Innospace Secures European Launch Site, Accelerates Completion of Global Launch Network

Securing a European Launch Hub After Brazil and Australia
Aiming for Commercial Launch in 2026

Innospace, a private space launch vehicle company, is accelerating the establishment of its global launch network by securing a European launch site.

On January 8, Innospace announced that it had signed a new launch site usage agreement with Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC), the operator of the Portuguese launch site.

A view of the Malbusca launch site located on Santa Maria Island in the Azores archipelago, Portugal. Provided by Innospace

Under this agreement, Innospace has secured preferential and long-term usage rights for the Malbusca Launch Center, located on Santa Maria Island in the Azores, Portugal, for the next five years starting in 2026. The company plans to gradually build key infrastructure required for launch operations, including the construction of a launch pad, with the goal of conducting its first commercial launch in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The Malbusca Launch Center is an island-based facility located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It offers a high degree of independence in airspace and maritime operations, and its open launch trajectory toward the Atlantic enables flexible design of various orbital insertion scenarios.

ASC is a launch site operating consortium jointly participated in by OPTIMAL Structural Solutions and ilex Space. The launch site is operated with the official approval of the Azores regional government and the Portuguese government, and with institutional support from the Portuguese Space Agency (PSA).

Bruno Carvalho, CEO of ASC, stated, "This collaboration is significant for Innospace as it secures a European launch hub," adding, "We will actively support stable and efficient launch operations."

Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency, said, "This agreement demonstrates international confidence in Portugal's space industry," and added, "It will serve as an opportunity to expand sustainable orbital launch services in the Azores region."

Kim Sujong, CEO of Innospace, stated, "This agreement marks an important milestone as our first launch site in Europe, following Brazil and Australia," and continued, "Through our global launch site network, we have established a flexible launch operation system tailored to customer missions." He added, "We will make thorough preparations to achieve our goal of a commercial launch in the fourth quarter of 2026."