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Welcome Note
The Azores Mission Structure for Space (EMA-Space) is an entity acting under the direct dependency of the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, with the goal of manage and coordinate all the infrastructures and technical or scientific activities, directly or indirectly related to Space or the aerospace sector, to be developed in the Azores, and to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the “Azores Strategy for Space”
Government Council Resolution 106/2022 de 13 de junho de 2022
"Azores, the Atlantic hub for space."
Nota de Imprensa
March 16, 2026
Paulo Estêvão welcomes record number of young Azoreans participating in “Astronaut for a Day” programme
The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, which oversees the space sector, welcomes the significant participation of 40 Azorean students in the 5th edition of the “Astronauts for a Day” programme. Promoted by the Portuguese Space Agency (PT Space), the initiative set an all-time national record this year, with 762 applicants. This figure represents an increase of 217 applications compared to last year, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm of younger generations for the aerospace sector. The high level of participation in the Autonomous Region of the Azores (40 applicants) reflects the impact of policies to promote scientific literacy and young people’s interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, which are fundamental to the future of the archipelago. For the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, “these figures are a source of great pride for the Azores.” He added: “The data shows that our young people are ambitious, attuned to new horizons of knowledge, and keen to play an active role in the development of the space sector – an area where our Region has competitive advantages that are unique in the world.” The government official also emphasised that the Regional Government remains committed to creating the conditions for local talent to find genuine training and career opportunities within the Azorean space sector. The selection process, which is notable for its near-total gender parity at a national level (380 girls and 382 boys), will now move on to the stages of video assessment, cognitive tests and physical tests. The culmination of this competition will hold particular symbolic significance for the Region: the 20 selected finalists will take part in a parabolic flight scheduled for September 20, departing from Santa Maria. This will be the second edition of the event to take place on the island, which hosted the event last year. The Government of the Azores wishes every success to all the Azorean participants who remain in the race to "touch space" from their own homeland.
March 16, 2026
Paulo Estêvão welcomes record number of young Azoreans participating in “Astronaut for a Day” programme
The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, which oversees the space sector, welcomes the significant participation of 40 Azorean students in the 5th edition of the “Astronauts for a Day” programme. Promoted by the Portuguese Space Agency (PT Space), the initiative set an all-time national record this year, with 762 applicants. This figure represents an increase of 217 applications compared to last year, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm of younger generations for the aerospace sector. The high level of participation in the Autonomous Region of the Azores (40 applicants) reflects the impact of policies to promote scientific literacy and young people’s interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, which are fundamental to the future of the archipelago. For the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, “these figures are a source of great pride for the Azores.” He added: “The data shows that our young people are ambitious, attuned to new horizons of knowledge, and keen to play an active role in the development of the space sector – an area where our Region has competitive advantages that are unique in the world.” The government official also emphasised that the Regional Government remains committed to creating the conditions for local talent to find genuine training and career opportunities within the Azorean space sector. The selection process, which is notable for its near-total gender parity at a national level (380 girls and 382 boys), will now move on to the stages of video assessment, cognitive tests and physical tests. The culmination of this competition will hold particular symbolic significance for the Region: the 20 selected finalists will take part in a parabolic flight scheduled for September 20, departing from Santa Maria. This will be the second edition of the event to take place on the island, which hosted the event last year. The Government of the Azores wishes every success to all the Azorean participants who remain in the race to "touch space" from their own homeland.
