Portugal And ESA Seal Deal To Build Space Hub And Host Space Rider Landings In The Azores

Portugal has formally partnered with the European Space Agency to create a new space hub on the island of Santa Maria, confirming the site as the future landing zone for Space Rider; Europe’s first fully reusable orbital vehicle.

The agreement was signed on 27 November in Bremen by Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency, and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. The Portuguese Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, the Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Helena Canhão, and Italy’s Minister for Enterprises, Adolfo Urso, all witnessed the moment.

Aschbacher said: “Today’s signature strengthens Portugal’s role as a strategic Atlantic gateway for innovation and growth and highlights their commitment to the space sector.”

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Santa Maria Confirmed For Space Rider’s Maiden Landing

The deal finalises ESA’s choice of Santa Maria as the landing destination for Space Rider’s inaugural mission, planned for 2028. The vehicle will lift off aboard a Vega-C rocket from French Guiana before returning to the Azores.

Space Rider is being developed as an uncrewed craft capable of short-duration missions in low Earth orbit. It will carry out experiments, test emerging technologies, and release small satellites before gliding back to Earth for reuse.

Aschbacher noted that the new partnership is “key to the next chapter of Space Rider… Santa Maria will be essential to this capability.”

Building A Permanent Space Hub In The Atlantic

Portugal’s renewed subscription to ESA programmes includes dedicated investment to develop the Santa Maria Space Hub, which will house landing facilities and post-landing processing infrastructure. This work will form part of the planned Santa Maria Space Technology Centre.

A feasibility study completed in July 2024 confirmed that the island is technically and economically suited to receive the returning vehicle. Design work is already underway, and construction of the hub is expected to follow.

Strengthening Portugal’s Role In Europe’s Space Sector

The project marks a long-term commitment by Portugal and the Regional Government of the Azores to establish permanent capabilities for access-to-space and return-from-space missions. These facilities are expected to support future Space Rider flights, experimental re-entry missions and wider commercial activity.

According to ESA, the new hub will serve “Portuguese, European, and global actors, driving innovation and economic development in the Azores.”

A Strategic Vision For The Azores

By anchoring Space Rider operations in Santa Maria, Portugal aims to expand its presence in the European space ecosystem and build new scientific and industrial opportunities for the region.

The initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to turn the island into a versatile space centre; a move positioned to boost competitiveness, attract investment and reinforce Portugal’s growing role in space transportation programmes.

Published by Kerry Harrison

Kerry’s been writing professionally for over 14 years, after graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in Multimedia Journalism from Canterbury Christ Church University. She joined Orbital Today in 2022. She covers everything from UK launch updates to how the wider space ecosystem is evolving. She enjoys digging into the detail and explaining complex topics in a way that feels straightforward. Before writing about space, Kerry spent years working with cybersecurity companies. She’s written a lot about threat intelligence, data protection, and how cyber and space are increasingly overlapping, whether that’s satellite security or national defence. With a strong background in tech writing, she’s used to making tricky, technical subjects more approachable. That mix of innovation, complexity, and real-world impact is what keeps her interested in the space sector.

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