Portugal’s spaceport will start operations in 2026
- Valerie Charoux
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Space News Europe - Portugal just granted its first license to operate a spaceport to the Portuguese Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC). Portugal’s spaceport will operate from the island of Santa Maria in the Azores.
Founded in 2020 with the goal of establishing Portugal’s first commercial spaceport, ASC is a 100% private and Portuguese-owned partnership between OPTIMAL Structural Solutions and Ilex Space. The license granted to Portuguese Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) refers exclusively to the operation of the launch center to be located in Malbusca.
Portugal’s spaceport in the Azores is part of its national space strategy, Portugal Space 2030, which aims to promote Portugal's capabilities and potential as a European platform for return missions and access to space, leveraging the strategic geographic position of the Azores archipelago.
Following the granting by Portugal’s Space Authority ANACOM of the first launch and command licenses for space objects in 2024, Portugal now holds a relevant position in the space sector.
What are Portugal’s spaceport operations?
Portugal’s spaceport first operations, namely suborbital flights promoted by ASC, are expected to take place as early as 2026.
In parallel, work will continue to create the infrastructure necessary for the return of space missions, including the Space Rider that is a reusable vehicle of the European Space Agency that will have its return site in the Azores.
Portugal is positioning the Azores as a pivotal space hub in the Atlantic and a gateway for Europe’s growing space ambitions.
