Brazil's latest effort to become the first Latin country in space has ended in tragedy.
The Brazilian space rocket was almost due for blast-off when it exploded, killing 21 people and wounding 20 others.
The blast sent a plume of smoke over the rocket base in the north-eastern state of Maranhao.
There is no immediate explanation of what caused the explosion, which was heard several miles away in the town of Sao Luis.
Those killed were mostly civilian technicians, said Defence Minister Jose Veigas Filho.
The explosion destroyed the VLS-1 VO3 rocket, as well as a research satellite.
The £1.4m rocket had been scheduled to go into space next week carrying the satellite developed by Brazil's National Space Research Institute.
It was Brazil's third failed attempt to send a Satellite Launch Vehicle into space with a research satellite.
A rocket launched in November, 1997 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean after suffering engine problems shortly after blast-off.
In December, 1999, another Brazilian rocket developed problems and failed three minutes after take-off
The Brazilian space rocket was almost due for blast-off when it exploded, killing 21 people and wounding 20 others.
The blast sent a plume of smoke over the rocket base in the north-eastern state of Maranhao.
There is no immediate explanation of what caused the explosion, which was heard several miles away in the town of Sao Luis.
Those killed were mostly civilian technicians, said Defence Minister Jose Veigas Filho.
The explosion destroyed the VLS-1 VO3 rocket, as well as a research satellite.
The £1.4m rocket had been scheduled to go into space next week carrying the satellite developed by Brazil's National Space Research Institute.
It was Brazil's third failed attempt to send a Satellite Launch Vehicle into space with a research satellite.
A rocket launched in November, 1997 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean after suffering engine problems shortly after blast-off.
In December, 1999, another Brazilian rocket developed problems and failed three minutes after take-off
