The headquarters of the Portuguese Space Agency – Portugal Space was inaugurated this Thursday on the island of Santa Maria, representing an investment of around 1.3 million euros by the Regional Government.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who considered the installation of the headquarters in the Azores a “lesson in Portugueseness.”

“The country has gained and is gaining from expanding autonomy in all its dimensions. It becomes richer culturally, richer economically, richer socially,” he said, adding that Portugal also becomes ‘richer scientifically and technologically.’

For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the installation of Portugal Space’s headquarters in the Azores “means that Portugal is realizing what it means to be Portugal.”

“This is a fundamental step, we know what our identity is and how it should be in the future,” he said.

“Without the autonomous regime, without the political, institutional and cultural rupture that was the affirmation of the autonomies of the Azores and Madeira, it would be more difficult for us to be here today,” he added.

Historic milestone

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, said that the inauguration of Portugal Space’s headquarters on the island of Santa Maria “is a historic milestone.”

“The island of Santa Maria is an island with history, due to its geostrategic position, and with the creation of this space hub, we are putting it at the forefront of the space policy project for Portugal and Europe,” he said.

According to José Manuel Bolieiro, the inauguration of the headquarters marks the start of a new phase in the country’s space strategy and underlines the central role that the Azores play in the space and scientific context.

Portugal Space’s headquarters have been installed in the former “Airport Director’s House” in Santa Maria, a building with historical value that has been renovated for this purpose.

The project, which involved an investment of 1.1 million euros plus VAT, included the complete refurbishment of the interiors, the preservation of the exterior façades, and the creation of new outdoor spaces, including gardens and parking areas.

For the head of the Azorean executive, the presence of Portugal Space’s headquarters “projects the Azores and gives Portugal a dimension” on the space scene while reinforcing the region as a land of “opportunities” in the national and European context.

Observatory of the Sea

José Manuel Bolieiro also wants to welcome the European Deep Sea Observatory to the Azores.

“This is another element that brings projection to the Azores and Portugal, and puts us on the map of new economies and cutting-edge science,” he stressed.

The President of the Regional Government advocated a new strategic vision for the European Union, focusing more on its “Atlanticism” and fewer restrictions on its terrestrial geography.

“The European Union has more potential if it looks at its Atlanticism rather than its geography,” he said, highlighting the role of the Azores as a platform between Europe and the Atlantic.

José Manuel Bolieiro considered the Azores’ geographical grandeur and centrality the foundations for building a “region of opportunities.”

The head of the Azorean executive called on the current generation to take responsibility for preparing the territory and infrastructures to realize this vision through determined action and conditions for sustainable and innovative growth.

The inauguration of Portugal Space’s headquarters in Santa Maria was also marked by a debate on the role of the Azores in the space sector and in the Atlantic context.

Philosopher and university professor Onésimo Teotónio de Almeida presented the lecture “The Paths of the Atlantic”, stressing the strategic importance of the Azores for scientific and technological development.

Professor Fernando Carvalho Rodrigues addressed “History and the Paths to the Future,” linking the island’s heritage to its opportunities for growth.

The round tables “The Virtuous Circle of Science – Conversations with the New Generations” and “The Azores and the Challenges of the Space Sector” opened up space for a dialog, where the prospects and challenges of the sector were discussed.

The event was also attended by the President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Luís Garcia; the Secretary of State for Science, Ana Paiva; the President of the Portuguese Space Agency, Ricardo Conde; the Mayor of Vila do Porto, Bárbara Chaves, the Executive Director of the Portuguese Space Agency, Hugo André Costa, and officials from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA).

PS welcomes

In a press release, the PS welcomed the inauguration of the Portuguese Space Agency’s headquarters, claiming it strengthens “the geostrategic position of the island and the region at national and international level.”

“This infrastructure, located in the former Airport Director’s House, is part of the Portugal Space 2030 national strategy and will allow us to reaffirm our commitment to promoting the Portuguese space sector,” said João Fontes, a member of the PS island secretariat.

The socialist claimed that various measures to promote and develop space and science on the island, especially in aerospace technology and Earth observation, were implemented over the years with the PS-led regional governments.

“We highlight the installation of the Satellite Tracking and Earth Observation Station, Teleporto, as well as the capture of the first ESA antenna and the signing of the memorandum for the Atlantic Network of Geodynamic and Space Stations (RAEGE) as important milestones achieved with the support of the PS governments,” he said.

in Diário Insular-Jos;e Lourenço, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.