Space

Capricornio

In 1992 Spain's National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) announced plans to develop a small orbital launch vehicle with a payload capacity of up to 100 kg into 600 km polar orbits. Named Capricornio, the launch vehicle is still in the preliminary design stage, although an initial flight in this decade is desired. To facilitate the development effort, INTA will produce the solid-propellant second stage and purchase a foreign-made solid propellant first stage. The third stage may be either foreign or domestic, liquid- or solid-fueled, although a foreign solid-propellant stage is the leading candidate. The initial launch site may be El Aranosillo near Portugal to be followed by a more capable launch facility in the Canary Islands. Despite funding reductions and schedule delays, the Capricornio program was still officially on-going at the end of 1994. Meanwhile, near-term launch needs for Spain's Minisat program will probably be met by the US' Pegasus or ESA's Ariane launch vehicles (References 115, 435-438).