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Over 70 licensed launch facilities now operate globally — 20 commissioned since 2020.
| Attribute | Palmachim Airbase 🇮🇱 Israel Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | Alcantara Launch Center 🇧🇷 Brazil Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Israel Defense Forces / Israel Aerospace Industries | Houston Airport System | Brazilian Air Force (FAB) / Agência Espacial Brasileira (AEB) |
| Ownership | Military | Public-Private | Government |
| Region | 🇮🇱 Israel | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| Launch pads | 1 active (classified IAF facility)as of [1] | — | 1 (CLA mobile launch vehicle; VLM-1 pad under development)as of [1] ↑ Most pads |
| Annual launches | 1–2as of [1] | 0 | 0–1 (first orbital launch pending)as of [1]Sounding rockets operational; VLM-1 orbital debut targeted 2027 |
| Max payload (LEO) | ~350 kg to retrograde LEO (Shavit-2)as of [1]Launches westward over Mediterranean due to geopolitical overflight constraints; unusual retrograde orbit ↑ Highest capacity | — | ~150 kg to SSO (VLM-1 target)as of [1]Near-equatorial location (2.3°S) provides ~460 m/s velocity bonus for GTO missions |
| First operational launch | 1988-09-19as of [2]Ofeq-1 — Israel's first satellite; first nation ever to launch into retrograde orbit from a dedicated national site | 2015 | 1990-11-21as of [1]VS-30 sounding rocket; first orbital attempt VLS-1 1997 (pad explosion); new era with VLM-1 |
| Regulatory regime | Israel Space Agency (ISA) civil oversight; Ministry of Defense controls dual-use launches and Ofeq reconnaissance program | FAA-AST Launch Site Operator License (horizontal launch) | AEB regulatory framework; 2019 U.S.–Brazil Technology Safeguards Agreement enables U.S.-origin payload launches |
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