Regional Government issues favourable opinion on draft Decree-Law amending regulations on access to and pursuit of space activities - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The XIII Government of the Azores considers the space sector a strategic area of interest for the development of the Region. Promoting the development of space activities involves the creation of attractive conditions that maximise the endogenous conditions of the Azores. It also promotes the establishment of sustainable space activities that safeguard the population and the environment whilst leveraging social and economic development.

In response to the hearing on the draft Decree-Law amending the regulations on the access to and pursuit of space activities on national territory, the Regional Government issued a favourable opinion - this is a document that was previously agreed upon and was jointly drafted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and the Presidency of the Government of the Azores.

This amendment is essential for the development of access to and return from space activities, tests and suborbital flights. Moreover, it ensures the competitiveness of the Region and the country in the sector, creating the conditions to further increase European autonomy and resilience in access to space.

The ability to adapt, create synergies and cooperate with national and international partners that has been built up ensures that new developments in space activities in the Azores are on the horizon. This includes the beginning of the construction of the Santa Maria Space and Technology Centre by the Portuguese Space Agency in 2024, which will serve as a support infrastructure for testing activities, access to and return from space and suborbital flights.

Space return operations and suborbital flights are also planned for 2024. All the conditions have been created for the start-up of a launch centre in Santa Maria.