Because the annual maintenance cost of Alcantara Launch Center is very high, the Brazilian government officially opened the center to foreign countries in March 1999 in order to open up funding sources. In this way, in addition to Brazil's own space experiment plan, it also undertakes the business of launching satellites for foreign countries.

Judging from the contracts signed between the center and foreign companies, the former provides the latter with a package of services, including meteorological detection, radar tracking and safe navigation, as well as launch bases, hydropower, technical personnel camps, transportation equipment and sanitary facilities. On June 1 this year, Bevilacqua Lewis, director of the Brazilian Space Agency, said in an interview with Brazil's Globe that the launch technology of Alcantara launch center is in a leading position in the world.

Bevilacqua made no secret of his "ambition" for Brazil to enter the international aviation market: "We will conduct a satellite launch experiment this year, probably in August, and hope this time will be successful (the previous two launches ended in failure). If the launch is successful, it will prove that Brazil is fully qualified to share a piece of the international market for satellite launch. "

No wonder Bevilacqua attaches so much importance to this launch. As early as 1997,165438+1October 2 and 1999, 1 1, two VLS "satellite launch vehicles" developed by Brazil ended in failure. If this launch is successful, Brazil will become the first Latin American country to launch a satellite with its own rocket.

At present, Alcantara Launch Center has been expanded to launch rockets for VSL orbital missions. Unfortunately, the VSL rocket has not been successfully launched yet. On August 22nd, 2003, 2 1 Brazilian technicians and engineers were killed in the third VSL- 1(Vo3) rocket explosion accident, and the launch pad was also destroyed in this accident.

Alcantara Launch Center also undertakes other international satellite launch missions. At the 20 1 1 Boao Forum for Asia, Brazilian President Lula and visiting Ukrainian President Kuchma signed a long-term space cooperation agreement on April 2 1. After meeting with the Brazilian President, the Ukrainian Prime Minister was interviewed by reporters and announced that the two countries will continue to cooperate in the space field and build a large-scale international space launch center 20 14 years ago. The space center will be expanded on the basis of the existing alcantara Space Center in Brazil. Alcantara is located on the Atlantic coast of northern Brazil, 2 degrees south latitude. It is the closest space launch center to the equator in the world (excluding sea launch). So far, Brazil has launched a series of sounding rockets at the center and tested VLS launch vehicles (failed many times). The two countries plan to launch the Ukrainian Cyclone -4 (also known as Tsyklon-4) carrier rocket in the center in the future to compete in the international commercial launch market, and undertake the launching tasks of Israel's Shavit(2003 news) and Russia's Proton(2065 438+00 news).

The first launch of Cyclone -4 is scheduled for 20 12. According to the agreement, the two sides will use the Ukrainian "Cyclone -4" rocket to launch satellites at the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil, and provide commercial satellite launch services to other customers. Brazilian Defense Minister Viegas said that Ukraine has mastered the cutting-edge technology of launch vehicles, but there is no good launch site; Brazil has a superior launch site, but no launch vehicle. Therefore, this cooperation agreement is very important for both sides to develop their respective space programs. Viegas said that the cooperation between the two sides will help to turn alcantara into an international space launch center, create conditions for the technical exchange of launch vehicles between the two countries, and accelerate the research and development of Brazil's next generation V 1S launch vehicle. It is reported that the two countries will each invest 80 million US dollars in the next three years to build the necessary infrastructure in Alcantara launch center.