New ESA antenna reinforces investment in space as vector of development of Santa Maria, says Vasco Cordeiro
The President of the Government visited today the works for the installation of the new antenna of the European Space Agency (ESA) on the island of Santa Maria, an investment that falls within "the reinforcement strategy of the Space sector as vector of development" of this island.
This investment represents, first and foremost, "the consolidation of the commitment to provide services linked to the space sector on the island of Santa Maria, also reinforcing the position of the Azores as a partner in this type of projects that contribute to employment creation on this island," said Vasco Cordeiro.
Speaking to journalists on the second day of the statutory visit to Santa Maria, the President of the Government stated that the installation of this equipment will also strengthen the position of the Azores in the international context, through their participation in this type of scientific projects.
Before this visit, Vasco Cordeiro met with the President of the Portuguese Space Agency, Chiara Manfletti. According to him, this was a very useful meeting "as far as it enabled the exchange of information" on the projects already under implementation on Santa Maria as well as on the interest shown by this entity to collaborate in the investment in several projects, such as the case of the Space Port.
The installation of a new antenna follows an agreement signed between the Regional Government, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Government for the installation of a infrastructure under ESA's PROBA-3 programme for signal reception, launcher tracking, remote control and telemetry operations on the island of Santa Maria.
This infrastructure will enable the Azores to reinforce the provision of terrestrial services not only to ESA, but also to other international operators as far as its technical areas will have the potential to provide new services for future Earth and Sun observation missions.
Specifically, this antenna will be used in the context of several space missions, namely the PROBA-3 programme, Sun observation and the tracking of satellite launchers.