[Yo-Yo]

An equatorial launch complex offers the opportunity to decrease the amount of fuel the rockets need to reach geosynchronous orbits — often the preferred location for satellites — by as much as 20 percent or more, lowering the cost of each launch. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Vector are interested in the cost savings Alcantara may offer to launch satellites.

That might be attractive to SpaceX, who currently has to trade off payload for the extra fuel required to soft land their boosters.

[Red Badger]

Why not Ecuador? They get a head start on the ground level...........

[grobdriver]

An equatorial launch complex offers the opportunity to decrease the amount of fuel the rockets need to reach geosynchronous orbits — often the preferred location for satellites — by as much as 20 percent or more, lowering the cost of each launch.

Seems this savings would be more than offset by the expense of getting all the equipment, personnel, material (and the fuel) down there.

I have to believe they've already applied all this to a spreadsheet and are satisfied it offers a savings... but I just don't see it.

[Moonman62]

An equatorial launch complex offers the opportunity to decrease the amount of fuel the rockets need to reach geosynchronous orbits — often the preferred location for satellites — by as much as 20 percent or more, lowering the cost of each launch. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Vector are interested in the cost savings Alcantara may offer to launch satellites.

...

Rocket fuel is cheap compared to the cost of the rocket, much less than 20%. And then there is the cost and time to transport the rocket to Brazil.

[Prospero]

Last time I ran the numbers, and I'd enjoy a correction, Equatorial angular momentum adds 300 meters per second from launch over KSC/CCAFB. One reason SpaceX might not have hustled for that extra push is their dependency on federal funding.

As I recall the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 holds host countries liable for its provisions, and the move to launch overseas does not remove FAA/US liabilities from domestic companies.

That treaty didn't become a public concern until the present century. It's worth a read.

"Peace in Space, Good Luck on Earth."