Portugal Issues First European License For Controlled Re-entry

The Portuguese National Space Authority has granted the first European license for a controlled commercial spacecraft re-entry to the Azores Spaceport, operated by the Atlantic Spaceport Consortium. This authorization enables the spaceport to perform the re-entry phase of space missions, with the first beneficiary being ATMOS Space Cargo, a German company developing reusable space capsules. The spaceport’s remote location and European jurisdiction make it an attractive option for space operators. The license was issued for the re-entry of ATMOS’s Mission PHOENIX 2.1, which will utilize innovative Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator technology. This development was first reported by AeroTime.