FAB. First Rocket produced 100% in Brazil is launched from Alcântara (MA)
October, 23! Aviator Day and Brazilian Air Force Day (FAB). This year, the date became even more significant! The Alcântara Launch Center (CLA) launched the VSB-30 suborbital vehicle, from the Suborbital Microgravity Platform (PSM), which was developed by the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE). The project is part of Operation Santa Branca.
With Brazilian production and 100% national payload, the VSB-30 is a rocket from the probe family, which has solid propulsion stages, rotationally stabilized and with the capacity to transport loads of up to 400 kg, at altitudes in the range of 270 km. In this launch, the rocket took on board the scientific experiment “Multiuser Oven”, developed by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE).
The event was attended by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Paulo Alvim, who was accompanied by his delegation made up of Directors, Secretaries and Heads of Cabinet of the ministry. Furthermore, the President of the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), Colonel Engineer Carlos Augusto Teixeira de Moura, witnessed the launch.
“Firstly, we have to celebrate the success of Operation Santa Branca. It is a source of pride to see the competence of Brazilian professionals, who have not given up on their dream of launching launches here at CLA. The VSB-30 is a Brazilian rocket and this will be the beginning of a cycle of many achievements that will certainly come”, said Minister Paulo Alvim.
VSB-30 launch
The rocket was launched at 2:20 pm and reached its peak in 4 minutes and 1 second, already at an altitude of 227 km, totaling a flight of 7 minutes and 44 seconds. The payload fell 185 kilometers from the coast and FAB soldiers specializing in this type of mission, aboard helicopters, rescued the load.
“Operation Santa Branca was completed successfully. There was a lot of preparation with the teams from the Institute of Aeronautics and Space and the Company ORBITAL, who carried out the PSM, an experiment that we are in the process of approving. It took months of preparation for this moment and, for us at CLA, it is a feeling of accomplishment. Now we have all the necessary data to present to the launching companies”, reported the Director of the CLA, Colonel Engineer Fernando Benitez Leal.
Operation Safety
In order to guarantee the complete success of Operation Santa Branca, several security measures were taken. For the population living in the CLA region, the FAB issued announcements alerting the entire population. In addition, fishermen and riverside residents were instructed on fishing in the area. The same care was taken with regard to airspace, which was blocked for flights in the region.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Engineer Rogério Moreira Cazo, safety is the fundamental item for the success of the operation. On the organic issue, the Security and Defense Group (GSD) provided full escort of the rocket until it reached the vehicle’s integration area. “We carried out all area surveillance, with access and image control. We did perimeter work with the placement of barriers that could guarantee the total safety of everyone”, explained the Officer.
Já com relação à segurança do lançamento, o cuidado foi criterioso, principalmente pelo fato de, aproximadamente, 95% da carga ser composta por combustível. Nessa questão, o Tenente-Coronel Moreira relatou que o foguete do Programa Espacial Brasileiro trabalha com combustível sólido, assim, para evitar incidentes, foram realizados testes de descargas eletrostáticas e o isolamento total da aérea de lançamento. “Fizemos o monitoramento de todas as questões possíveis que poderiam ocorrer e eliminamos todas elas. Além disso, nos resguardamos para que qualquer situação fosse resolvida e sanada. Com todos esses cuidados, atingimos o nosso objetivo e a missão foi um sucesso”, concluiu.
Operation Santa Branca
Operation Santa Branca consists of the launch of the VSB-30 rocket, which had a payload module with the Microgravity Suborbital Platform Qualification Model (MQ-PSM). With this qualification, the PSM will be used to carry out experiments in a microgravity environment.
With the success of the Operation, Brazil will be able to explore this type of launch for those interested in scientific research and technology development.
Edition: Agência Força Aérea – Review: Major Oliveira Lima
