SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's second effort to launch a satellite failed on Saturday when the rocket faltered and forced the control center to destroy it shortly after takeoff, dealing another setback to the country's developing space program.
The four-stage rocket, carrying a multimillion dollar meteorological satellite, faltered during its second stage, about three minutes after takeoff, launch coordinator Brig. Tiago Ribeiro told reporters. The control center destroyed the rocket and satellite by remote control.
The Scientific Applications Satellite-2, or Saci-2, cost $10 million to develop and launch, using only Brazilian-made equipment. It was to be used mostly for meteorological research.
Two years ago, the National Institute of Space Research's first attempt to launch a satellite from the same pad in northeastern Maranhao also failed shortly after blast-off.
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