A New Era for Brazil’s Space Program
After years of limited investment and the growing presence of China, the South American giant will experience a historic day on December 17. If conditions allow, the launch of the HANBIT-Nano rocket—developed by the South Korean company Innospace—is scheduled for December 17 from the Alcântara Launch Center (CLA) in Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. This is a historic event, as it will be the first Brazilian commercial orbital launch in the nation’s space history.
Until now, Brazil has launched hundreds of suborbital rockets—vehicles that do not place satellites into Earth orbit but instead follow a parabolic trajectory and typically fall into the sea. This time, however, through a private partnership, Brazil will begin placing satellites in orbit using genuine satellite launch vehicle technology, considered a crucial step toward national autonomy and sovereignty.
Rewriting the History of Alcântara
The event also offers an opportunity to rewrite the history of the Alcântara base, marked by the tragic 2003 explosion of the VLS-1 V03, a prototype rocket developed by Brazil’s space program. The accidental ignition of one of the first-stage engines caused an explosion that killed 21 engineers and technicians, the most serious disaster in Brazil’s space history.
Strategic Importance of the Alcântara Launch Center
The December launch of the HANBIT-Nano rocket is part of the Spaceward 2025 mission, conducted by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in collaboration with the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). Experts point out that Brazil—through the Brazilian commercial orbital launch initiative—will finally enter the international market for satellite launches and space experiments.
Alcântara is one of the most strategic launch centers in the world due to its proximity to the equator, providing a 20–30% energy gain compared to locations such as Cape Canaveral or Kourou. Its coastal location ensures safe eastward launches over the Atlantic Ocean, with no population centers beneath the flight path.
China’s Expanding Presence in Brazil’s Space Domain
China has expressed interest in launching future CBERS satellites from Alcântara, including CBERS-6 (2028) and CBERS-5 (2030). Beijing has even suggested providing Brazil with Chengdu J-10C fighter jets in exchange for access to the base. However, this proposal has raised concerns about China’s growing strategic foothold, particularly considering its detailed mapping of Brazil’s natural resources through the CBERS program.
China’s involvement also extends to the BINGO telescope in Paraíba, where participation by CETC—a Chinese state-owned conglomerate linked to dual-use military technologies—has raised international security concerns.
Years of Underinvestment and Signs of Recovery
A 2023 report from the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI) revealed Brazil ranks second-to-last in space-sector investment among G20 nations, spending only $47 million (0.002% of GDP). Yet signs of recovery are emerging. The Nova Indústria Brasil (NIB) program plans significant investments in aerospace sovereignty through 2033, while FINEP has launched nearly 1 billion reais in calls for new launchers, satellites, and dual-use technologies.
Researchers emphasize that Brazil could replicate the success of its aeronautical cluster in São José dos Campos by creating a technological hub around Alcântara.
New National Rocket Projects
Brazil is developing several cutting-edge projects, including the Brazilian Microlauncher (MLBR), the VLM-AT (Microsatellite Launch Vehicle with Technological Autonomy), and the RATO-14X auxiliary rocket for the hypersonic 14X vehicle. These initiatives are linked to growing global demand for space-based services essential to agriculture, climate monitoring, and environmental preservation.
Brazil’s Rise in Space Agriculture Research
One of Brazil’s most innovative fields is space agriculture. In 2023, Embrapa began collaborating with the AEB and NASA under the Artemis program. On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule conducted a suborbital flight with Brazilian seeds—including sweet potatoes and chickpeas—to study how microgravity affects plant development.
The research aims to develop more compact, drought-resistant crop varieties adaptable to climate change on Earth and in future lunar or Martian settlements.
National Defense and Space Security Strategies
In October, Brazil’s Ministry of Defense released the second edition of the Strategic Space Systems Program (PESE), which outlines its goals for autonomous access to space, development of critical technologies, and integrated civilian–military cooperation. The document acknowledges the rising threat of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons and the growing risk of a space arms race.
The Challenge of Space Debris and the Need for Regional Cooperation
Space debris remains a major threat to space operations. Brazil and other Latin American countries lack robust ground-based sensors for tracking orbital objects, though Brazil’s geographic position makes it ideal for hosting a diversified sensor network that would improve global space-situational awareness.
A Historic Turning Point
As the Spaceward Mission 2025 approaches, the Brazilian commercial orbital launch represents not only a technological milestone but also a strategic turning point. By leveraging its geographic advantages, scientific expertise, and renewed public investment, Brazil aims to strengthen its role in global space governance and innovation.
Ultimately, the success of the country’s first Brazilian commercial orbital launch marks the beginning of a new era—one that could reshape Latin America’s presence in space and contribute to solutions benefiting all humanity.