Leveraging existing facilities at Alcântara Space Center, the LauncherOne system allows the first ever orbital flights from Brazil

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 28, 2021 (Virgin Orbit PR)— The Brazilian Space Agency (Agência Espacial Brasileira; AEB) and Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) announced today that Virgin Orbit has been selected to bring orbital launch capability to Brazil, a country which has never successfully completed a domestic launch to orbit. Thanks to the unique mobility and small footprint of Virgin Orbit’s air-launched system architecture, launches to a wide range of orbital inclinations could quickly become possible without the need for new permanent infrastructure, nor the expansion of existing facilities.

BRASILIA, Brazil (AEB PR) — The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), a federal public agency linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI), with the purpose of promoting the development of space activities of national interest, launches the second public call for bids for Brazilian and foreign companies interested in launching from Alcântara. 

Editor’s Note: This is intriguing press release from the Brazilian Space Agency about plans to conduct satellite launches from Alcantara Launch Center next year. The Atlantic coast spaceport, which is 2.2 degrees from the equator, has never hosted orbital launches despite several previous efforts over many decades that have come to naught.

It’s not clear what launch vehicle will be used. The press release mentions the Technological Safeguards Agreement with the United States that would allow U.S. satellites and launch vehicles to fly from Alcantara. A number of American launch companies have visited Alcantara to evaluate the spaceport.

Alcantara has always been the spaceport of the future. Maybe the future is now.

BRASILIA, Brazil (Brazilian Space Agency PR) — It is located in Alcântara, Maranhão, the largest space vehicle launch center in the country. Created 38 years ago, and having started operating in 1991, it is preparing to launch private launches from 2022. With the successful launch of the Brazilian satellite Amazonia 1, in India, Brazil confirms its ability to design, integrate and operate satellites and other state-of-the-art systems. Henceforth, depending on size and mass, satellites may be launched from the Alcântara Space Center (CEA).

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) has issued its first operator licenses for space launch activities to a domestic software developer and an American engineering services company.

AEB awarded the licenses to Essado de Moraise Ltda. of Franca, Brazil, and Orion Applied Science & Technology LLC (https://orionast.com/) of Manassas, Va., the space agency said in a press release.

The president of Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) said on Sunday that Brazil plans a launch a domestically-produced orbital rocket within two years, according to a news release on the agency’s website.

“We are working on the development of a more powerful engine, which is the S50, a project carried out in partnership with the national industry in São José dos Campos (SP). It incorporates a number of technological advances. We intend to start testing the engine in 2021 and make it fly by 2022,” Carlos Moura said.

BRASILIA, Brazil (AEB PR) — The space sector was included among the guidelines and priorities for the applications of the Constitutional Fund for Financing in the Northeast (FNE) 2021. Administered by Banco do Nordeste, the special financing line will be important for the installation of companies in the space sector in the Alcântara region, in Maranhão.

The indication for the allocation of resources was made possible after the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), an autarchy linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI), and the Northeast Development Superintendence (SUDENE) discussed the importance of including the space sector among the strategic areas to receive investments in 2021. Which will have an impact on the promotion and development of the Northeast region in the coming years.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

A few thoughts as we begin week 403 of the Covid-19 lock down….

Location. Location. Location.

The three most important words in real estate. And Brazil’s Alcantara Launch Center has got it.

BRASILIA (AEB PR) — The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), an autarchy linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI), informs that companies registered in the Public Call aimed at carrying out launch activities using the Alcântara Space Center (CEA) in Maranhão, you have until 5 pm (Brasília time), on August 31, 2020, to send your proposals for analysis. Altogether 14 companies signed up.

 The proposals will be verified by the Special Analysis Commission, formed by members of the AEB and the Air Force Command (COMAER). The commission was created through an act by the President of AEB, Carlos Moura. CEA may be used in launch operations from 2021.

The Brazilian newspaper O Estado do Maranhão (The State of Maranhão) reports that there is considerable domestic and international interest in launching from that nation’s Alcântara Space Center.

The Brazilian Space blog reproduced the study here. Below is an excerpt in English translated from Portuguese via Google Translate.

BRASILIA, Brazil (AEB PR) — The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), a government agency linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTIC), with the purpose of promoting the development of space activities of national interest, launches a public call to identify companies, national and international, that are interested in carrying out orbital and suborbital launch operations, using the Alcantara Space Center (CEA), in Maranhão State.