The “Técnico launches Oeiras into Space” event took place on July 9 at Técnico Oeiras to mark the launch of ISTSat-1, the Portuguese satellite to be launched into space, built entirely by Técnico students and teachers at the Oeiras Campus.

The event also formalized the creation of the Oeiras Valley Space Hub, which is the result of a protocol between Instituto Superior Técnico, Oeiras City Council, CEiiA (Centre for Engineering and Development) and AED Cluster.

The President of Instituto Superior Técnico, Professor Rogério Colaço, opened the event, followed by the Mayor of Oeiras, Dr. Isaltino Morais. This was followed by a debate entitled “How to prepare the next generation for a new era in space?”, which brought together nine speakers: Engº André Dias from CEiiA; Professor Fernando Lau from Instituto Superior Técnico; Júlia Martinho, student at AeroTéc and leader of the RED project’s Control team; Professor Moisés Piedade, pioneer of the ISTSat-1 project at Instituto Superior Técnico; Professor Manuel Santos from the Nanosat Lab team at Instituto Superior Técnico; Dr. Pedro Dias, Education Officer at Instituto Superior Técnico. Pedro Coimbra, Education Officer at the Portuguese Space Agency; Eng. Sérgio Barbedo, General Manager at Thales Edisoft; Professor Zita Martins, Vice President for International Affairs at Instituto Superior Técnico and as moderator, Professor Pedro Amaral, Vice President for Business Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

As a means of presenting the potential for collaboration, training and enhancement of the Oeiras Valley Space Hub, the event featured two short presentations by the CEO of Geosat, Francisco Vilhena da Cunha, and Professor Joana Mendonça, Vice-President of the Instituto Superior Técnico for the Management of the Oeiras Hub. The protocol for the creation and promotion of the Oeiras Valley Space Hub, a new technological center in the area of Space, was signed by the Mayor of Oeiras, Dr. Isaltino Morais, the President of Instituto Superior Técnico, Professor Rogério Colaço; the Executive Director of CEiiA, Dr. Helena Silva, and the President of AED Cluster Portugal, José Neves. This agreement aims to unite the skills and efforts of a university, a business association, a research and development center and a municipality for the purpose of technological development and training in the area of space.

“The four institutions, in their areas of expertise, are complementary and collaborate in order to create skills, train people and create value in the area of Space,” said Professor Rogério Colaço, stressing that the protocol is a manifesto of intentions between the institutions that have a significant impact on society and the country. “This agreement is an important step in the strategy of the Municipality of Oeiras to become the largest innovation ecosystem in the country, attracting the best ideas and technologies, as well as stimulating the creation of high-value jobs,” he stressed.

The launch of ISTSat-1 was followed live from the space station in Kourou, French Guiana, where professors Rui Rocha and João Paulo Monteiro from the NanosatLab team and Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency, were present. To explain the whole process of building the nanosatellite, a documentary video was shown, followed by a presentation by Professor Carlos Fernandes, a member of the NanosatLab team.

The Rector of the University of Lisbon, Professor Luis Ferreira, and the Minister for Education, Science and Innovation, Doctor Fernando Alexandre, were also present to close the event.