Brazil launches VS-30 V16 rocket for microgravity research

Brazil launched the VS-30 V16 research rocket from the Barreira do Inferno Launch Center in Parnamirim on September 15, 2026. The mission carries a suborbital microgravity platform designed to conduct scientific experiments involving biological materials, physical processes, and new materials.

The rocket is expected to reach an altitude exceeding 100 km. Unlike a satellite, the scientific platform is designed to re-enter the atmosphere, deploy a parachute, and splash down in the Atlantic Ocean. Following the landing, Brazilian specialists plan to recover the device for further study.

The rocket also carries experimental modules, flight control equipment, and a cold gas supply system. To stabilize the rocket's rotation before the platform separates, the mission utilizes a special device known as a ‘yoyo’ system, which uses small masses on cables to modify the system's moment of inertia.