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Alcantara Base Opens to Foreigners

by Joaquim Monteiro
Brasilia CORREIO BRAZILIENSE 12 Mar 95

The Alcantara Launch Center (CLA) in Maranhao, operated by the Ministry of Aeronautics, is going to be made available for use under lease arrangements by countries engaged in aerospace activities. Within the next few days, Minister Mauro Gandra will establish guidelines covering the technical conditions at the center's facilities and launch options for each class of rocket.

With this initiative, the Ministry of Aeronautics is placing the Brazilian space complex among the world's most modern launch centers and enabling it to compete internationally.

Countries such as the United States, Great Britain, and Russia have already expressed an interest in using the facilities at the Alcantara base to launch atmospheric probe rockets into the airspace of the Americas.

Last year, according to General Jose Elislande Bayo de Barros, director of the Department of Research and Development in the Ministry of Aeronautics, NASA launched 36 meteorological prospection rockets from the CLA's platforms.

Confidence--In the general's opinion, the preference shown by an agency as big as NASA demonstrates the confidence the Americans have in the facility. The launch operations were part of an exchange agreement signed between NASA and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), which has replaced the former Brazilian Commission for Space Activities (Cobae).

Profit was not the motive behind use of the site. Fuel and third-party services were the only expenses reimbursed. The operation reportedly cost the Americans about $15 million.

The launches in question, known collectively as "Operation Guara," involved 75 technicians and scientists from NASA and 280 Brazilian technicians and researchers from the CLA and the National Institute of Space Research (INPE).

In General Elislande's opinion, it was an important test of the Alcantara complex's technical expertise in the launching of small and medium-sized rockets.

Location an Advantage

The location of the Alcantara base, which is close to the equator, makes possible a 25-percent savings in fuel compared to launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in the United States.

Launches from Alcantara are from 25 percent to 30 percent more economical than those made from the centers in Baikonur, owned by Russia, and Kourou, French Guiana, which belongs to the French and from where Brazil launched its first satellite, Brasilsat, in 1985.

The Brazilian center covers an area of 520,000 square meters in the municipality of Alcantara, a fact that benefits it from the standpoint of operational safety. It has a landing strip capable of handling large aircraft and accommodations for up to 600 people. The clearly defined rainy season in the region, winds that are predominantly within acceptable limits, and a temperature that scarcely varies are other factors making the center one of the best located of all those existing around the world.

Disadvantage--Maritime traffic in the port of Itaqui on Sao Luis Island is always a hindrance to launch operations, with the result that the Maranhao Port Authority bans ship movements during those operations.

A coastal ship flying the Greek flag recently ignored the port authority's warning to stay away from the area, thus forcing the CLA command to delay the launching of a Sonda III rocket and causing considerable financial loss for the Ministry of Aeronautics.

The Satellite Launch Vehicle (VLS)--the main project of the Complete Brazilian Space Mission (MECB)--is scheduled to go into operation in July 1996.

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