Cable network Globo News said that a number of military personnel had been injured in the explosion.

A Brazilian Air Force spokesman said, however that so far the injuries had not been confirmed. Earlier the command had said there was "no report of damage caused to people or installations outside of the Center."

The vehicle, the third in a series, had been scheduled for launch from August 25, a spokesman with the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) said.

The official spokesman said it was too soon to know the cause of the failed takeoff.

The Alcantara Launch Center is located in Brazil's Maranhao state.

SPACE.WIRE