El Hierro Launch Centre

El Hierro Launch Centre
Map
LocationEl Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain
Coordinates27°38′30″N 17°59′30″W / 27.641613°N 17.991530°W / 27.641613; -17.991530 (El Hierro Launch Centre)
OperatorINTA
Orbital inclination
range		72.3°-105.0°, 121.3°-152.3°
Launch history
First launch2022 (proposed)
Associated
rockets		Capricornio, Argo, Miura 5

El Hierro Launch Centre (in Spanish: Centro de Lanzamiento Espacial de La Isla de El Hierro) is a proposed project by Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA) to create a spaceport on the island of El Hierro, part of the Canary Islands. It would be located in the south of the island, in the area of Tacorón, 5 km from La Restinga.[1] in the municipality of El Pinar, Canary Islands. It is being proposed as a center of civil use exclusively, for the launch of micro- and nanosatellites with scientific or commercial objectives, such as telecommunications or Earth observation.

The launch location would allow reaching polar orbit with a margin, without affecting the countries of West Africa. It could also be launched into an inclined equatorial orbit.[2] Other conditions that make the island a good location are the small population of the island, and the reduced maritime and air traffic, as only one airway passes over the island's airspace. El Hierro's climate also favors launch operations with annual averages of 2382 light hours, only 22 days with rainfall and a mostly stable temperature.[3]

It would allow reaching a polar, heliosynchronous or geostationary orbit. The launch azimuth angles could be from 181° to 197° and from 216° to 323°.[4] Other angles would not be possible due to overflights from the other Canary Islands, Africa and Europe. However, angles between 160° and 181° could be used with the consent of African sovereignties.

  1. ^ "Aeronautica" (PDF). Ejercitodelaire.mde.es. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  2. ^ "La base de cohetes de Hierro no se hará si la isla no quiere, afirma el director del INTAs". El País. 10 February 1997. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Valores climatológicos normales. Hierro Aeropuerto" (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal de Meteorología. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  4. ^ "BOLETÍN OFICIAL DEL PARLAMENTO DE CANARIAS" (PDF). Retrieved 12 November 2022.