Alcântara Launch Centre
In DevelopmentNo launches are currently scheduled from Alcântara Launch Centre in the published manifest, which was last confirmed on 9 August 2026. Dates may have moved since.
Alcântara Launch Centre is one of the world's best equatorial positions — only 2.4°S from the equator — giving it a significant GTO mass advantage comparable to Kourou. A 2003 VLS explosion killed 21 engineers and set the programme back decades. Commercial partnerships are now accelerating development.
Site history
Orbital mechanics from 2.3729°N
A launch site's latitude determines which orbits are achievable and at what fuel cost. Alcântara at 2.3729°N sets the following constraints:
Satellite train visibility from Alcântara
From 2.3729°N, Alcântara can reach 5 Starlink inclination shells: 28.5° (equatorial belt), 43°, 53°, 70°, 97.6° SSO (polar).
Trains launched to higher inclinations are visible from more of the world. A 97° SSO train from Alcântara would be visible at virtually every latitude; a 53° train is visible from latitudes up to ±22° (primarily) — mostly tropical and subtropical regions. In the hours after launch — before satellites raise their orbits — a tight train of 20–60 bright dots crosses the sky roughly every 90 minutes. Use OrbitalNodes' Starlink tracker for exact train pass times.
Alcântara: Brazil's equatorial spaceport
Brazil's launch centre carries a sombre history — the 2003 explosion of a VLS rocket on the pad killed 21 personnel — but it has since reopened to commercial and international launch operators.
At just around 2.3°S, Alcântara is among the most equatorial launch sites anywhere on Earth, offering close to the maximum velocity bonus from the planet's rotation for eastward orbital launches.
Alcântara — Launch Site FAQ
Where is Alcântara and who operates it?
Alcântara Launch Centre is located at 2.3729°N, 44.3963°W in Maranhão, Brazil. It is owned and operated by Brazilian Air Force / AEB. The site is under development and has not yet conducted an orbital launch.
What rockets launch from Alcântara?
Current vehicles operating from Alcântara Launch Centre include VLM (planned), suborbital VS-40. Primary customers are AEB (Brazilian Space Agency), future commercial, launching Commercial LEO, future Brazilian government satellites.
What orbits can Alcântara reach?
At 2.3729°N, Alcântara's minimum achievable inclination is 2.4° (due-east launch). The ISS at 51.6° is reachable with a dogleg manoeuvre. The near-equatorial location gives an excellent GTO mass advantage. The site can reach orbits between roughly 2° and 98° inclination.
Can I watch launches from Alcântara?
Alcântara Launch Centre is still in development and has not yet conducted orbital launches. When operations begin, it will be one of the few sites in Maranhão capable of launching to space.
What satellites can I see that were launched from Alcântara?
Satellites regularly launched from Alcântara include Commercial LEO, future Brazilian government satellites. The ISS was supplied or crew-launched from sites at similar latitudes. Use OrbitalNodes to track any visible satellite in real time.
Why was Alcântara built at this latitude?
Alcântara's near-equatorial location at 2.3729°N is deliberate: equatorial sites maximise the Earth's rotational boost (around 465 m/s eastward velocity) and minimise the inclination change needed for GEO and GTO missions. This translates directly into payload mass savings.
See all launch sites: Launch site directory →