Alcântara Launch Center
The Alcântara Launch Center is a satellite launching facility of the Brazilian Space Agency in the city of Alcântara, located on Brazil's northern Atlantic coast, in the state of Maranhão. It is operated by the Brazilian Air Force. The CLA is the closest launching base to the equator. This gives the launch site a significant advantage in launching geosynchronous satellites, an attribute shared by the Guiana Space Centre.
Construction of the base began in 1982. The first launch occurred on February 21, 1990, when the sounding rocket Sonda 2 XV-53 was launched. On August 22, 2003, the explosion of the third VLS-1 killed 21 people.
There are also plans to launch several international rockets from Alcântara. In 2003 contracts were signed to launch Ukrainian Tsyklon-4 and Israeli Shavit rockets; In addition there are further plans to launch the Russian Proton rocket. In the beginning of 2018, Brazilian government offered the possibility to use the spaceport to several U.S. companies.Structures
- Engine preparation facilities
- Payload preparation facilities
- Liquid-fuel loading facilities
- Universal launch tower
- Mobile Integration Tower : 33x10x13m, 380tons. Used for assembly of the VLS rockets.
- Control center.
- 2600m runway
The Alcântara launch pads include:
Projected
- Operação Santa Bárbara I - 2014, VLS-1 mockup
- Operação Santa Bárbara II - 2015, VLS-1 VSISNAV
In October 2019, the agreement was approved in which the United States use the area for scientific research and launch of rockets, spaceships and satellites that use North American technologies from the Brazilian base.
