Brazil launches satellite to watch forest

Brazil has sent its first satellite into space with the goal of monitoring deforestation in the Amazon, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) says.

Dubbed Amazonia-1, the satellite successfully blasted off towards orbit on Sunday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, a statement said.

INE said it was "the first Earth observation satellite completely designed, integrated, tested and operated by Brazil".

Amazonia 1 is to send back images to support environmental and agricultural monitoring in Brazil.

Its camera can photograph any location on Earth every five days, a feature described by INPE as "extremely valuable" due to the fact that a cloud-free view is not always guaranteed.

With a reported budget of 44 million Reais (A$10.2m), the Amazonia 1 was repeatedly at risk of funding cuts, according to the G1 news website.

Shortly before the launch, INPE had suspended the grants of more than 100 scientists, the report said.