The European Space Agency (ESA) will have the contribution of five Portuguese companies in the manufacture of new satellites for the next six missions under the Copernicus program, one of ESA’s most important project.
The contracts awarded to Active Space Technologies, Critical Software, Deimos Engenharia, FHP (Frezite High Performance) and the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI), all of whom Cluster members, result in a 10€ million amount for the national companies.
This is a value that exceeds the 5€ million total at the ESA Ministerial Council, in November 2019, and that is proof of the Portuguese companies rapid growth in the space value chain and the confidence of European bodies in the quality of national products and services.
FHP obtained the highest value contract (4.2€ million), being involved in three of the six new missions planned for the production of spacecraft equipment. This is followed by Active Space Technologies, with the second highest value (3.2€ million), which also contracts for involvement in three of the six missions. To INEGI was allocated 1.5€ million, followed by Critical Software with 600.000€ and Deimos with 500.000€.
The total investment of the Copernicus program, assumed by ESA and the European Union, is around 2.5 billion euros, which will be used for the next six missions of the program, that intends will place about 12 new satellites in space. The main purpose of these missions (and of the entire Copernicus program) is to provide accurate and easily accessible information to the European Commission, to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security.