Alcântara Space Center#List of launchpads
{{Short description|Brazilian Space Center}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Alcântara Space Center
| image = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 310
| image_style = border:1;
| perrow = 1/2/2
| image1 = VLS Pad Alcantara.png
| image2 =
| image3 = CLA Control Center.png
| image4 =
| image5 = Brazilian Air Force Rocket Launch Center.jpg
}}
| caption = Left to right from the top: VLS Pad, Control Center, Command Room, Tracking Antenna, Alcântara area from space
| logo = Centro Espacial de Alcântara Logo.png
| logo_size = 130px
| map = Maranhao Municip Alcantara.svg
| map_size = 160px
| map_caption = Location of the Alcântara Space Center
| abbreviation = CEA
| named_after =
| formation = {{Start date and age|1982}}
| type = Spaceport
| location = Alcântara, Maranhão, Brazil
| coordinates = {{coord|02|20|22|S|44|25|03|W|region:BR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| language = Portuguese
English
| owner = Aerospace Operations Command
Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Space Agency
| leader_title = Director
| leader_name = Col. Marcello Correa De Souza
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| budget =
| staff =
| website = {{URL|https://fab.mil.br/cla}}
| formerly = Alcântara Launch Center
| footnotes = {{cite web |title=FAB CEA |url=https://fab.mil.br/cla|publisher=Brazilian Air Force|access-date=30 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=CEA Airport Info |url=http://www.fallingrain.com/apts/1144.html|access-date=30 April 2021}}
}}
{{GeoGroup}}
The Alcântara Space Center ({{langx|pt|Centro Espacial de Alcântara}}, CEA), former known as Alcântara Launch Center ({{langx|pt|Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara}},{{citation |url=https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2021-04/empresas-dos-eua-e-do-canada-vao-atuar-no-centro-espacial-de-alcantara |title=Empresas dos EUA e do Canadá vão atuar no Centro Espacial de Alcântara |work=EBC |date=28 April 2021 |access-date=30 April 2021}}) is a space center and launching facility of the Brazilian Space Agency in the city of Alcântara, located on Brazil's northern Atlantic coast, in the state of Maranhão.[http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-350103.html Brazil, Ukraine to launch rocket together in 2010], UNIAN (December 3, 2009) It is operated by the Brazilian Air Force ({{lang|pt|Comando da Aeronáutica}}). The CEA 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.{{cite news |title=SONDA II |url=http://www.aeb.gov.br/programa-espacial-brasileiro/transporte-espacial/sonda-ii|website=AEB |access-date=20 November 2019}} On August 22, 2003, the explosion of the third VLS-1 (XV-03) killed 21 people.{{cite news |title=Maior acidente do Programa Espacial Brasileiro completa 13 anos |url=http://g1.globo.com/ma/maranhao/noticia/2016/08/maior-acidente-do-programa-espacial-brasileiro-completa-13-anos.html |website=G1 |access-date=20 November 2019}}
The facility is in a strong position for launching satellites into geosynchronous orbits, according to British astrophysicist, Jonathan McDowell.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=2018-03-19 |title=The key to cheaper US rocket launches may sit in Brazil's jungle |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/19/brazils-alcantara-why-are-boeing-lockheed-martin-vector-interested.html |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=CNBC |language=en}} As such, there are plans to launch several international rockets from Alcântara. In 2003 contracts were signed to launch Ukrainian Tsyklon-4[http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/news/2003/174871293_mode.htm President of Ukraine signs Decree on measures to ensure realization of Ukrainian-Brazilian project of creating space rocket complex "Cyclone - 4"] and Israeli Shavit"Launchers" by Tim Furniss, 26 August 2003, Flight International rockets, thought these may have later been launched from their home countries in Ukraine{{Cite web |title=Ukraine's little-known space feats – DW – 03/04/2022 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ukraines-little-known-space-feats/a-61005697 |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=dw.com |language=en}} and Israel.{{Cite web |last1=Gough |first1=Evan |last2=Today |first2=Universe |title=Israeli Shavit rocket delivers malfunctioning spy satellite into orbit |url=https://phys.org/news/2016-09-israeli-shavit-rocket-malfunctioning-spy.html |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=phys.org |language=en}} In addition there are further plans to launch the Russian Proton rocket.Interfax: Russia & CIS Defense Industry Weekly, 21 May 2010
In the beginning of 2018, Brazilian government offered the possibility to use the spaceport to several U.S. companies.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180308084058/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-space/u-s-space-companies-aim-to-help-brazil-rocket-base-lift-off-idUKKCN1GK0J1 Reuters: U.S. space companies aim to help Brazil rocket base lift off] The company Virgin Orbit, was selected to fly their LauncherOne rocket from Alcântara in the first half of 2023.{{cite press release |url=https://virginorbit.com/the-latest/virgin-orbit-selected-to-bring-orbital-launch-capabilities-to-brazil/ |title=Virgin Orbit Selected to Bring Orbital Launch Capabilities to Brazil |work=Virgin Orbit |date=28 April 2021 |access-date=29 April 2021}}{{cite press release |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2021/04/28/business-interest-grows-in-brazils-alcantara-spaceport-as-virgin-orbit-deal-announced/ |title=Business Interest Grows in Brazil's Alcântara Spaceport as Virgin Orbit Deal Announced |work=AEB |date=28 April 2021 |access-date=29 April 2021 |via=Parabolic Arc}}
Construction
Construction of the Alcântara Space Center began in 1982, as the Brazilian Space Agency's existing rocket range at Barreira do Inferno Launch Center was being overtaxed by growing demand for launch capacity.{{Cite conference |last=Melo |first=Ajax B. |date=1982-10-26 |title=Alcântara Space Center |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.1982-1751 |conference=6th Sounding Rocket Conference |location=Orlando, Fl. |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |doi=10.2514/6.1982-1751 |id=82-1751 }} In 2020, the government of Brazil announced their plan to expand the base by more than 12,000 hectares.
