Las Palmas, Argentina

27°08′S 58°45′W / 27.13°S 58.75°W / -27.13; -58.75Typerocket launch siteSite informationOperatorCNES, CNIESite historyIn useNovember 12, 1966

Las Palmas (also mentioned as Lapachito and Chaco)^[1] is a rocket launch site in Argentina at 27°08′S 58°45′W / 27.13°S 58.75°W / -27.13; -58.75 used on November 12, 1966,^[2] for the launch of two Titus rockets^[3] for observing a solar eclipse.^{[4][5][3][6][1][7]}

The site is located in the steppes of the Las Palmas region in the east of the Chaco province, 35 km east of the city of Resistencia (itself located about a thousand kilometers north of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires).^[7]

It had no previous facilities, so rocket assembly halls (300 m2), a science building (320 m2), trajectory centers, a command post, launch infrastructure, telemetry stations and the power system were set.^[7]

The choice of this location was justified firstly by the fact that the region was crossed by the eclipse. Secondly, the existence of a natural environment allowing the recovery of rocket nose cones, with the impact zone clear of vegetation for better detection and recovery.^[7]

Launches

Two successful Titus rocket launches occurred on November 12, 1966, in collaboration between CNES and the Argentinian agency CNIE.^[6][3][2][4]

Date	Mission Description	Apogee (km)
November 12, 1966	FU-150 A Solar Eclipse mission	274
	FU-150 B Solar Eclipse mission	270

References