Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara
Encyclopedia
The Alcântara Launch Center is a satellite
launching base of the Brazilian Space Agency
in the city of Alcântara, located on Brazil
's northern Atlantic coast, in the state of Maranhão
. Its geographical location 2°17′S 44°23′W. 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 satellite
s, 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. Also, the Ongoron I and Ongoron II rockets were tested there by the French Government in 1994.
So far, only sounding rockets and VLS rocket
s have been launched from Alcântara. On August 22, 2003, the explosion of the third VLS-1
(XV-03) killed 21 people.
In early 2011 the new "TMI -Torre Móvel de Integração" (Mobile Integration Tower) construction on the VLS pad will be completed. It will be used to assemble and launch a new version of the VLS rocket in 2012.
There are also plans to launch several international rockets from Alcântara. In 2003 contracts were signed to launch Ukrainian Tsyklon-4
(as of December 2009 planned to be launched by the end of 2010) and Israeli Shavit
rockets; In addition there are further plans to launch the Russian Proton rocket
.
Current government plans to construct a civilian launching center, operated by the Brazilian Space Agency
and adjacent to the military controlled CLA.
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
launching base of the Brazilian Space Agency
Brazilian Space Agency
The Brazilian Space Agency is the civilian authority in Brazil responsible for the country's burgeoning space program. It operates a spaceport at Alcântara and a rocket launch site at Barreira do Inferno...
in the city of Alcântara, located on Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
's northern Atlantic coast, in the state of Maranhão
Maranhão
Maranhão is a northeastern state of Brazil. To the north lies the Atlantic Ocean. Maranhão is neighbored by the states of Piauí, Tocantins and Pará. The people of Maranhão have a distinctive accent...
. Its geographical location 2°17′S 44°23′W. It is operated by the Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
. The CLA is the closest launching base to the equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
. This gives the launch site a significant advantage in launching geosynchronous satellite
Geosynchronous satellite
A geosynchronous Satellite is a satellite whose orbit on the Earth repeats regularly over points on the Earth over time. If such a satellite's orbit lies over the equator, the orbit is circular and its angular velocity is the same as the earth's, then it is called a geostationary satellite...
s, 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
Sounding rocket
A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The origin of the term comes from nautical vocabulary, where to sound is to throw a weighted line from a ship into...
Sonda 2 XV-53 was launched. Also, the Ongoron I and Ongoron II rockets were tested there by the French Government in 1994.
So far, only sounding rockets and VLS rocket
VLS-1
The VLS - Satellite Launch Vehicle - is the Brazilian Space Agency's main satellite launch vehicle project. The project's goal is to develop a launch vehicle capable of launching small general-purpose satellites into orbit...
s have been launched from Alcântara. On August 22, 2003, the explosion of the third VLS-1
Brazilian rocket explosion
VLS-1 V03 was a Brazilian Space Agency VLS-1 rocket, which was intended to have launched two satellites into orbit. On August 22, 2003, at 13:30 an explosion destroyed the rocket as it stood on its launch pad at the Alcântara Launching Center in the state of Maranhão in northern Brazil...
(XV-03) killed 21 people.
In early 2011 the new "TMI -Torre Móvel de Integração" (Mobile Integration Tower) construction on the VLS pad will be completed. It will be used to assemble and launch a new version of the VLS rocket in 2012.
There are also plans to launch several international rockets from Alcântara. In 2003 contracts were signed to launch Ukrainian Tsyklon-4
Tsyklon-4
The Tsyklon-4 or Cyclone-4, also known as Tsiklon-4, is a Ukrainian carrier rocket which is being developed for commercial satellite launches. Derived from the Tsyklon-3, it has a new third stage, a larger payload fairing, and a modernised flight control system compared to its predecessor...
(as of December 2009 planned to be launched by the end of 2010) and Israeli Shavit
Shavit
Shavit is a space launch vehicle produced by Israel to launch small satellites into low earth orbit. It was first launched on September 19, 1988 , making Israel the eighth country to have a space launch capability after the USSR, United States, France, Japan, People's Republic of China, United...
rockets; In addition there are further plans to launch the Russian Proton rocket
Proton rocket
Proton is an expendable launch system used for both commercial and Russian government space launches. The first Proton rocket was launched in 1965 and the launch system is still in use as of 2011, which makes it one of the most successful heavy boosters in the history of spaceflight...
