* Astronomy

The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) on Friday launched a rocket to test the facilities at the Alcantara Launching Centre, the AEB said.
The launching, which took place on Friday afternoon, was "a complete success", AEB said in a statement.
The mission was code-named Maracati 1 under a partnership between Brazil and Germany. It was the first launch from the Alcantara base since 2007.
The rocket, named Orion 1, was developed by Germany. It was equipped with tracking devices and reached 93 kilometres high before falling into the sea about 80 kilometres off the Brazilian coast.
The Alcantara Launching Centre, built in 1983 in the northeastern Maranhao state, is the closest launching base to the equator, which gives the base a significant advantage in launching geosynchronous satellites.
The AEB's next launch of a rocket is scheduled in 2010.

Source

After two years inactivity, the Alcantara Launch Centre (CLA) is back to launch a rocket. The estimate is that it will be tomorrow. The operation named Maracati 1, is a partnership between Brazil and Germany. According to the Director of CLA, Colonel Nilo de Andrade, this mission is to train staff and prepare technical and logistically the CLA.

"O objetivo é meramente técnico e esse foguete não levará carga útil" - Colonel Nilo de Andrade.

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