Brazil vows new space launch after disaster

Brazil has pledged to launch a new rocket by 2006 after 21 people died in an explosion last month that ended the country's third attempt to become a space power.

The nation promised to press on with its programme to honour 21 workers who died on August 22 and said it would cost about US$33 million ($58 million) to rebuild the platform and equipment destroyed after a rocket engine ignited by mistake.

Defence Minister Jose Viegas said the Government proposed to pay the family of each victim US$33,000 and to pay for the education of their children up to university.