A senior NASA representative in Europe says the Azorean island of Santa Maria could emerge as a కీల launch and reentry hub for Europe’s growing space ambitions—but warned that Portugal should tread carefully before committing major investments.

Gregory Mann, who represents NASA in Europe, said Santa Maria’s geographic position offers “significant advantages,” potentially making it one of the continent’s primary gateways for space operations. “It could serve as a strong foundation for Portugal within the broader European space ecosystem,” he said in an interview.

Still, Mann cautioned that the global space sector is highly competitive, with multiple players already vying for dominance. Portugal, he warned, risks investing heavily without securing a meaningful foothold. “There are other operators and competitors. It’s possible Portugal could commit substantial resources and not become a major player due to European geopolitics or other factors,” he said.

Instead, Mann suggested a more targeted strategy—focusing on niche areas where competition is less intense and opportunities are greater.

While NASA supports Europe’s efforts to strengthen its independent launch capabilities, Mann made clear that the U.S. agency is unlikely to become a direct client of a future Azores spaceport. “From NASA’s perspective, launching from a foreign site or provider is a significant decision,” he noted. “We would not necessarily be a customer.”

Even so, he emphasized that European autonomy in space is a strategic priority for NASA, encouraging regional capacity-building and collaboration.

Portugal, he added, should first consolidate its role within Europe’s space framework before expanding its ambitions globally. That path may soon become clearer as NASA prepares new initiatives under its Artemis program, including expanded opportunities for international partners.

Portugal became the 60th country to sign the Artemis Accords, a framework for international cooperation in lunar exploration. Mann said upcoming initiatives could include shared payload missions, expanded access to lunar data, and even the possibility of distributing lunar samples to participating nations—echoing the legacy of the Apollo era.

With more than 30 lunar missions expected over the next three to four years—including 26 planned landings—Mann said signatory countries like Portugal could gain access to research opportunities, data, and scientific collaboration, including programs for students.

“Some of these opportunities will be reserved for Artemis partners,” he said. “That includes Portugal.”

In Diário Insular-José Lourenço-director

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