Portugal has taken a significant step in its space ambitions by awarding the nation's first-ever license to operate a spaceport.

The license has been granted to the Portuguese Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) to conduct space access activities from the island of Santa Maria in the Azores, the Portuguese Space Agency announced on Wednesday (Aug. 13).

The five‑year permit granted to ASC covers the operation of a launch center in Malbusca, an area within the Azores, but does not include individual launch authorizations. Separate licenses and safety assessments will be needed for each mission.

The process was conducted in close collaboration with ANACOM, Portugal's national space authority that's responsible for licensing. Sandra Maximiano, president of ANACOM, stated the authority's com

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