The location very close to the equator gives the launch site a big advantage in launching geosynchronous satellites, similar to the European launch site at Kourou.
The construction of the base was started in 1982. The first launch took place on February 21, 1990, when the sounding rocket Sonda 2 XV-53 was launched.
So far only sounding rockets and the so far ill-fated VLS rocket were launched from Alcantara. On August 22, 2003, the explosion of the third VLS-1 (VO3) killed 21 people. There are plans to launch several international rockets from Alcantara. In 2003 contracts have been signed for launching Ukrainian Cyclone-4 and Israeli Shavit rockets; further plans are to launch the Russian Proton and the Chinese Long March 4 as well.