Las Palmas | |
---|---|
Lapachito, Chaco | |
Chaco province, 35 km east of Resistencia | |
Location in
Argentina | |
Coordinates | 27°08′S 58°45′W / 27.13°S 58.75°W |
Type | rocket launch site |
Site information | |
Operator | CNES, CNIE |
Site history | |
In use | November 12, 1966 |
Las Palmas (also mentioned as Lapachito and Chaco) [1] is a rocket launch site in Argentina at 27°08′S 58°45′W / 27.13°S 58.75°W used on November 12, 1966, [2] for the launch of two Titus rockets [3] for observing a solar eclipse. [4] [5] [3] [6] [1] [7]
The site is located in the steppes of the Las Palmas region in the east of the Chaco province, 35 km east of the city of Resistencia (itself located about a thousand kilometers north of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires). [7]
It had no previous facilities, so rocket assembly halls (300 m2), a science building (320 m2), trajectory centers, a command post, launch infrastructure, telemetry stations and the power system were set. [7]
The choice of this location was justified firstly by the fact that the region was crossed by the eclipse. Secondly, the existence of a natural environment allowing the recovery of rocket nose cones, with the impact zone clear of vegetation for better detection and recovery. [7]
Two successful Titus rocket launches occurred on November 12, 1966, in collaboration between CNES and the Argentinian agency CNIE. [6] [3] [2] [4]
Date | Mission Description | Apogee (km) |
---|---|---|
November 12, 1966 | FU-150 A Solar Eclipse mission | 274 |
FU-150 B Solar Eclipse mission | 270 |