Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara

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Alcântara Launch Center Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara
Brazilian Space Agency
VLS satellite launcher at the Alcântara Launch Center
Type	Spaceport, Military base
Built	1982
In use	Active
Controlled by	Brazilian Air Force Brazilian Space Agency

The Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara (English: Alcântara Launch Center; CLA) is a satellite launching base 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 (Comando da Aeronáutica). 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. Also, the Ongoron I and Ongoron II rockets were tested here by the French Government in 1994.

So far, only sounding rockets and VLS rockets have been launched from Alcântara. On August 22, 2003, the explosion of the third VLS-1 (VO3) killed 21 people. There are also plans to launch several international rockets from Alcântara. In 2003 contracts were signed to launch Ukrainian Cyclone-4^[2] and Israeli Shavit rockets; In addition there are further plans to launch the Russian Proton and the Chinese Long March 4 .

Current government plans to construct a civilian launching center, operated by the Brazilian Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Brasileira) and adjacent to the military controlled CLA, have stirred opposition among most of the villagers in the area, fearful of relocation to cramped agrovilas. These villagers are pursuing a legal right to their land as remanescentes das comunidades dos quilombos (escaped-slave descended communities). Brazil's 1988 constitution requires that the government award land rights to such communities.

[edit] List of launchpads

• Pad 1 - VLS Pad

[edit] Launch List

[edit] See also

• Rocket Launch Sites Worldwide

[edit] References

1. ^ CLA Airport Info
2. ^ President of Ukraine signs Decree on measures to ensure realization of Ukrainian-Brazilian project of creating space rocket complex "Cyclone - 4"
3. ^ Astronautix: Alcantara Chronology and Launch Log

[edit] External links

• Official site (Portuguese).
• 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).

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Coordinates: 2°17′S 44°23′W / -2.283, -44.383