Posted: Tue, Sep 2, 2003, 2:04 PM ET (1804 GMT)
Brazilian government officials vowed last week to continue development of a small launch vehicle even after an accident last month claimed the lives of 21 workers. The accident, which took place as technicians were preparing the VLS-1 rocket for a launch attempt, has been seen as a major setback in Brazil's efforts to become a spacefaring nation. Reuters reported that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vowed to continue the program and carry out a successful launch by the end of 2006, when his four-year term expires. Repairing the damage to the Alcantara launch facility is estimated to cost $33 million, far more than the Brazilian Space Agency's annual budget of $12 million; it was unclear how much extra funding the government would provide. Brazil's budget is constrained by International Monetary Fund agreements that require the government to run budget surpluses, Space News reported.

Related Links:

•  Reuters article
•  Space News article