turbomachinery, and is likewise a specialised research-and-training institute.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is INPE headquartered?
INPE is headquartered in São José dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo. Its website is part of the Brazilian federal government portal at gov.br.
Which body came before INPE?
A decree of 1961 created an organizing group for the National Commission on Space Activities, which later became known as CNAE. INPE was then formally created on 22 April 1971.
Which satellites are linked to INPE?
INPE is associated with the SCD-1 and SCD-2 data-collection satellites, the second of which was launched in 1998. It also works with China in the CBERS programme, and CBERS-1 was launched in 1999.
How does INPE follow deforestation in the Amazon?
It operates the PRODES and DETER programmes, which monitor the Amazon forest by satellite. The institute publishes the resulting data through its official website.
Can students take graduate degrees at INPE?
Yes, the institute offers master's and doctoral programmes, advertised on its site as the INPE/MCTI graduate programme. Applicants should check the official graduate pages for current courses and admission calls.
What weather and climate work does INPE do?
The Center for Weather Forecast and Climatic Studies (CPTEC) is part of the institute, and INPE lists numerical weather and climate forecasting among its products. These services sit alongside its space engineering and Earth observation work.
Aerospace, Climate, Research and Development, Space, Space Exploration, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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