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