.
Current government plans to construct a civilian launching center, operated by the Brazilian Space Agency
Brazilian Space Agency
The Brazilian Space Agency is the civilian authority in Brazil responsible for the country's burgeoning space program. It operates a spaceport at Alcântara and a rocket launch site at Barreira do Inferno...
and adjacent to the military controlled CLA.
Structures
- Engine preparation facilities (Preparação de Propulsores - PPP)
- Payload preparation facilities (Preparação de Carga Útil - PPCU)
- Liquid-fuel loading facilities (Preparação de Carregamento de Propelentes - PCPL)
- Universal launch tower
- Mobile Integration Tower (TMI - Torre Móvel de Integração): 33x10x13m, 380tons. Used for assembly of the VLS rockets.
- Control center (Prédio de Controle Avançado - CASAMATA).
- 2600m runway
List of launchpads
- VLS Pad (with Mobile Integration Tower - TMI) 2.3184°N 44.3675°W
- MRL Pad (general sounding rocket pad)2.3167°N 44.3671°W
- "Universal" pad for rockets up to 10tons
- Cyclone-4 Pad (under construction)
Launch List
| Date | Vehicle | Mission | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 February 1990 | Sonda 2 XV-53 | Alcântara Ionosphere | 101 km |
| 26 November 1990 | Sonda 2 XV-54 | Manival Ionosphere | 91 km |
| 9 December 1991 | Sonda 2 XV-55 | Aguas Belas Ionosphere | 88 km |
| 1 June 1992 | Sonda 3 XV-24 | Aeronomy | 282 km |
| 31 October 1992 | Sonda 2 XV-56 | Ponta de Areia Ionosphere | 32 km |
| 22 March 1993 | Sonda 2 XV-57 | Maruda Ionosphere | 102 km |
| 2 April 1993 | VS-40 VS-40 The VS-40 is a Brazilian sounding rocket using solid fuel, stabilized aerodynamically, distributed between the first stage S-40TM engine and the second stage S-44 engine.-Flights:... PT-01 |
VS-40 Test | 950 km |
| 19 August 1994 | Nike Orion Nike Orion Nike Orion is the designation of a two-stage American elevator research rocket, with a Nike base stage and an Orion upper stage. The Nike Orion is 9 m long, has a diameter of 0.42 m, a launch weight of 1100 kilograms , a launch thrust of 217 kN and a ceiling of 140 km .-External links:*... |
MALTED/CADRE Ionosphere | 140 km |
| 20 August 1994 | Nike Orion Nike Orion Nike Orion is the designation of a two-stage American elevator research rocket, with a Nike base stage and an Orion upper stage. The Nike Orion is 9 m long, has a diameter of 0.42 m, a launch weight of 1100 kilograms , a launch thrust of 217 kN and a ceiling of 140 km .-External links:*... |
MALTED/CADRE Ionosphere | 140 km |
| 24 August 1994 | Nike Orion Nike Orion Nike Orion is the designation of a two-stage American elevator research rocket, with a Nike base stage and an Orion upper stage. The Nike Orion is 9 m long, has a diameter of 0.42 m, a launch weight of 1100 kilograms , a launch thrust of 217 kN and a ceiling of 140 km .-External links:*... |
MALTED/CADRE Ionosphere | 140 km |
| 25 August 1994 | Nike Orion Nike Orion Nike Orion is the designation of a two-stage American elevator research rocket, with a Nike base stage and an Orion upper stage. The Nike Orion is 9 m long, has a diameter of 0.42 m, a launch weight of 1100 kilograms , a launch thrust of 217 kN and a ceiling of 140 km .-External links:*... |
MALTED/CADRE Ionosphere | 140 km |
| 9 September 1994 | Black Brant Black Brant (rocket) The Black Brant is a Canadian-designed sounding rocket built by Bristol Aerospace in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over 800 Black Brants of various versions have been launched since they were first produced in 1961, and the type remains one of the most popular sounding rockets ever built... |
Ionosphere | 250 km |
