INPE - 1984

• INPE takes part in Chinese Diplomatic Mission, which lays the groundwork to space cooperation between both nations.
• The first space plasma experiments have been developed (electron density, airglow, electric fields etc.) in Aeronomy Department at INPE and launched aboard a Brazilian rocket SONDA III from IAC/CTA. These experiments resulted in important scientific journals publications and a book entitled “Ionospheric Experiments Using Rockets” December 1997.
  Launch of Brazilian Rocket SONDA III with IAE/CTA.
• Development of photometer and airglow imagers to use in the ground and in experiments aboard rockets and satellites.
• Image Processing Department (DPI) is created, which in addition to technology development, should establish a program of research and staff-training, and cooperative projects among Universities, public and private institutions. At the same time an academic program of staff training began.
• First prototype hydrazine monopropellant microthruster for future application in remote sensing satellites is tested.
• Manufacture of photovoltaic infrared detectors through liquid phase epitaxy (LPE), and marketing of some units assembled in liquid nitrogen cryostats built at the Associated Laboratory of Sensors and Materials (LAS). Top of manufacturing semiconductor infrared lasers using same technique.
• Astronaut Francis Scobee, pilot of the last "Space Shuttle" flight, visits INPE.

  Worldwide

• The Soviet astronaut Svetlana Savitskaya becomes the first woman to walk in space in an experiment that lasted over three hours outside Salyut7 space station.

• Baby Fae, an American baby received a heart transplant from a baboon. He died just three weeks later, and this case has set off ethical issues that are still being discussed.