17/01/2023: Very important day for the future of the space sector in the Azores, Portugal and Europe! The formalization of the Space Technological Center was carried out with the visit of the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, who launched the Space Technological Center of Santa Maria together with the President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, the Mayor of Vila do Porto, Bárbara Chaves, and the President of the Portuguese Space Agency, Ricardo Conde. The agency’s Director, Hugo Costa, the Regional Undersecretary of the Presidency, Pedro Faria e Castro, and the coordinator of the Azores Mission Structure for Space, Paulo Quental, were also present during the visit.
The new center aims to promote the development of technological capabilities in the space sector, in Portugal, with the creation of space access and return capabilities. The new infrastructure will create synergies and reinforce the attractiveness conditions for new companies and new services, aiming at creating jobs and strengthening the Space Ecosystem of the Azores.
The program included, in addition to the visit to the site where the CTE will be born (included the signing of the deed for the transfer of land to the Portuguese Space Agency by the Municipality of Vila do Porto), visits to the Santa Maria Teleport (announcement of the extension of the agreement with ESA for the maintenance of the tracking station and reception of satellite data, and investment of 4M€ in infrastructure), to the Oceanic Control Center of NAV and to RAEGE – Atlantic Network of Geodynamic and Space Stations.
