C6 Launch Services has been very busy this year completing construction of their engine test stand at Spaceport America and beginning engine tests. Now comes news of a new launch agreement with Brazil.
In the last couple of weeks the C6 Launch team has taken some important steps towards realizing their dream of launching a new rocket designed for small payloads, one which they hope will be Canada’s first orbital rocket.
The company signed an agreement with the government of Brazil to be a tenant at the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil for future launches. The company had previously announced that they had selected the UK based Shetland Space Centre as their primary launch site.
The news of the Brazil launch agreement is even more important now as the option of launching from the Shetland Space Centre might be off the table as approval to use the location for launches was refused by Historic Environment Scotland. This despite the UK Space Agency supporting Lockheed Martin and others using the location for their launch operations. The refusal is being appealed.
As the Shetland Space Centre news demonstrates, having multiple launch site options is important. The company also hopes to able to launch from Canada one day if a spaceport is built.
The company also Tweeted an image of their first test engine firing saying “Mission success! Canada’s first to complete a full-scale orbital engine firing.” The test engine firing comes after completing the engine integratrion into the test stand and successfully completing a cold flow test.