The world's five major emerging economies, known as BRICS, have expanded cooperation far beyond the planet Earth. Sun Ye takes a look at the bloc's Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation and how it can contribute to the socio-economic development of member countries.

The heads of BRICS countries' space agencies had their first joint committee meeting in late May. And that meeting focused on a new constellation of BRICS Remote Sensing Satellites and how it can benefit the members.

ZHANG KEJIAN Administrator, China National Space Administration "The BRICS Cooperation on Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation will better serve the development of BRICS countries. We will promote an even higher level of cooperation in environmental cooperation, disaster relief, and coping with climate change. We will also contribute to BRICS countries' strategic cooperation through effective sharing and use of data."

The constellation is comprised of six satellites and five ground stations in the five BRICS states.

A data and application center was established in China's Hainan Province this spring.

And the shared satellite data is already helping address some imminent problems.

MENG LINGJIE Deputy Chief, Earth Observation Data Center China National Space Administration "This is the first time that an international cooperation mechanism in Earth observation data reaches this kind of scale and depth. This cooperation will help these developing countries improve economic development and social welfare. For example, in the pilot programs for each country, the constellation will help address food crises. With its coverage, precision and timelines, the satellite constellation can map out the output, and monitor the damage caused by natural disasters and pests."

SUN YE Beijing "China's National Space Administration says space cooperation will better serve economic, social and the overall development of BRICS countries and eventually facilitate high-quality partnership in the bloc."

The heads of space agencies in other BRICS countries have also expressed hope that the bloc's synergy can further contribute to the peaceful use of outer space. SY, CGTN, BJ.