Approved License: First Space Port in Portugal will be in the Azores

Located on Santa Maria Island, Azores, ASC Space Port will take advantage of a unique strategic position: its proximity to Europe and America, optimal conditions for satellite launches, minimal air traffic and the island’s robust infrastructure.

Portugal has just taken another decisive step in reinforcing its position in the European space sector, with the attribution of the first operating license of a space launch center in national territory.

The request was filed in December 2024 by the Portuguese Aerospace ASC – Atlantic Spaceport Consortium. The company intends to perform activities to access the space from the island of Santa Mariain the Azores.

The license now attributed is valid for five years and refers exclusively to the operation of the launch center to be located in Malbuscanot covering the release operations themselves, which lack licensing and specific evaluation.

The issuance of the license is part of the development of the national strategy for space, , And it aims to promote the abilities and potential of Portugal as a European platform of return and access missions to the space, leveraging the strategic geographical position of the Azores archipelago.

“The assignment of this license shows that Portugal is prepared to welcome launch activities based on a robust, transparent and aligned legal framework with international best practices,” he says Ricardo CondePresident of the Portuguese Space Agency, in the agency.

“The agency has been promoting Atlantic Centrality of Portugalthrough the Azores, at the international level and to create, in articulation with the different public entities, the institutional and technical conditions for the country to perform a relevant role in the new space economy European, ”he adds.

A Portuguese Space Agency It is the entity responsible for promoting and framing the technical and strategic evaluation of the request, meeting its competences and its in -depth knowledge of this area at national and international level, in view of the government’s prior approval.

“Located on the island of Santa Maria, the Azores, the ASC space port takes advantage of a Unique Strategic Positionoffering simplified airspace management, proximity to Europe and America and optimal conditions For satellite releases, ”says on his site.

According to the consortium, the Minimum air traffic and robust infrastructure Santa Maria Island help to guarantee a sustainable access to space and with good cost-benefit ratiowhich allows the place to become a global center to pioneering launch and return activities.

Taking advantage of these strategic advantages, the future space port can allow launches in heliosynchronous, polar or other Lower slope orbits, providing greater flexibility and reach the objectives of ASC missions.

The process is done in close collaboration with the entity responsible for issuing the license. After the attribution of the first launch and command and control licenses and control of space objects, in 2024, Portugal already assumes a relevant position in the space sector.

“Anacom promotes efficient regulation, enhancing the growing dynamism and vitality of the space sector, which represents an important axis of national strategy,” says Sandra MaximianoPresident of ANACOM.

“Anacom is therefore committed to having agile licensing procedures and that promote innovation and constant evolution of national spatial activities, ”he said.

The assignment of the license to ASC to operate the space port in Santa Maria represents a concrete step in the consolidation of space activities from the national territory, paving the way for the installation of operational infrastructures in the Azores and the development of new projects based on Portugal.

Following is the process of licensing space operations concrete that may be carried out in that space port, and it is expected that the first operations, namely Suborbital flights promoted by ASCmay occur in the course of 2026.

In parallel, work will continue to create the necessary infrastructure for the return of space missions, including the Space Riderreusable vehicle from ESA, which will have in the Azores.