VLS-1 V03

The 2003 Alcântara VLS accident was an accident during the Brazilian Space Agency's third attempt to launch the VLS-1 rocket, which was intended to launch two satellites into orbit. The rocket exploded on its launch pad at the Alcântara Launch Center, killing 21 people.

VLS-1 V03
Wreck of the structure of the VLS launch pad
Date22 August 2003 (2003-08-22)
Time13:26:05 BRT (UTC-3)
LocationAlcântara Launch Center, Maranhão, Brazil
OutcomeSetback to the Brazilian space program with the death of 21 technicians and destruction of launch vehicle and structure (launch pad and launch tower)
Deaths21

Background

This was the third attempt to launch the VLS-1 rocket. The first attempt, in 1997, ended in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1999, the rocket failed three minutes into the flight and was remotely terminated.[1]

The rocket cost $6.5 million.[2]

Payloads

The launch was supposed to carry the UNOSAT and SATEC in to orbit. Both were destroyed due to the explosion.[3][4]

Accident

On August 22, 2003, at 13:26:05 (local time) an inadvertent propellant ignition destroyed the launch vehicle as it stood on its launch pad at the Alcântara Launch Center in the state of Maranhão in northern Brazil.[5] Twenty-one people standing on the launch pad died when one of the rocket's four first stage motors ignited accidentally.[6] The explosion caused a fire in the nearby jungle brush, and produced a large cloud of smoke that was visible from far away.

Twenty-one people died in the explosion.[7] The number of casualties was initially unknown due to the catastrophic nature of the failure. The death toll was determined by holding a roll call.[8]

Aftermath
Aftermath of explosion

The explosion leveled the rocket's launch pad, reducing a 10-story high structure to a pile of twisted metal. The rocket had been scheduled to launch in just a few days and had two satellites on board when the explosion occurred. After the explosion, the Brazilian Space Agency was criticized for using solid-propellant rockets, which are easier to build and ignite than liquid-propellant rockets, but also lack throttle controls and emergency shut-offs.[9] The incident has caused a significant delay to the Brazilian space program because of government inquiries as well as the fact that many scientists and engineers who worked on the program were killed when the rocket exploded.[10]

An investigation by the Brazilian Government after the explosion found "dangerous buildups of volatile gases, deterioration of sensors and electromagnetic interference" at the launch site.[11]

Before the accident, the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) monitored the spying activities of French agents from the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), but also from Russian, American and Iranian secret services. The ABIN carried out investigation to determine if the French agents were responsible for the sabotage of the rocket, and concluded that they were not involved in the accident[12] · .[13]

See also

References
  1. Cabrera, Adalid (23 August 2003). "Brazil Rocket Explodes on Pad". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. Associated Press. p. A28 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Fatal blast hits Brazil space hopes". BBC. 23 August 2003. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  3. "UNOSAT 1". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. "SATEC". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. "Análise Técnica do Relatório da Investigação do Acidente Ocorrido com o VLS-1 V03, em 22 de agosto de 2003, em Alcântara, Maranhão". 1 October 2013.
  6. "Space Today Online - Brazilian space rockets - a troubled road to space". www.spacetoday.org.
  7. "At Least 21 Killed, 20 Hurt in Brazil Rocket Explosion". News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. Associated Press. 23 August 2003. p. 2A.
  8. Zimmermann, Patricia (22 August 2003). "Ignição de motor provocou explosão de foguete, diz ministro" [Engine ignition caused rocket explosion, says minister]. Folha de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). BBC. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  9. "Ignition fault probed in Brazil blast". Flight Global.
  10. Plano Brazil. Retrieved on 2013-12-19.
  11. Space program management contributed to rocket explosion Red Orbit. Retrieved on 2012-03-06.
  12. "Suspeita de sabotagem fez Brasil investigar franceses em Alcântara" (in Portuguese). Folha de S. Paulo. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  13. "Le Brésil a surveillé des espions français soupçonnés de sabotage". lapresse.ca. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2014.

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