Results of the first phase of the Atlantic International Satellite Launch Program

The results of the 1st phase of the Atlantic International Satellite Launch Program are available on the ATLANTIC ISLP website. The Program received 14 proposals from international consortia, which expressed interest in collaborating with Portuguese companies and national research and engineering centers to design, install and operate a spaceport on the island of Santa Maria, in the Azores. This initiative was launched in September in a partnership between the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Azores Space Mission Structure (EMA - Espaço), with technical support from the European Space Agency (ESA).

The 14 expressions of interest were analyzed by a High-Level International Commission, made up of 9 national and foreign experts of recognized international merit and coordinated by Jean Jacques Dordain, former Director General of ESA. The Committee recommended a list of candidates to be invited to participate in the 2nd phase of this Program (Competitive Bidding Phase).

The Commission selected 5 expressions of interest submitted by satellite launch companies proposing to develop a small launcher and look for a launch base: AVIO, Consorcio AZUL, Isar Aerospace Technologies GmbH, PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg and Edisoft. These consortia will be invited to submit a full proposal in the second phase of the AISLP.

The Commission also considered that there are a number of other expressions of interest which, while not requiring a spaceport, are in a position to carry out specific negotiations with the Portuguese authorities; that others could be suppliers of subsystems; and it also identified the Ariane Group, which has expressed an interest in developing, operating and managing the spaceport.

Applications for the first phase of the program ended on October 31, 2018. This phase consisted of expressions of interest from entities that could guarantee the development and operation of a new generation of services for launching satellites into space. The 14 applications submitted included companies from various countries (11 from the European Union, 2 from the USA and 1 from Russia), which declared their interest in operating in the entire value chain associated with the new generation of services for launching small satellites into space. It should be noted that the proposals included innovative space access solutions with micro-launchers (representing 7 proposals), system engineering products and services and software.

The Atlantic International Satellite Launch Program aims to stimulate the creation of qualified jobs and leverage new high value-added space projects, which could guarantee an increase and new impetus for existing projects on the island of Santa Maria, as well as for national companies and research and technological development centers in this sector, positioning the country and the region in the development of a new generation of space activities based on small satellites. The expectation is that, once all the phases of evaluation and analysis of the feasibility conditions and contractual processes have been completed, the first launch services will begin operating in the Azores in the spring/summer of 2021.

The selection process will proceed as follows:

- February 2019: Phase 2 - submission of proposals with the required information, in response to the "International Call for Tender for Launch Services to Space from the Island of Santa Maria";

- February/March 2019: Evaluation process, including a public presentation of the proposals.

- March/May 2019: Final Evaluation Phase.

- End of April 2019: Final negotiation with companies / consortia.

- April/May 2019: Contract for the development and operation of the Spaceport.

- May/June 2019 to May/June 2021 (2 years): Analysis and external evaluation of the implementation phase.

- Spring/Summer 2021: first launch services planned to operate in the Azores.