Portugal grants license to operate a rocket launch site in the Azores
Portugal wants to use the Azores' favorable location in the Atlantic for rocket launches. A permit has now been granted for the operation of a spaceport.
The first rocket took off from the Azores a year ago, but it did not make it into space.
(Image: ASC)
Portugal's telecommunications authority has issued the first license for the operation of a spaceport on its own territory, to be built on the southernmost Azorean island of Santa Maria. This has now been announced by the Portuguese space agency AgĂŞncia Espacial Portuguesa, which was involved in the process. It explains that the permit was awarded to the Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) and is valid for five years. The private-sector consortium wants to build the rocket launch site on the southernmost tip of Santa Maria, and the first suborbital launches could take place as early as next year. However, it needs its permits for this. Last year, an atmospheric rocket ignited there reached an altitude of around five and a half kilometers.
Taking advantage of the Azores' favorable location
The granting of the license is part of an action program to promote flights from Portugal into space, taking advantage of the Azores' favourable geographical location, explains the space agency. This creates the basis for the south-western European country to play an important role in Europe's developing space industry, adds agency head Ricardo Conde. The relevant local bodies have been consulted and have responded positively. The space agency is therefore also working in parallel to set up infrastructure in the Azores to enable landings of the planned reusable spacecraft Space Rider of the European Space Agency ESA.
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The decision from Portugal underlines the fact that launch sites for rockets are being built at more and more locations in Europe to participate in the expected boom in the space industry. The Norwegian rocket launch site Andøya, for example, was converted for flights into space, but the inaugural flight of a German Spectrum rocket from Isar Aerospace lasted just 30 seconds. A launch site is also being built in Scotland and, according to local media reports, the first rocket is due to take off from Scotland in a few months. Meanwhile, the German government is supporting the plan for a mobile platform in the North Sea to launch space rockets. Meanwhile, Europe's established spaceport for large launchers is located in French Guiana on the South American continent.
(mho)
