On December 17th, Brazil's Maranhão state Alcântara Launch Center is set to conduct its first commercial rocket launch, marking a significant milestone in the country's space endeavors and signaling Brazil's advancement into the global space launch market.

As reported by the Brazilian website "g1globo," this mission is a collaboration between the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) to launch the HANBIT-Nano rocket developed by the South Korean private space company Innospace. This mission signifies Brazil's first attempt at an orbital launch from the Alcântara Launch Center since the VLS satellite launch vehicle accident, moving away from previous suborbital rocket launches.

Clovis Martins de Souza, the director of the Alcântara Launch Center and a Colonel in the FAB, stated, "The success of this commercial launch will open up the space launch market for Brazil, bringing new opportunities for revenue and investment."

The objective of this launch mission is to place five satellites and three devices into near-Earth orbit to support research activities of various Brazilian and Indian institutions.

The Alcântara Launch Center boasts a strategic geographical location and a secure environment, offering immense potential that has yet to be fully tapped. To achieve this, Brazil plans to generate profits through methods such as leasing the launch center and charging launch fees to drive the development of the Brazilian aerospace industry and create new business opportunities.

Antonio Chamon, the president of AEB, mentioned that this goal will commence with the establishment of the Brazilian Aerospace Project Company (Alada) earlier this year, which will be responsible for negotiating contracts with private enterprises and collecting launch fees to secure a position in the international commercial rocket market.

Julio Shidara, the president of the Brazilian Aerospace Industry Association (AIAB), emphasized that besides the natural advantages, Brazil needs to provide legal guarantees and work on reducing the time and cost required for rocket transport to the launch center to ensure that the Alcântara Launch Center remains competitive in the global market.