Located on Brazil’s northern Atlantic coast, in the state of Maranhão. It is operated by the Brazilian Air Force (Comando da Aeronáutica). The CLA is the closest launching base to the equator. This gives the launch site a significant advantage in launching geosynchronous satellites.
Construction of the base began in 1982. The first launch occurred on February 21, 1990, when the sounding rocket Sonda 2 XV-53 was launched.
The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo was one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century. Explosive activity began in early April as a series of well explosions
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