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, the ESA will have 20 member states, with Canada as an associate state. Like other major scientific and technological organizations, the ESA aims to bring together the concerted efforts of several European states to define and implement space programmes that are beyond the reach of a single nation. It is through the ESA that Europe's participation in global projects is realized, such as the International Space Station (ISS) and the Exomars Mars exploration mission, among many other examples.
Portugal has been a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) since November 14, 2000. FCT, together with PT SPACE , promotes the activities of the Portuguese Delegation, promoting the participation of national R&D companies and institutes in ESA space programs, including those implemented under the ESA-European Union Framework Agreement.
Two of ESA's distinctive features are its industrial policy and decision-making process. ESA's industrial policy is based on the fundamental principle of geographical distribution of industrial return, which represents an important incentive for institutional investment by its member states. The ESA's decision-making process is characterized by a strong involvement of all its member states in decisions affecting the Agency, regardless of the weight of their financial contribution.
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