OT: Brazilian Launch Facility

[Erax]

Hi Loser. It's a good thing I caught this thread early on. I am no expert, but here's what I can tell you :

- Brazil is not working on a full-fledged space program. The idea is to have a fully operational launch site which can then be rented to other nations (AFAIK there are few other equatorial launch sites in the world, built or planned, so it's a BIG economic advantage).

- Once this phase is in place, income from the base can be used to develop and launch our own communications sattelites. Brazil is a BIG country, with all sorts of natural barriers separating everything, so all of our governments since the 60's have invested heavily in telecommunications.

- INPE and the Brazilian Air Force have participated in several of NASA's projects and also in Europe's Ariane project.

- Our air/spaceflight history is as long as yours. The Wright Brothers got their airplane in the air first, but they used a catapult. The world's first fully self-powered takeoff, flight and landing was performed by a Brazilian called Alberto Santos Dumont (link).

- I can't speak for all Brazilians, but I think most of them understand the need for investment in high-tech projects and the importance of having our own sattelites.