Portuguese Space Agency

Founded in 2019, the Portuguese Space Agency (PSA) serves as the national entity coordinating Portugal’s space activities and its participation within the European Space Agency (ESA). The agency is responsible for implementing the national space strategy, “Portugal Space 2030,” and fostering the growth of the Portuguese space sector. A key focus of the PSA is the development of the Santa Maria Space Technology Centre, including a licensed spaceport, on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores. This facility is poised to support European space endeavors, notably as the designated landing site for ESA’s Space Rider mission.

The PSA actively manages and increases Portugal’s financial commitment to ESA programs, securing a €204.8 million subscription for 2026-2030 – a 51% increase over the previous period. Beyond infrastructure development and ESA collaboration, the agency also funds domestic research and development initiatives, such as the PROSSE program, which supports microgravity research projects undertaken by Portuguese institutions like IST and INEGI.

Currently, the Portuguese Space Agency is demonstrating success in attracting investment and fostering growth within the national space industry, evidenced by over €11 million in new contracts secured in the first quarter of 2025 and the establishment of new space-focused companies. Furthermore, the agency has secured a significant role in European space biology through the establishment of ESA’s official Biobank at the Gulbenkian Institute of Molecular Medicine in Lisbon.