Alcântara Launch Center (CLA) is one of the most privileged bases in the world for carrying out space launches, due to its geographic location close to the Equator
O will take a big step in the space race on October 22nd, when it will carry out its first commercial launch of a space vehicle from national territory. The event, which will take place at the Alcântara Launch Center, in marks Brazil’s entry into the competitive global space launch market, offering new opportunities for generating income and attracting investment.
The launch is part of Operation Spaceward 2025, a mission responsible for launching the South Korean HANBIT-Nano rocket, developed by the company Innospace. The rocket, which will carry five satellites and three experiments into space, was designed to test the interaction between payloads and the launch vehicle, ensuring the compatibility and safety necessary for launch.
The Alcântara Launch Center (CLA) is one of the most privileged bases in the world for carrying out space launches, due to its geographical location close to the Equator. This provides a strategic advantage, as launches in the region take advantage of the Earth’s rotation, making the route to space shorter and more economical, with lower fuel consumption and greater payload capacity.
With an area equivalent to 40% the size of the city of São Paulo, the CLA has 62 thousand hectares, of which only 15% are occupied by launch facilities.
The region also stands out for suffering little from extreme weather phenomena, such as earthquakes and tornadoes, which contributes to the safety of operations. The base is located in the city of Alcântara, about 30 kilometers from São Luís, and is mainly accessed by boats. Since its inauguration more than four decades ago, CLA has been responsible for more than 500 space launches.
What’s at stake for Brazil
The launch of HANBIT-Nano is a significant milestone, not only for Brazil, but also for the global space industry. Although the space race was initially dominated by government agencies, in recent decades the private sector, with names like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, has played an increasingly important role. Brazil, which has been overtaken by countries such as China and India, sees the expansion of its space launch capacity as a chance to recover lost ground and stimulate the development of essential technologies in several areas, such as telecommunications, satellite monitoring and even aviation.
The October 22 mission will serve to ensure that onboard satellites and experiments are properly integrated into the launch vehicle and prepared for flight. According to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which coordinates the operation, the integration phase, which began on October 10, is crucial to carry out tests and checks that ensure the correct functioning of all equipment.
The Alcântara base has an important history, but it is also marked by tragedies. On August 22, 2003, one of the deadliest accidents in Brazilian aerospace history occurred, when 21 people, including technicians and engineers from the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE), lost their lives in a fire in the Mobile Integration Tower (TMI). The accident happened three days before the launch of the VLS-1 rocket, a milestone for Brazil, but which never materialized.
The episode is remembered to this day as a warning about the safety of operations at the base, but also as an impetus for Brazil to continue investing in the evolution of its space technologies. The podcast Alcântara: The Brazilian space disaster, from Estadão, tells in more detail the story of the accident and the consequences for the national space program.
The first commercial launch of a rocket from Brazil marks a new phase for the Brazilian space sector. The country joins a select group of nations with the capacity to carry out commercial space launches, which opens doors for partnerships with international companies and the strengthening of the local space industry.
Experts highlight that mastery of space technology is essential for the development of several strategic areas, such as environmental monitoring, telecommunications and even the defense industry. Furthermore, Brazil has the potential to become an important player in the global launch market, attracting investments and new businesses. The launch of HANBIT-Nano will be the first of many, and with it, Brazil takes an important step in consolidating its presence in the global space sector.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
