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VLS-1 V03

Summary

The 2003 Alcântara VLS accident was an accident during the Brazilian Space Agency's third attempt to launch the VLS-1 rocket, which was intended to launch two satellites into orbit. The rocket ignited on its launch pad at the Alcântara Launch Center, killing 21 people. It is the third deadliest space exploration related disaster in history.

VLS-1 V03
Wreck of the structure of the VLS launch pad
Date22 August 2003 (2003-08-22)
Time13:26:06 BRT (UTC-3)
Duration0:08:45[1]
LocationAlcântara Launch Center, Maranhão, Brazil
OutcomeSetback to the Brazilian space program with the death of 21 technicians and destruction of launch vehicle and structure (launch pad and launch tower)
Deaths21

Background edit

The rocket, proposed in 1979[2] had until the accident two launch attempts: one in 1997, which ended up in the Atlantic Ocean due to the failure of one of the first stage engines to start[3][4] and another in 1999, destroyed remotely due to a flame penetrating the top of the second stage block 3 minutes after takeoff.[5][6]

Operation São Luís edit

Besides being the third flight of the VLS-1, the operation had as objectives the launch of the satellites UNOSAT and SATEC in to orbit; verify the CLA's ability to perform type launches and the use of the CLBI as a tracking station.[7] The transportation of materials for V03 started on August 23, 2002[8] and stopped on April 16, 2003. The operation was restarted on July 1, an inspection the next day found no problems, and the satellites were transported on the 30th.[9] After several assembly operations, the accident occurred on August 22, 2003.[10]

Accident edit

The accident occurred three days before the scheduled launch date, at 1:26:06 pm (Brasília time) on August 22, 2003,[11][1] between frames 26 and 27 recorded by the Closed Circuit TV of the Mobile Integration Tower.[12][13] An unplanned ignition destroyed the launch vehicle while on the CLA platform.[12] 21 people died due to the ignition of a first stage engine.[14] It took about eight seconds before the tower was enveloped by smoke and gases heated up to 3,000 °C.[15] The mobile tower stood upright for five minutes.[1]

Survivors reported the noise of at least one booster running and several loud bangs.[1]

Due to the scale of the event, the dead were identified through a roll call[16] and the remains were identified and sent to the IML on August 23, 2003.[17] On the same day, the base was reopened to the press.[18]

At the same time that the accident occurred, the president of AEB Luiz Bevilacqua, was giving a press conference about the agreement signed between Brazil and Ukraine for the use of the Alcântara base. Being informed of the accident by journalists, he ironically said, "Only if it's a St. John's rocket".[19][20] It was identified that the ignition process occurred prematurely, and thus the launch tower was not removed in time, which was the main cause of the fire.[21] The accident considerably delayed the Brazilian space program.[22]

Investigation edit

 
Funeral service held on August 27, 2003

The Military Police Inquiry was opened on August 26, 2003, and the Technical Investigation Commission was appointed on August 28, 2003.[23] The investigation involved Russia[24] at the request of the Ministry of Defense, and was answered by sending six technicians from the Russian Aerospace Agency.[25] The families of the victims have even called for an independent investigation,[26] something that the then president Lula has not commented on, but he has announced that he would send a bill to compensate the victims' families.[27][21] A Special Commission of the House of Representatives visited the base on October 20.[28] The compensation was approved by the House on October 28, 2003.[29] Despite evidence of French espionage in Maranhão, no evidence of sabotage was found.[30]

The conclusion of both the Brazilian and Russian investigators was that the cause of the accident was due to the unplanned start of the A-booster.[31] Among the possible causes of the ignition, they raised the possibility of static electricity, with the Russian experts noting the absence of a bridge between the propellant and the propellant housing, but it was considered a low probability event due to the non-occurrence of lightning on the day.[32] The electrostatic discharge hypothesis was found to be superior,[33] due to the absence of a barrier between the first stage boosters.[34]

Results edit

The integration tower, which cost R$6.5 million in 1995, cost about R$10 million to rebuild.[35] The launch tower was completed and delivered in 2012, but in 2013 the base had not yet finished its reconstruction.[36] A mock-up of the VLS-1 was tested on the tower in 2012,[37] But in 2016 it was decided to end the VLS program in favor of the VLM.[38] The VLS-1 V04 even had 70% of its structure completed, but was canceled with the end of the program.[39]

Victims edit

The accident killed 21 civilians who were working at the time of the fire.[20][21][40]

  • Amintas Rocha Brito, 47, engineer
  • Antonio Sergio Cezarini, 47, engineer
  • Carlos Alberto Pedrini, 45, engineer
  • Cesar Augusto Costalonga Varejão, 49, engineer
  • Daniel Faria Gonçalves, 20, mechanic
  • Eliseu Reinaldo Vieira, 46, engineer
  • Gil Cesar Baptista Marques, 44, cameraman
  • Gines Ananias Garcia, 46, engineer
  • Jonas Barbosa Filho, 37, technician
  • José Aparecido Pinheiro, 39, technician
  • José Eduardo de Almeida, 38, cameraman
  • José Eduardo Pereira II, 43, technician
  • José Pedro Claro da Silva, 51, engineer
  • Luis Primon de Araújo, 45, engineer
  • Mario Cesar de Freitas Levy, 43, engineer
  • Massanobu Shimabukuro, 43, technician
  • Mauricio Biella Valle, 42, engineer
  • Roberto Tadashi Seguchi, 46, engineer
  • Rodolfo Donizetti de Oliveira, 35, technician
  • Sidney Aparecido de Moraes, 38, technician
  • Walter Pereira Junior, 45, technician