= Controversies =
The construction of the space center was controversial, as the site for the center was located on several quilombos, settlements inhabited largely by descendants of escaped slaves in Brazil. In 1980, Brazil's military government forcibly relocated more than 300 families to inland villages away from the coast to make way for the center. This heavily disrupted their traditional livelihood of fishing and led to multiple cases of malnutrition among the residents.{{Cite news |last=Faiola |first=Anthony |date=2001-10-06 |title=Brazil's Spaceport Displaces Villagers |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/10/06/brazils-spaceport-displaces-villagers/8de27ae3-620b-434c-9ad5-ff0af77090bd/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |issn=0190-8286}}
Human rights concerns over the displacement of locals were reported on during the center's planned expansions in 2001 and 2021, with residents and activists lobbying the government to halt expansions to prevent more communities from being displaced.{{Cite news |last=Barros |first=Ingrid |title=A story of slavery — and space |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2021/brazil-alcantara-launch-center-quilombo/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}} In 2023, the Brazilian government issued a public apology to the quilombolas and offered reparations.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-27 |title=Brazil apologizes for removal of Afro-Brazilian families to build spaceport |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-apologizes-removal-afro-brazilian-families-build-spaceport-2023-04-27/ |access-date=2023-11-02}}
Public-private partnership
Companies based in Alcântara as of 2021, with the objective of orbital and sub-orbital launches, for commercial purposes or in partnership with the Brazilian government:{{cite news |title=AS PRIMEIRAS EMPRESAS A FIRMAREM CONTRATO COM A BASE DE ALCÂNTARA|url=https://epoca.globo.com/guilherme-amado/as-primeiras-empresas-firmarem-contrato-com-base-de-alcantara-24992655 |website=Época |date=28 April 2021}}{{cite news |title=Governo seleciona quatro empresas para lançamento de satélites na base de Alcântara|url=https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/republica/breves/alcantara-lancamento-satelites-parcerias-empresas |website=Gazeta do Povo|date=28 April 2021}}
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- {{flagicon|Canada}}C6 Launch
- {{flagicon|United States}} Hyperion Rocket Systems
- {{flagicon|United States}} OrionAST
- {{flagicon|South Korea}} Innospace
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As of August 2021, the Brazilian government established Ordinance No. 698, a regulation that follows the FAA 14 CFR part 450 standard, which deals with launch and re-entry licenses in order to follow the world standard in space activities.[https://www.defensa.com/brasil/gobierno-regula-lanzamientos-sistemas-espaciales-privados-brasil El gobierno regula los lanzamientos de sistemas espaciales privados en Brasil. Date: September, 5, 2021.]
=Agreement between Brazil and the U.S.=
In 2019, Brazil and the U.S. signed an agreement, with the objective of preventing unauthorized access or transfer of U.S. technologies related to the launches from Alcântara.{{cite news |title=Bolsonaro promulga acordo de salvaguardas tecnológicas com EUA na base de Alcântara|url=https://valor.globo.com/brasil/noticia/2020/02/06/bolsonaro-promulga-acordo-de-salvaguardas-tecnolgicas-com-eua-na-base-de-alcntara.ghtml |website=Valor |date=6 February 2020}}
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
The Alcântara launch pads include:
- VLS Pad (with Mobile Integration Tower - TMI) {{coord|-02.31770|-44.36779|type:landmark_region:BR|name=VLS Pad}}
- MRL Pad (general sounding rocket pad) {{coord|-02.31608|-44.36730|type:landmark_region:BR|name=MRL Pad}}
- "Universal" pad for rockets up to 10 tons {{coord|-02.31599|-44.36782|type:landmark_region:BR|name="Universal" Pad}}
- A newly built pad to support Innospace's launches {{coord|-02.31698|-44.36873|type:landmark_region:BR|name=Innospace Pad}}
Launch list
The list of flights conducted and planned from Alcântara:
=Alcântara Space Center (from 2021)=
= Alcântara Launch Center (1982-2022) =
See also
- Aerospace Operations Command Brazilian space command
- Rocket Launch Sites Worldwide
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.cla.aer.mil.br/ Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718171441/http://www.cla.aer.mil.br/ |date=July 18, 2013 }} {{in lang|pt}}.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20030901100917/http://astronautix.com/sites/alcntara.htm Encyclopedia Astronautica about Alcantara], with maps, chronology and launch log.
- [http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/brazil/alcantara.htm About the Alcantara Launch Center] at globalsecurity.org.
- [http://www.spacetoday.org/Rockets/Spaceports/Brazil.html Space Today - Brazil's Atlantic Spaceports].
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3985229.stm Brazil spaceport threat to villages] (BBC article).
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080514124050/http://www.alcantaracyclonespace.com/ Alcântara Cyclone Space]
{{Brazil space program}}
{{Spaceport}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alcantara Launch Center}}
Category:Rocket launch sites in Brazil