In spite of problems, Brazil prepares to launch rockets and satellites

The Alcântara Launch Center located in the state of Maranhão, made two launch tests last week on Thursday (June 16) and Friday (June 17), which are part of preparations to launch satellites (“Veículo Lançador de Satélites – VLS”) and the Cyclone 4 rocket that is being developed in a joint venture with Ukraine.

Besides the tests, there will be two more test launches before the end of this year: one, in August and the other in October or November.

Brazil also has an ambitious satellite program for the next three years: in September 2012, the Cbers 3 satellite, for earth observation, in a partnership with China; in 2013, a totally Brazilian satellite, the Amazon 1, that will weigh 550 kilos; and, probably in September 2014, Cbers 4, another partnership satellite with China.

The location of the launches may be decided by international bidding. The cost of each launch is around $30 million (the total bill for all three satellites will be around $200 million).

The Amazon 1 was originally scheduled to go into orbit in 2010, but ran into technology problems. Marco Antônio Chamon, coordinator of Technology Management at the National Institute of Space Research (“Inpe”) says there were setbacks. “Adaptation of the Brazilian industrial sector to space technology demands was slower than expected. There is a learning curve that does not depend on the number of people or the amount of money. It is complicated and just takes time,” explains Chamon.

Elizabeth Veloso, a consultant on science and technology at the Chamber of Deputies, says the Brazilian space effort has suffered due to a lack of continuity. “There is no ‘purchase flow,’ there are no clear priorities, and there is a lack of consistent funding. As a result, targets are not met. Brazil is at the mercy of the big powers and totally dependent on them for satellite monitoring (deforestation, border control, weather forecasting) of our own country,” she says [note: the Brazilian-Chinese earth observation satellite, Cbers 2b, was closed down in April 2010, at the end of its useful life].

Célio Costa Vaz, a director at an engineering firm (“Orbital Engenharia Ltda”) says that the Brazilian space program is presently “on a downward spiral.” He points out that Brazilian firms cannot survive on supply contracts for the domestic space program while they have difficulties competing in the international market.

Besides the delay with the Amazon 1 satellite, other projects are behind schedule or undefined: a satellite to be launched in partnership with the United States for the International Program on Precipitation Measurement; a remote sensory satellite to be launched in partnership with Germany and various satellites for scientific experiments and observation (Lattes, Equars and Mirax).