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Berquó et al. 2004, p. 32.
  2. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 7.
  3. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 11.
  4. ^ Folha de São Paulo, 3 de novembro de 1997.
  5. ^ Cabrera 2003, p. 27.
  6. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 12.
  7. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 14.
  8. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 16.
  9. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 17.
  10. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, pp. 18–21.
  11. ^ Zurita 2021.
  12. ^ a b Leite 2013.
  13. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 30.
  14. ^ Today 2003.
  15. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 31.
  16. ^ Zimmermann 2003.
  17. ^ Valente & Lessa 2003.
  18. ^ Meneghini 2003.
  19. ^ Estado 2003.
  20. ^ a b Mendonça & Cosso 2003.
  21. ^ a b c D'Alama 2013.
  22. ^ Konner 2013.
  23. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 22.
  24. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 23.
  25. ^ Agência Brasil, 3 de setembro de 2003.
  26. ^ Nogueira 2003.
  27. ^ Cosso 2003.
  28. ^ Agência Brasil, 20 de outubro de 2003.
  29. ^ Agência Brasil, 29 de outubro de 2003.
  30. ^ Ferraz 2013.
  31. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 37.
  32. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 39, 3.2.1.2 Eletricidade estática no propelente.
  33. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, p. 62.
  34. ^ Berquó et al. 2004, pp. 61–62.
  35. ^ Nogueira 2003a.
  36. ^ Agência Brasil, 12 de fevereiro de 2013.
  37. ^ DefesaNet, 12 de julho de 2012.
  38. ^ DefesaNet, 29 de dezembro de 2016.
  39. ^ Silva 2021, p. 388.
  40. ^ "Tragédia anunciada". Época (in Brazilian Portuguese). 29 August 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2020.

Bibliography edit

  • Berquó, Jolan Eduardo; Coelho, Elizabeth Cabral; Martinolli, João Bosco; Corrêa, Cleber Souza (February 2004). Relatório da Investigação do Acidente ocorrido com o VLS-1 VO3, em 22 de agosto de 2003, em Alcântara, Maranhão (PDF) (in Brazilian Portuguese). São José dos Campos. p. 118. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 November 2013.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Cabrera, Adalid (2003). "Brazil rocket explodes on pad". Arizona Republic. p. 27. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020.
  • Nogueira (2003). "Famílias querem ver investigação". Folha de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 23 June 2004.
  • Cosso (2003). "Lula fará projeto para pagar indenizações". Folha de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 April 2022.
  • Nogueira (2003a). "Plataforma do foguete custará R$ 10 mi". Folha de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 April 2022.
  • Zurita, Marcelo (2021). "18 anos do acidente de Alcântara, a tragédia que marcou a história do Programa Espacial Brasileiro" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 November 2021.
  • Leite, Henrique Emiliano (1 October 2013). "Análise Técnica do Relatório da Investigação do Acidente Ocorrido com o VLS-1 V03, em 22 de agosto de 2003, em Alcântara, Maranhão" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 June 2021.
  • Estado (2003). ""Só se for um foguete de São João"". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  • Mendonça, Eliane; Cosso, Roberto (2003). "Vítimas terão honras militares em São José". Folha (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  • D'Alama, Luna (2013). "Tragédia em Alcântara faz dez anos e Brasil ainda sonha em lançar foguete". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  • Today (2003). "Space Today Online - Brazilian space rockets - a troubled road to space". www.spacetoday.org (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2 December 2003.
  • Zimmermann (2003). "Ignição de motor provocou explosão de foguete, diz ministro". Folha Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 August 2003.
  • Global (2003). "Ignition fault probed in Brazil blast". Flight Global (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 1 September 2020.
  • Konner (22 August 2013). "Dez anos depois, explosão de foguete ainda trava setor espacial brasileiro" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 May 2019.
  • Ferraz (5 November 2013). "Suspeita de sabotagem fez Brasil investigar franceses em Alcântara". Folha de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013.
  • Valente; Lessa (24 August 2003). "IML examina as 21 vítimas encontradas". Folha de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  • Meneghini (23 August 2003). "Governo não está escondendo nada, afirma José Viegas". Associated Press (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 April 2022.
  • "Câmara aprova indenização para familiares de vítimas de Alcântara". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 29 October 2003. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  • "Deputados visitarão a Base de Alcântara". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 20 October 2003. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  • "Russos que ajudarão a investigar o acidente com o VLS-1 chegam na sexta" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 3 September 2003. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  • Karine Melo (12 February 2013). "Dez anos depois de tragédia, Base de Alcântara ainda finaliza reconstrução". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  • "Concluída montagem do Veículo Lançador de Satélite (VLS-1) na nova torre de lançamento" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  • "EDITORIAL - O Fim do VLS" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 29 December 2016. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  • Ricardo Bolanume Neto (3 November 1997). "Foguete brasileiro fracassa, é destruído e cai no mar". Folha de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  • Silva, Bernardino Coelho da (2021). Desafios de Ícaro (in Brazilian Portuguese). Clube de Autores. p. 690. ISBN 978-65-00-24466-3.

External links edit

  • FSP: New tests postpone VLS-1 V04 launch (in Portuguese)
  • BBC: A scaled down VSV-30 launch successfully
  • BBC: Brazil vows to pursue space plan
  • SpaceDaily article on explosion
  • Official accident investigation report (in Portuguese)
  • Disaster at Alcântara: The Explosion that Hindered Brazil’s Ascent as a Space Power

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