Regional Government paises role of Santa Maria teleport in European return to space
Ponta Delgada
Secretário Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão welcomed today the successful launch of the European Ariane 6 rocket, which sent telemetry data to the Santa Maria teleport, a "moment of distinction" for the Region and its space strategy.
The Santa Maria teleport is the first station to receive data from the launcher, whose maiden flight marks the return of European operational capacity for access to space.
"The Azores have an important role to play in this launch. The Regional Government continues to be enthusiastic and dedicated to the entire space ecosystem in Santa Maria," stressed Paulo Estêvão, who is responsible for the regional space sector.
Ariane 6 is a project of the European Space Agency (ESA), whose construction was awarded to ArianeGroup and its operation to Arianespace from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.
A Portuguese nano-satellite, built by students and professors from Instituto Superior Técnico-IST (school of engineering) in Lisbon, is on board Ariane 6, among others.
Ariane 6 successfully lifted off this Tuesday at 7 pm (Azores time).
