A new satellite production facility, the Alverca Space Hub, is being built at the Air Force (Força Aérea) installations in Alverca and is expected to be completed by mid-2024. The 1.5 million euro factory will initially produce eight radar satellites for the Atlantic Constellation (Constelação do Atlântico). The project aims to establish Portugal's capacity to build and operate satellites for both domestic and European use.
New satellite factory under construction in Alverca
Monday, 30 March 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea) is Portugal’s military branch for defending national airspace and conducting aerial operations. Created in 1952, it also carries out search-and-rescue, aerial reconnaissance and disaster support such as photographing floods or moving emergency teams. Residents in affected regions may see its planes and helicopters used during storms and relief missions.
The Atlantic Constellation (Constelação do Atlântico) is a collaborative space initiative between Portugal and Spain involving a network of small satellites for Earth observation. These satellites provide real-time data on maritime safety, climate change, and biodiversity across the Atlantic region. The project is linked to the Alverca Space Hub, a satellite factory in Portugal expected to finish construction in mid-2024.
