Brazil has vowed to continue its space programme yesterday after 21 people died in a rocket explosion that ended the country's third attempt to become a space power.
The unmanned rocket, designed to carry two satellites into orbit, blew up on Saturday at the heavily guarded jungle base of Alcantara, inthe northeastern state of Maranhao, after an engine ignited accidentally.
Defence Minister Jose Viegas said: We will continue the [space] programme so that they did not die in vain."
Nearly 800 people were on the site when the 6.5 million real ($3.8 million) 20m satellite launch vehicle blew up. It was on a launch pad undergoing final tests after which it would have been ready for lift-off next week.
Rockets launched by Brazil in 1997 and 1999 were destroyed shortly after lift-off because of problems.
