Brazil promises to continue launch vehicle program
Posted: Tue, Sep 2, 2003, 2:04 PM ET (1804 GMT)
Brazilian government officials vowed last week to continue development of a small launch vehicle even after an accident last month claimed the lives of 21 workers. The accident, which took place as technicians were preparing the VLS-1 rocket for a launch attempt, has been seen as a major setback in Brazil's efforts to become a spacefaring nation. Reuters reported that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vowed to continue the program and carry out a successful launch by the end of 2006, when his four-year term expires. Repairing the damage to the Alcantara launch facility is estimated to cost $33 million, far more than the Brazilian Space Agency's annual budget of $12 million; it was unclear how much extra funding the government would provide. Brazil's budget is constrained by International Monetary Fund agreements that require the government to run budget surpluses, Space News reported.
Brazilian government officials vowed last week to continue development of a small launch vehicle even after an accident last month claimed the lives of 21 workers. The accident, which took place as technicians were preparing the VLS-1 rocket for a launch attempt, has been seen as a major setback in Brazil's efforts to become a spacefaring nation. Reuters reported that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vowed to continue the program and carry out a successful launch by the end of 2006, when his four-year term expires. Repairing the damage to the Alcantara launch facility is estimated to cost $33 million, far more than the Brazilian Space Agency's annual budget of $12 million; it was unclear how much extra funding the government would provide. Brazil's budget is constrained by International Monetary Fund agreements that require the government to run budget surpluses, Space News reported.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
California commission votes against increase in SpaceX Vandenberg launches
Posted: Sun, Aug 17 11:32 AM ET (1532 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, August 25
How the U.S. space industry became dependent on SpaceX
CNBC — 7:30 am ET (1130 GMT) Musk’s SpaceX Starship critical test launch scrapped over ground systems issue
Fox News — 7:27 am ET (1127 GMT) SpaceX scrubs 10th flight test of Starship moments before it was set to launch
ABCNews.com — 7:27 am ET (1127 GMT) SpaceX scrubs attempt to launch Starship megarocket after months of mishaps
CNN — 7:27 am ET (1127 GMT) SpaceX cancels Starship megarocket launch in latest setback
AFP — 7:25 am ET (1125 GMT) |
