Rio de Janeiro, Sep 9 (Xinhua) The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) plans to launch a geo-stationary satellite by 2009 under a cooperation agreement between the country and Ukraine, AEB president Sergio Gaudenzi said.

The rocket that will take the satellite into orbit has passed over 300 tests and the satellite will be used for weather forecast, communications and flight safety monitoring. "Only a few countries in the world have rockets and operate launchings, so I would say it is a critical part of our space programme," said Gaudenzi.

Under the agreement reached in 2002, commercial rockets and satellites will also be launched from the military base of Alcantara, in the northeastern state of Maranhao.

He said revenues from the launchings, estimated at $10 billion in the first eight years of the operation of the launch site in Alcantara, would be shared equally by Brazil and Ukraine.

Under their cooperation agreement, Ukraine will provide the technology, while Brazil provides the platform for the launchings.

Gaudenzi added the AEB also has a wide range of cooperation agreements with countries like Russia, India and China.