Space station Brazil

[arcticpenguin]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=570&ncid=753&e=1&u=/nm/20030821/sc_nm/brazil_space_dc

ALCANTARA, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil is poised to become the first Latin American nation to send its own rockets into space, blasting them off from a jungle launch pad first envisioned a generation ago by its former military rulers.

[Correa Neto]

I know the place. Its vegetation can hardly be called a jungle.

The base is well-placed, its location allows fuel economy. There are some contacts regarding the use of the base by foreign countries (USA among them) for launches. Some short-minded people here made protests against it, claiming the "our technology would be stolen" and the USA would use the base to stabilish a millitary base like Guantanamo.

Its there, and money can be made out of it. period.

Regarding the VLS (Veiculo Lançador de Satélites, Sattelite Launcher Vehicle), it is composed by solid-state rockets, not unlike those space shuttle boosters. The main technological challenge is the guidance system, restricted technology (it can be used as missile guidance system). And yes, it started its life as a two-versions project- a ballistic missile, supposed to carry our nuke (both abandomned projects) and the current VLS.

[uneasy]

I think this is a great thing, and I wish Brazil all the luck. I've often wondered if a location near the equator could give enough savings to compete well with the NASA. If there is a less expensive alternative to shoving up some more communication satellites, the corporations will take notice.

And my company recently fired a bunch of people and replaced them with Brazilians, so see how forgiving I am? :)

[LuxFerum]

cool:cool:

[Correa Neto]

Originally posted by uneasy
I think this is a great thing, and I wish Brazil all the luck. I've often wondered if a location near the equator could give enough savings to compete well with the NASA. If there is a less expensive alternative to shoving up some more communication satellites, the corporations will take notice.

And my company recently fired a bunch of people and replaced them with Brazilians, so see how forgiving I am? :)

ESA and Ariennespace are not intersted in launching its rockets from here for obvious reasons, but Ukraine, and USA (for what I´ve heard, privately-owned companies and perhaps even some surveillance systems) are. The idea is at a first stage rent the faccilities to other countries/companies, then eventually enter in the market with an improved version of the VLS.

Since dreaming is unexpensive, maybe the fuel economy gives an extra boost for projects such as those concurring for the X-prize. Maybe, who knows in the future orbital tours will depart from here.

Well, we are cheap :rolleyes:...

BTW, where do you work? Dou you need a geologist?:wink:

[arcticpenguin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3175131.stm

An explosion that destroyed a Brazilian space rocket scheduled for blast-off in a few days has killed 16 people, the Defence Ministry has said.

Sad.

[Brown]

Very sad. We grieve with the people in Brazil.

According to the latest report from the AP, everything was going well up until today. "The blast came as technicians were putting the finishing touches on a rocket that would make Brazil the first Latin American nation to put a satellite in space."

[Correa Neto]

At least 19 people were killed. Now we know how USA and USSR felt when they suffered their casualities.

This was most likely the end of our fledgeling space program. The people supporting the "put-the-money-somewhere-else-on-earth-where-it-will-be-more-usefull" now have all the ammo they needed.

Ukraine spokesman says the tragedy will not affect the deal. However, that's basically the use of the base. Development of native technology, that was the central point of our space program, is not involved. Some technology transfer will happen, but not the independent development.

[daver]

Originally posted by Correa Neto
At least 19 people were killed. Now we know how USA and USSR felt when they suffered their casualities.

This was most likely the end of our fledgeling space program. The people supporting the "put-the-money-somewhere-else-on-earth-where-it-will-be-more-usefull" now have all the ammo they needed.

Ukraine spokesman says the tragedy will not affect the deal. However, that's basically the use of the base. Development of native technology, that was the central point of our space program, is not involved. Some technology transfer will happen, but not the independent development.

In the US, space disasters seem to increase public support for space development. Followup articles seem to indicate the same for Brazil. We can hope so.

Every space faring country that I know of has had disasters of this nature. It's pretty close to inevitable. Hopefully Brazil will be able to learn from this and continue to go forward.

[SquishyDave]

It is sad, but I feel the more countries in space the better. Hopefully this won't put a dent in the program.

[Ove]

Well now your rocket blew up, so did the NASA rockets in the early sixties. If you follow their pace you'll have a man on the moon before the end of this decade.;)

[Jon_in_london]

Very sad that it went wrong. Every nation that gets itself into space is a massive step forward for the whole of humanity.

Neverthless, its good that space is now not just within the realm of the superpower.

Better luck next time. :)

[Correa Neto]

Thanks.

Our president said that more money will be put on the space program. I know its a legacy from the millitary dictatorship and has a foot on an ICBM program (as many launchers have), but sattelites are key devices today and in the foreseeble (does this word really exists?) future. Being able to launch our own satellites is fundamental, and its also a market that moves billions of dollars every year.

And competition is good for the market and the customers.

[Diamond]

Originally posted by Correa Neto
Thanks.

Our president said that more money will be put on the space program. I know its a legacy from the millitary dictatorship and has a foot on an ICBM program (as many launchers have), but sattelites are key devices today and in the foreseeble (does this word really exists?) future. Being able to launch our own satellites is fundamental, and its also a market that moves billions of dollars every year.

And competition is good for the market and the customers.

But you'd better start successfully launching soon, or the insurance costs will price you out of the market....:eek:

[jim_scotti]

Originally posted by Correa Neto
Thanks.

Our president said that more money will be put on the space program. I know its a legacy from the millitary dictatorship and has a foot on an ICBM program (as many launchers have), but sattelites are key devices today and in the foreseeble (does this word really exists?) future. Being able to launch our own satellites is fundamental, and its also a market that moves billions of dollars every year.

And competition is good for the market and the customers.

Doing new things is always risky. Look back on the early space programs of both the US and the Soviet Union and you'll see many launch failures, but perseverance and hard work will ultimately win out. Our condolences on your losses, and I hope the motivation is strong enough to push through the setbacks. As both our space programs have recently reminded us, exploration is dangerous, but the advantages are worth the risk and we well hopefully not only carry on, but expand our efforts and hopefully Brazil will too.

Jim.

[arcticpenguin]

There's an update into the investigation of the explosion, no new developments:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=570&ncid=753&e=4&u=/nm/20031011/sc_nm/space_brazil_russia_dc


BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Russian experts have found no obvious technical faults with Brazil's space rocket which blew up on its launch pad in August, most likely due to an electrical discharge, Brazilian Defense Minister Jose Viegas said on Friday.