US companies eager to tap into the fast-growing market for low-cost satellite launches could be the first customers when Brazil's Alcantara space centre opens as a commercial spaceport, executives and Brazilian officials say.
Aerospace titans Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp in December visited the Alcantara space centre, but the Brazilian space agency's launch site is especially attractive to smaller firms because its equatorial location cuts fuel costs by a third.
Still, Brazil's aim of becoming a hot new hub in the space industry will depend on negotiating a technology safeguards agreement (TSA) with the United States to protect sensitive American space launch and satellite technology.
Without it, no US rocket can blast off from the South American country.
Brazil wants to attract customers by marketing itself as the cheaper alternative to Kourou, the European spaceport in neighbouring French Guiana, which mostly launches big satellites.
Brazilian officials are hoping to complete a US TSA this year that would facilitate the opening of the commercial spaceport.
The safeguard accord could be ready this year if the US State Department gets negotiating permission, according to industry representatives.
Tucson, Arizona-based Vector Launch Inc, which specialises in small rockets, appears eager to launch from the Brazilian site.
The company wants to undercut big payload specialists like billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's SpaceX by launching satellites one at a time on smaller rockets, cutting costs and wait time for clients.
"Our vision is to launch hundreds of Vector rockets into orbit to satisfy the growing market for microsatellites," said Vector Vice President Alex Rodriguez.
"We are closer to the equator and have an excellent site for launching microsatellites," said Brigadier Luiz Fernando Aguiar, coordinator of the Brazilian Air Force's space program.
Alcantara has radars, a runway and a seaport to unload equipment, along with plenty of open land to store rockets and build a liquid oxygen plant if needed, he said.
The Space Enterprise Council, which represents US industry from launch services to satellite manufacturers, has said the expanding microsatellite sector could experience up to 600 launches for satellites under 50kg between now and 2022.
Alcantara could capture 25 per cent of that market, according to the council.
Microsatellites are becoming increasingly important for GPS navigation, Earth imagery, surveillance and internet communications.
