Brazilian Air Force (FAB) / Agência Espacial Brasileira (AEB) · Alcantara, Maranhao, Brazil, Brazil
Launch Pads
1 (CLA mobile launch vehicle; VLM-1 pad under development)as of [1]Annual Launches
0–1 (first orbital launch pending)as of [1]Sounding rockets operational; VLM-1 orbital debut targeted 2027Max Payload (LEO)
~150 kg to SSO (VLM-1 target)as of [1]Near-equatorial location (2.3°S) provides ~460 m/s velocity bonus for GTO missionsEstablished
1990
Alcântara Launch Center (Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara, CLA) is Brazil's primary orbital launch site and one of the most equatorially positioned spaceports in the world at just 2.3° south of the equator. This location confers a major energy advantage for equatorial and geostationary transfer missions versus mid-latitude sites. A 2019 Technology Safeguards Agreement with the United States cleared the way for commercial U.S. launches from Alcântara, opening the site to international operators including South Korea's Innospace, which conducted a suborbital test flight in 2023.
| Region | South America |
| Country | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| Coordinates | -2.3730° N, -44.3964° E |
| Ownership | Government |
| Parent Entity | Brazilian Ministry of Defence (Air Force) coordinated with AEB |
| Regulatory Regime | AEB regulatory framework; 2019 U.S.–Brazil Technology Safeguards Agreement enables U.S.-origin payload launches |
| Latitude Advantage | 2.3°S — ~13–25% GTO energy bonus vs. Kennedy Space Center (28.5°N) |
| Azimuth Range | Approximately 0°–110° (north to east over open Atlantic) |
| Website | https://www.gov.br/aeb/pt-br |
Anchor Tenants
Active Users
Strategic Value
Closest non-French equatorial spaceport accessible to U.S. and allied commercial operators. Brazil's hedge to capture share of the GTO and equatorial-LEO commercial market.
Recent Activity
Innospace HANBIT-TLV suborbital test flight in March 2023 marked first commercial foreign launch attempt from Alcântara; further partnerships in negotiation
2026
Continued buildout of commercial pads under TSA framework
2027
Target first orbital commercial launch by a foreign operator from Alcântara