Beyond the natural beauties which surround natal, the city is also known as 'spacial Capital of Brazil' due to the South America launching site of rockets. It's located near the village of Pium knowned for its colored tropical fruit market.
The rocket base called Barreira do Inferno ( The Hell’s Barrier) situated next to the beach of the same name. It has been implanted in 1965, and Natal was chosen because its strategic position closest point from Brazil to Africa and Europe.
The name of the place comes from the red color of the cliffs that the fishermen of past saw shining under the sun, and they thought it was the entrance of the hell.
The technology for the construction of the base was American and were made many programs with NASA. Nowadays, mostly all the programs are done together with French Guiana and Europe.
The missile 'Sonda III' is exposed in the entry of the center, used for the scientific researches and thrown 19 times between 1976 and 1986.
Municipality : Parnamirim Distance from Natal : 19 km
How to come : Rota do sol (RN 063).
Since 1965 more than 2 thousand missiles and fused were thrown. Nowadays, the center realizes researches and receives visitors under booking. Information on schedules in groups: 3216-1400 * 3643.1348
At present the center makes no more launching because of the growth of the city of Natal which approaches little by little the space center.
The current center of Brazilian launch is in Alcântara city,in the state of Maranhão. Its situation close to the equator gives it an advantage for the launching of satellites and significant economy of fuel.
Cotovelo beach