Nota de Imprensa
December 15, 2025
Protocol with Portuguese Space Agency reinforces "strategic importance" of the Azores in the sector, emphasises Paulo Estêvão
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, signed today, on behalf of the Regional Government, a cooperation protocol with the Portuguese Space Agency that will reinforce the Region's "strategic importance" in the space sector. "There are various strategic advantages reinforced by the creation of a space ecosystem in the Azores, further strengthening our importance, which was already significant from a maritime standpoint and is now reinforced in a new sector as important as space," stated the government official. He spoke at the ceremony held at the Conceição Palace, in Ponta Delgada, where the Portuguese Space Agency was represented by its President, Ricardo Conde. One of the primary missions for the coming years is "Space Rider," which involves the development of a reusable space vehicle for conducting scientific experiments in microgravity and testing service technologies for other space missions, and whose return location will be on the island of Santa Maria. Paulo Estêvão stated that the regional contribution to this project will amount to three million Euros, earmarked to support the creation of a Space Technology Centre in Santa Maria, with a global budget of 15 million Euros. In addition to "Space Rider," the development of the space sector in Santa Maria also includes suborbital and, later, orbital launches, which will enable the future launch of satellites. The creation of a landing site in Santa Maria is a key element in Portugal's support for the "Space Rider" project. The infrastructure will have a landing control centre, as well as a payload processing and analysis platform with highly specialised facilities and expertise. “Whether by irony of fate or not, or by a twist of geography, we are once again a point of return. This time, it is a fundamental point of return, which is the return of space vehicles to Europe. We are the only point of return in Europe for space vehicles. This gives us fundamental strategic importance,” stressed the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, who is responsible for space matters. The protocol signed today aims to define the general framework for cooperation between the Azorean Government and the Portuguese Space Agency, within the scope of the coordinated implementation of the National Space Strategy and the Azores Space Strategy, as well as to establish guidelines for the coordination and joint implementation of activities in the five priority areas defined in the Azores Space Strategy. The parties undertake to cooperate on five strategic areas of the Azores Space Strategy: the development of the downstream sector – applications based on spatial data; the installation of test sites for space technologies and the integration of on-site networks; the promotion of access to space; the advancement of research, development and innovation in space; and the dissemination of scientific knowledge, education and culture in space. At the same time, a joint monitoring group will be set up, composed of designated representatives from both parties. This group will be responsible for, among other things, contributing to the development of the Portuguese Space Agency's activity plan through joint initiatives to be carried out in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and defining annual joint action plans. The protocol will be valid for three years and may be renewed for equal periods.
December 15, 2025
Protocol with Portuguese Space Agency reinforces "strategic importance" of the Azores in the sector, emphasises Paulo Estêvão
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, signed today, on behalf of the Regional Government, a cooperation protocol with the Portuguese Space Agency that will reinforce the Region's "strategic importance" in the space sector. "There are various strategic advantages reinforced by the creation of a space ecosystem in the Azores, further strengthening our importance, which was already significant from a maritime standpoint and is now reinforced in a new sector as important as space," stated the government official. He spoke at the ceremony held at the Conceição Palace, in Ponta Delgada, where the Portuguese Space Agency was represented by its President, Ricardo Conde. One of the primary missions for the coming years is "Space Rider," which involves the development of a reusable space vehicle for conducting scientific experiments in microgravity and testing service technologies for other space missions, and whose return location will be on the island of Santa Maria. Paulo Estêvão stated that the regional contribution to this project will amount to three million Euros, earmarked to support the creation of a Space Technology Centre in Santa Maria, with a global budget of 15 million Euros. In addition to "Space Rider," the development of the space sector in Santa Maria also includes suborbital and, later, orbital launches, which will enable the future launch of satellites. The creation of a landing site in Santa Maria is a key element in Portugal's support for the "Space Rider" project. The infrastructure will have a landing control centre, as well as a payload processing and analysis platform with highly specialised facilities and expertise. “Whether by irony of fate or not, or by a twist of geography, we are once again a point of return. This time, it is a fundamental point of return, which is the return of space vehicles to Europe. We are the only point of return in Europe for space vehicles. This gives us fundamental strategic importance,” stressed the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, who is responsible for space matters. The protocol signed today aims to define the general framework for cooperation between the Azorean Government and the Portuguese Space Agency, within the scope of the coordinated implementation of the National Space Strategy and the Azores Space Strategy, as well as to establish guidelines for the coordination and joint implementation of activities in the five priority areas defined in the Azores Space Strategy. The parties undertake to cooperate on five strategic areas of the Azores Space Strategy: the development of the downstream sector – applications based on spatial data; the installation of test sites for space technologies and the integration of on-site networks; the promotion of access to space; the advancement of research, development and innovation in space; and the dissemination of scientific knowledge, education and culture in space. At the same time, a joint monitoring group will be set up, composed of designated representatives from both parties. This group will be responsible for, among other things, contributing to the development of the Portuguese Space Agency's activity plan through joint initiatives to be carried out in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, and defining annual joint action plans. The protocol will be valid for three years and may be renewed for equal periods.