Brazil Completes Its First Successful Rocket Launch Into Space

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBFTR8KO0E.html

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) - Brazil successfully launched its first rocket into space, 14 months after a devastating accident that killed 21 space agency employees and damaged the reputation of the country's space program.

The two-stage rocket, named VSB-30, or Brazilian Exploration Vehicle, was launched Saturday afternoon from the Alcantara launch site in Maranhao, about 1,700 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, said officials with the Brazilian Air Force's Research and Development Department.

The successful launch would not only restore the reputation of Latin America's first space program, but it would also allow it to follow through on plans to export the rockets to the European Space Agency where it would reportedly replace the equivalent British-made Skylark rocket.

Brazil plans to sell up to 15 of the rockets, which can carry up to 870 pounds and fly up to 155 miles.

more

[porkrind]

1. Uh-oh, * will think it's a WMD and start a "regime change" (n/t)

[NNN0LHI]

4. Brazil Can Enrich Enough Uranium For 6 Nukes Per Year - Researchers

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041022/wl_nm/nuclear_brazil_dc_1

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil's new Resende nuclear plant has the potential to produce enough enriched uranium for six nuclear bombs every year, U.S. researchers said on Friday -- a claim Brazil denied.

The commentary by the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, published in Friday's issue of the journal Science, came three days after United Nations (news - web sites) experts visited the plant to resolve a dispute over nonproliferation inspections.

"At its announced capacity, Brazil's new facility located at Resende will have the potential to produce enough uranium to make five to six ... warheads per year," the article by Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project, and research associate Liz Palmer, said.

Brazil and U.N. inspectors have disagreed over access levels needed for proper inspection in the almost year-old dispute.

more

[Hosnon]

2. Brasil

Brasil esta bom!

[aquart]

5. Brazil is positioning itself to be competition.

And we're so weak right now, they may just kick sand in our face.

Very nice. Bush let hemisphere relationships deteriorate while a nuclear power was growing within missile range. Great. FABULOUS.

They are fucking next door.

[burrowowl]

3. Congrats Brazil!

[Swamp Rat]

6. Maravilhoso! Parabéns Brasil!

Eu estou pasmado... Como disse o sapo Joe Soares, "super legal!" Vou ligar minha namorada lá em Ceará pra saber como foi.