14 Months After Deadly Blast

Overcoming predictions that it would take years to recover from a deadly explosion at its launch facility just 14 months ago, Brazil Sunday successfully fired a rocket into space and said it plans to sell its launch vehicles to the ESA.

The VSV-30 Brazilian Exploration Vehicle was designed to fly about 150 miles into space to conduct experiments just outside the atmosphere.

But perhaps even more important is the base from which the VSV-30 was launched. Marked by last year's explosion of a similar vehicle on the launch pad, the Alcantara space facility was severely damaged in the mishap that killed 21 people. Alcantara Base is considered to be in the perfect spot for a launch facility -- just 2.3 degrees off the equator. That's where the Earth rotates fastest, meaning vehicles expend less fuel and can carry more payload because it doesn't take as much oomph to get them into orbit.

That could be a big financial plus for the Brazilians, as they compete with commercial space vendors.

FMI: www.inpe.br/english