TL;DR / Executive Summary
- ATMOS Space Cargo has secured Europe’s first commercial spacecraft re-entry licence for its PHOENIX 2.1 mission.
- The licence from ANACOM authorises the controlled return, splashdown and recovery of the vehicle near Santa Maria Island.
- It establishes a regulatory pathway for returning commercial spacecraft to European territory.
- The decision supports Europe’s ability to build independent return logistics for research, manufacturing and in-orbit services.
Lichtenau, Germany and Lisbon, Portugal, 05 March 2026 – Portugal’s National Space Authority (ANACOM) has issued licence ANACOM-09/2026-AE to ATMOS Space Cargo (ATMOS). The unitary licence, adopted by resolution of ANACOM’s Board of Directors on 24 February 2026 under Portugal’s national space law, authorises the return (re-entry) phase of Mission PHOENIX 2.1, with the launch window planned for the second half of 2026.
This licence is the first commercial space re-entry licence granted in Portugal for the controlled return and recovery of a commercial spacecraft to European territory under a national regulatory framework.
The licence covers the return operation of the PHOENIX 2.1 vehicle, including atmospheric re-entry, splashdown and maritime recovery operations conducted by ATMOS within a designated area in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Santa Maria Island in the Azores under Portuguese jurisdiction.
This distinguishes the mission from launcher stage disposal activities and establishes a new operational framework for Europe for the return and recovery of a dedicated commercial spacecraft.
Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency, said: “Developing national capabilities in space governance is essential for Europe’s autonomy and resilience in both access to and return from orbit. Supporting licenced re-entry operations from Portuguese jurisdiction reinforces Portugal’s role in enabling a European two-way space economy, including research, manufacturing, and other high-value applications that depend on reliable return logistics. With this licence, Portugal becomes the European return gateway from space.”
Marta Oliveira, COO and Co-Founder of ATMOS Space Cargo, said: “Re-entry is a critical component of European space infrastructure. Securing a European re-entry licence under a national framework is an important step in establishing independent, commercially viable return capacity. This licence represents a substantial step towards Europe’s sovereign two-way space infrastructure. We appreciate the structured and technically rigorous process led by ANACOM and the coordination with the Portuguese Space Agency and national authorities.”
