The European Space Agency was created in 1975 as a result of the merger of ESRO (European Space Research Organization) and ELDO (European Launcher Development Organization). With the accession of Romania and Poland in the near future, ESA will have 20 member states, with Canada as an associate state. Like other large scientific and technological organizations, ESA aims to bring together the concerted efforts of several European states in defining and implementing space programs that are beyond the reach of any single nation. It is through ESA that European participation in global projects such as the International Space Station (ISS) and the Exomars Mars exploration mission, among many other examples, is made possible.
Portugal has been a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) since November 14, 2000. The FCT, together with PT SPACE, promotes the activities of the Portuguese Delegation, encouraging the participation of national companies and R&D institutes in ESA space programs, including those implemented under the ESA-European Union Framework Agreement.
Two of the distinctive features of ESA are its industrial policy and decision-making process. ESA's industrial policy is based on the fundamental principle of geographical distribution of industrial returns, which represents an important incentive for institutional investment by its member states. ESA's decision-making process is characterized by the strong involvement of all its member states in decisions affecting the Agency, regardless of the size of their financial contribution.
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