Brazilian VLS rocket destroyed during ascent; Saci-2 satellite lost
A VLS rocket, built by Brazil, was destroyed by range safety officers 3 minutes into its flight on Saturday, 11 December when its second stage did not ignite. The rocket was carrying the Saci-2 satellite designed and built by Brazil’s National Space Research Institute (INPE) to perform geophysical research. The launch occured at the Alcântara Launch center.
In November 1997, Brazil made an earlier attempt to launch its VLS rocket but the vehicle failed shortly after launch destroying its weather satellite payload. Several days after this second attempt, Brazil announced that it was abandoning its launch vehicle development program.
° Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (National Institute for Space Research) (INPE)
° Agencia Espacial Brasileira (AEB)
° Projecto Saci – INPE
° VLS – The Brazilian Sounding Rockets and Satellite Launcher Vehicle Program
° VLS launch vehicle, Encyclopedia Astronautica
