Portugal in Space
- Paper number
IAC-06-E4.2.08
- Author
Ms. Vera Gomes, Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Portugal
- Year
2006
- Abstract
In the 14th and 15th centuries, Portugal went discovering and conquering sea and land all over the world. History was forever changed by the courage and bravery of one people. In the 21st century, Portugal participates in the European space projects. In 1997, Portugal began its collaboration with ESA, by signing an agreement between the Portuguese government and the agency that led to a Portuguese participation in ARTES (a telecommunication and navigation program). In the same year, a protocol of cooperation between Portugal and ESA allowed Portuguese graduates to run for internships at ESA. In December of 1999, Mariano Gago, then Portuguese Minister of Science and Technology, signed the country’s Adhesion Agreement to the European Space Agency Convention. Portugal became a full member of ESA in November of 2000, when the national Parliament ratified the agreement. Since then, Portuguese industry and academy can compete openly with similar institutions from other member states to provide services and goods to the Agency, in the context of the concept of geographical return which is a foundation of the workings of ESA. In other words, the total amount of the contracts awarded to a country should be proportional to its contribution to the budget of the Agency. In 2004, the Portuguese financial contribution to the budget of ESA was about 10 million euros, which represents roughly 0.3The main target for the Portuguese space strategy is the development of space activities in Portugal, by promoting the collaboration between nationals and their integration in the international space community, in the areas of industry, science and education. For that purpose, the government has established a National Bureau for Space, whose role it is to increase the awareness of the different agents to the opportunities that present themselves in this technological and scientific field of action. This paper will review the development of the Portuguese spatial participations and contributions in all areas – industrial, academic and governmental – highlighting what has been accomplished and what will be the future of Portugal in space.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E4.2.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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