Brazil in Space

"Brazil’s first successful rocket launch is being touted as the South American country’s initial foray into the commercial satellite industry.

However, the VSB-30 prototype tested on Saturday at the Alcantara Launch Center, located in the northeastern Amazon jungle, has a payload capacity of 870 pounds and maximum altitude of 155 miles, leading some to question its commercial applications.

'Most of satellite radio and satellite TV is in a higher orbit level. At a lower orbit, there’s really no [commercial] market there,' said Camille Osborne, communications director at the U.S. Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA)."

Link
Source: Red Herring

See also:
Brazilian Space Agency - Google News
Brazilian Space Agency - Topix.net
Brazil Successfully Launches Its First Rocket To Space - Slashdot
Brazil - Wikipedia
SpaceShipOne wins X Prize
The Final Frontier

Discuss:
Space Travel - Tribe.net