The European Space Agency will decide on the landing site for the first Space Rider flights in the second quarter of this year, and Santa Maria remains one of the best possibilities.
The ESA’s Director of Flight Programs, Stefano Biachin, led a delegation from the European Space Agency to the island of Santa Maria. The aim was to evaluate the site as a landing point for the first Space Rider flights and even consider its possible selection for the maiden flight. Stefano Biachin visited the conditions of the proposed sites on site and, at a press conference, confessed that “from the beginning, we were studying the possibility of the landing site being in Steel, and we will make the decision in the coming months, even for the inaugural flight and it could be an opportunity to land here in Santa Maria.” Stefano Biachin justified the possible choice by saying that “the place is fantastic in terms of space operations and already has infrastructure that can be adapted.”


The Space Rider is Europe’s first reusable vehicle capable of landing and is currently undergoing testing and validation. The maiden flight is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2025, with the decision on flight sites to be made in the second quarter of this year. The vehicle aims to provide an integrated space transportation system for commercial customers to access and return from space, and it can remain in orbit for up to two months.

Ricardo Conde, president of the Portuguese Space Agency, is pleased with the support received from the ESA and guarantees that the national agency will take “all the necessary measures to ensure that the island of Santa Maria will be prepared to receive the Space Rider’s maiden flight if that is the ESA’s intention”. The publication of Decree-Law 20/2024 of February 3 revises the so-called Space Law. It simplifies and enhances the implementation of the Santa Maria Space Technology Center and the scientific activities in Santa Maria.
At the press conference, Ricardo Conde, president of the Portuguese Space Agency, announced that by initiating synergies with Space Rider, it intends to promote space access with the spaceport’s development. He revealed that an expression of interest will be announced soon.
The president of PT SPACE also announced that suborbital flights would be soon, with July as the target. ” There may already be a suborbital launch; it’s an expectation,” he said.

in O Baluarte from Santa Maria Island, Sandra Reis, director