Space launch company owned by billionaire Richard Branson opens subsidiary in Brazil

THE Virgin Orbitthe space launch company owned by British billionaire Richard Branson, announced this Monday (27) the opening of a subsidiary in Brazil and that it has obtained a license from the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) to operate at the base in Alcântara (MA).

The company said that, after completing all the formalities, it believes it will be able to launch a first launch from Brazil in 2023.

The announcement sent shares in the company, which uses a rocket system that launches from a modified Boeing 747-400 freighter jet in mid-flight, soar 12.1% at 1:13 pm ET.

As it is close to the equator, the Alcântara base is one of the best places in the world to launch satellites into Earth orbit.

“Virgin Orbit’s launch system will give the Alcântara base the opportunity to become one of the only continental spaceports in the world capable of achieving any orbital tilt,” the company said in a press release.

“Virgin Orbit is very suitable for small satellite launches,” said Carlos Moura, president of AEB, in the company’s statement. “Virgin Orbit will be able to improve its capabilities when taking off from the Alcântara base. The weather is good, the runway is wonderful, the airspace is clear and it is equipped with tracking systems. Together, we will be able to do so much more,” he added.

The announcement came about a month after billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the space launch company SpaceX, was in Brazil for a meeting with representatives of the federal government to discuss connectivity in the Amazon.

Source: Época Negócios