Brazil plans to launch first rocket by 2006

CNN | July 7 2004

A revitalized Brazilian space program, whose morale and reputation were damaged by a deadly accident in 2003, will launch the country's first rocket by 2006, the country's science and technology minister pledged Tuesday.

Eduardo Campos made the promise after swearing in the Brazilian Space Agency's new director, civil engineer Sergio Gaudenzi.

The program was dealt a huge blow in August 2003 when its VLS rocket and launching platform exploded in a fiery ball at the space agency's Alcantara launch center in Maranhao state, 850 miles (1,400 kilometers) north of Brasilia. The accident killed 21 space agency employees.

A government report on the accident, issued earlier this year, blamed poor maintenance for a series of mechanical failures that led to the explosion. Space agency director Luiz Bevilacqua resigned following release of the report in March. He was replaced this week by Gaudenzi.

Campos, whose ministry oversees the space program, said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has approved additional funding for the space agency equal to more than $12 million this year alone. That money will supplement the agency's regular budget of $13 million.

"We are on target for raising the money we need this year and next year to fulfill the promise of launching a Brazilian space vehicle by the first half of 2006," Campos said.

Gaudenzi said the space program was necessary "for strategic national purposes." He added, "We cannot expect to be given this kind of advanced, strategic technology by any other country. We have to develop it ourselves."

The new space agency director said the VLS rocket will be used to launch Brazilian satellites into earth's orbit. He said the satellites will be used to study Brazil's agricultural and water resources as well as environmental conditions.