From September 18 to 21, 2025, the Portuguese Space Agency will host the third edition of its “Astronaut for a Day” initiative, offering participants the opportunity to experience parabolic flights that simulate the sensation of microgravity.
Accordingly, 30 young people from across Portugal will have the rare opportunity to experience life as astronauts. Hosting the event in Santa Maria underscores the island’s growing importance as a strategic hub for Portugal’s space sector.
The program is designed to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers by offering a hands-on introduction to spaceflight conditions.
Participants, selected through a nationwide competition, will undergo preparatory activities before boarding a specially equipped aircraft that recreates the effects of weightlessness, similar to what astronauts experience in orbit.
“By placing young people in direct contact with the science and wonder of space, we are investing in Portugal’s future,” said a representative of the Portuguese Space Agency. “The Azores, and especially Santa Maria, offer a unique setting for this initiative as they are increasingly central to our country’s space strategy.”
Already home to the European Space Agency’s Santa Maria Station and the headquarters of Portugal Space, the island plays a key role in satellite tracking, orbital monitoring, and the development of future space launch capabilities.
The “Astronaut for a Day” initiative was first launched in 2022 and has since provided more than 60 Portuguese youths with the chance to experience parabolic flight.
Its growing popularity reflects a wider European trend of engaging students with practical experiences in aerospace science, a practice also seen in France and Germany, where space agencies organize educational flights and astronaut training simulations.
“The choice of Santa Maria is no coincidence,” added the Agency’s spokesperson. “The island combines geographic advantage with advanced infrastructure, positioning it as a gateway to both the Atlantic and the cosmos.”
In a new development, the Azores Spaceport on Santa Maria island has officially been licensed to operate, with its first launch now expected in spring 2026—nearly five years later than originally planned. It marks the first authorization ever issued in Portugal for a spaceport.
According to the consortium’s director, Bruno Carvalho, the initial missions will involve suborbital test flights, with contracts already signed with companies from Poland, Germany, and the UK. Orbital launches to place satellites in space are projected to begin in 2027, coinciding with the European Space Agency’s unmanned space shuttle Space Rider landing in Santa Maria.
Formed in 2020, the consortium includes Ilex Space and Optimal. The project was first initiated under Minister Manuel Heitor, who had envisioned launches as early as 2021, but delays arose from the bidding process and the absence of a legal framework, which was only established in 2024.
In recent years, Santa Maria has broadened its relevance by accommodating suborbital test launches and fostering international collaborations. The Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC), based on the island, conducted successful rocket launches in 2024 and in 2025 announced a new partnership with Polish firm SpaceForest to launch its PERUN rocket in early 2026.
With “Astronaut for a Day”, the Portuguese Space Agency reaffirms its mission to inspire a generation of Portuguese youth to look beyond the horizon—toward space exploration and discovery.
PAJ/Staff/updated
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores comprises the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, who are elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, which holds parliamentary legitimacy, consisting of a President, a Vice-President, and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest U.S. census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent reside in the United States, with the majority having roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