| 21 September 1994 | Black Brant Black Brant (rocket) The Black Brant is a Canadian-designed sounding rocket built by Bristol Aerospace in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over 800 Black Brants of various versions have been launched since they were first produced in 1961, and the type remains one of the most popular sounding rockets ever built... |
Ionosphere | 250 km |
| 23 September 1994 | Nike Tomahawk Nike Tomahawk The Nike Tomahawk was a two stage American sounding rocket. The first stage was a Nike rocket, the second a Tomahawk rocket.The Nike Tomahawk has a ceiling of 230 statute miles , a payload capacity of 100 pounds , a launch thrust of 49,000 pounds of force , a launch weight of 2,200 pounds , a... |
Ionosphere | 270 km |
| 23 September 1994 | Nike Tomahawk Nike Tomahawk The Nike Tomahawk was a two stage American sounding rocket. The first stage was a Nike rocket, the second a Tomahawk rocket.The Nike Tomahawk has a ceiling of 230 statute miles , a payload capacity of 100 pounds , a launch thrust of 49,000 pounds of force , a launch weight of 2,200 pounds , a... |
Ionosphere | 270 km |
| 24 September 1994 | Nike Tomahawk Nike Tomahawk The Nike Tomahawk was a two stage American sounding rocket. The first stage was a Nike rocket, the second a Tomahawk rocket.The Nike Tomahawk has a ceiling of 230 statute miles , a payload capacity of 100 pounds , a launch thrust of 49,000 pounds of force , a launch weight of 2,200 pounds , a... |
Ionosphere | 270 km |
| 24 September 1994 | Nike Tomahawk Nike Tomahawk The Nike Tomahawk was a two stage American sounding rocket. The first stage was a Nike rocket, the second a Tomahawk rocket.The Nike Tomahawk has a ceiling of 230 statute miles , a payload capacity of 100 pounds , a launch thrust of 49,000 pounds of force , a launch weight of 2,200 pounds , a... |
Ionosphere | 270 km |
| 6 October 1994 | Black Brant Black Brant (rocket) The Black Brant is a Canadian-designed sounding rocket built by Bristol Aerospace in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over 800 Black Brants of various versions have been launched since they were first produced in 1961, and the type remains one of the most popular sounding rockets ever built... |
Ionosphere | Failure (250 km) |
| 14 October 1994 | Black Brant Black Brant (rocket) The Black Brant is a Canadian-designed sounding rocket built by Bristol Aerospace in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over 800 Black Brants of various versions have been launched since they were first produced in 1961, and the type remains one of the most popular sounding rockets ever built... |
Guará H.Alt Spread F Ionosphere | 956 km |
| 15 October 1994 | Black Brant Black Brant (rocket) The Black Brant is a Canadian-designed sounding rocket built by Bristol Aerospace in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Over 800 Black Brants of various versions have been launched since they were first produced in 1961, and the type remains one of the most popular sounding rockets ever built... |
Ionosphere | 250 km |
| 28 April 1997 | VS-30 VS-30 The VS-30 is an Argentine-Brazilian sounding rocket, derived from the Sonda 3 sounding rocket's first stage. It consists of a single, solid-fuelled stage, and has been launched from Alcântara, Maranhão, and Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil, and Andøya in Norway.It has been launched both... XV-01 |
VS-30 Test | 128 km |
| 2 November 1997 | VLS-1 VLS-1 The VLS - Satellite Launch Vehicle - is the Brazilian Space Agency's main satellite launch vehicle project. The project's goal is to develop a launch vehicle capable of launching small general-purpose satellites into orbit... V01 |
VLS-1 | Destroyed during launch |
| 21 March 1998 | VS-40 VS-40 The VS-40 is a Brazilian sounding rocket using solid fuel, stabilized aerodynamically, distributed between the first stage S-40TM engine and the second stage S-44 engine.-Flights:... |
