Alcântara is a The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ...Brazilian city in the state of Maranhão is one of the states of Brazil in the north_eastern region. ...Maranhão. The city has a population of 18 000, and is 30 km away from the state's In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ...capital, São Luís is the capital of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. ...São Luís.

Founded by French explorers in the 12th A century was a unit in the Roman legion. ...century, Alcântara was later conquered by the Portuguese, who used the small village as a base to take São Luís from the Dutch in Events Ongoing events English Civil War (1642_1649) Births April 15 _ King Christian V of Denmark April 26 _ King Peter II of Portugal July 1 _ Gottfried Leibniz, German philosopher, scientist, mathematician, diplomat and lawyer. ...1646.

The city was declared by the Brazilian government as a National Historical Patrimony. The city's economy is based mainly on tourism and fishing.

The The Brazilian Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Brasileira) is the civilian authority of Brazil in charge of the countrys burgeoning space programme. ...Brazilian Space Agency maintains a The Alc ntara rocket launch site, Centro de amento de Alc ntara (CLA), is located at the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the north of Brazil, in the state of Maranh o. ...launch site in Alcântara. In August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ...August 22, 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Events January January 1 _ Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil. ...2003, an On August 22, 2003, a massive explosion destroyed a Brazilian Space Agency VLS-3 rocket as it stood on its launch pad at the Alcântara air base in northern Brazil. ...accident occurred when a On August 22, 2003, a massive explosion destroyed a Brazilian Space Agency VLS-3 rocket as it stood on its launch pad at the Alcântara air base in northern Brazil. ...VBS_1 rocket accidentally exploded, killing 21 Brazilian technicians.