The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology, has transferred surface rights of a plot of land located in Pico das Flores, Santa Maria Island, to the company EDISOFT - Software Service and Development Company. It plans to install a Ground Segment infrastructure (tracking and reception station) for the new constellation of polar meteorological satellites.
 
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stressed that the construction of this infrastructure will contribute "to the Region's international recognition in the space field. It will also have a social and economic impact at local and regional levels."
 
Under the direct negotiations with the European Meteorological Satellite Agency (EUMETSAT), EDISOFT will "implement, within a maximum period of one year and a half, a series of infrastructures that, similarly to the European Space Agency and Galileo, will enhance the location of the Azores and of Santa Maria Island, namely in space services," stressed Gui Menezes.
 
The Regional Secretary stated that, on the one hand, the new infrastructure will "greatly enhance the strategic potential of the Region" for this area of intervention and, on the other hand, "it will contribute to the creation of highly specialised jobs."
 
The government official also considered that the installation and operation of this station on Santa Maria "is of public interest not only in geographical terms, but, above all, it is important for the synergies arising from the operation of the current infrastructures."
 
The Ground Segment infrastructure for the new constellation of polar meteorological satellites will be installed on the land adjacent to the Tracking Station and Galileo Station.
 
The surface right of the land, with an overall area of 4,700 square metres, is granted for a period of 20 years, upon the payment of an annual instalment as stipulated by the Council of the Government of June 13, 2017.