VS-40 Test | 900 km |
| 15 March 1999 | VS-30 VS-30 The VS-30 is an Argentine-Brazilian sounding rocket, derived from the Sonda 3 sounding rocket's first stage. It consists of a single, solid-fuelled stage, and has been launched from Alcântara, Maranhão, and Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil, and Andøya in Norway.It has been launched both... XV-04 |
Operação San Marcos | 128 km |
| 11 December 1999 | VLS-1 VLS-1 The VLS - Satellite Launch Vehicle - is the Brazilian Space Agency's main satellite launch vehicle project. The project's goal is to develop a launch vehicle capable of launching small general-purpose satellites into orbit... V02 |
SACI-2 | Destroyed by range safety (10 km) |
| 6 February 2000 | VS-30 VS-30 The VS-30 is an Argentine-Brazilian sounding rocket, derived from the Sonda 3 sounding rocket's first stage. It consists of a single, solid-fuelled stage, and has been launched from Alcântara, Maranhão, and Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil, and Andøya in Norway.It has been launched both... XV-05 |
Lençóis Maranhenses | 148 km |
| 21 August 2000 | VS-30/Orion VS-30 The VS-30 is an Argentine-Brazilian sounding rocket, derived from the Sonda 3 sounding rocket's first stage. It consists of a single, solid-fuelled stage, and has been launched from Alcântara, Maranhão, and Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil, and Andøya in Norway.It has been launched both... XV-01 |
Baronesa | 315 km |
| 23 November 2002 | VS-30/Orion VS-30 The VS-30 is an Argentine-Brazilian sounding rocket, derived from the Sonda 3 sounding rocket's first stage. It consists of a single, solid-fuelled stage, and has been launched from Alcântara, Maranhão, and Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil, and Andøya in Norway.It has been launched both... XV-02 |
Piraperna Ionosphere | 434 km |
| 1 December 2002 | VS-30 VS-30 The VS-30 is an Argentine-Brazilian sounding rocket, derived from the Sonda 3 sounding rocket's first stage. It consists of a single, solid-fuelled stage, and has been launched from Alcântara, Maranhão, and Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil, and Andøya in Norway.It has been launched both... XV-06 |
Cumã | Failure (145 km) |
| 22 August 2003 | VLS-1 VLS-1 The VLS - Satellite Launch Vehicle - is the Brazilian Space Agency's main satellite launch vehicle project. The project's goal is to develop a launch vehicle capable of launching small general-purpose satellites into orbit... XV-03 |
SATEC | Failure (2003 Alcântara VLS accident) |
| 23 October 2004 | VSB-30 VSB-30 VSB-30 - "Veículo de Sondagem Booster – 30" is the designation of a Brazilian sounding rocket, which replaced the Skylark rocket at Esrange.... XV-01 |
Cajuana Test | 100 km |
| 23 October 2004 | VSB-30 VSB-30 VSB-30 - "Veículo de Sondagem Booster – 30" is the designation of a Brazilian sounding rocket, which replaced the Skylark rocket at Esrange.... V01 |
VSB-30 Flight Test | 259 km |
| 19 July 2007 | VSB-30 VSB-30 VSB-30 - "Veículo de Sondagem Booster – 30" is the designation of a Brazilian sounding rocket, which replaced the Skylark rocket at Esrange.... V04 |
Cumã II | 242 km |
| 29 May 2009 | Orion | Maracati 1 | 93 km |
| 12 December 2010 | VSB-30 VSB-30 VSB-30 - "Veículo de Sondagem Booster – 30" is the designation of a Brazilian sounding rocket, which replaced the Skylark rocket at Esrange.... V07 |
Maracati 2 | 242 km (successful; payload recovered) |
| Source: Astronautix | |||
External links
- Official site .
- Encyclopedia Astronautica about Alcantara, with maps, chronology and launch log.
- About the Alcantara Launch Center at globalsecurity.org.
- Space Today - Brazil's Atlantic Spaceports.
- Brazil spaceport threat to villages (BBC article).
- Alcântara Cyclone Space