July 9, 2025 marked the first anniversary of the launch of ISTSAT-1, aboard the Ariane 6 rocket. The Portuguese CubeSat is part of the European Space Agency’s "Fly Your Satellite" initiative, and it has already completed over 5,500 orbits, covering a distance equivalent to more than 600 trips to the Moon: “It’s been to the Moon and back 623 times,” noted Rui Rocha. The occasion was celebrated at the Taguspark campus, the same location where the satellite's launch was followed.

The event began with an opening session led by Rogério Colaço, President of Técnico, who emphasized the fact that the satellite was developed in an informal, collaborative environment, involving various institutions and research centers, namely the INESC-ID, the Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT), the idMEC, and the Instituto de Sistemas e Robótica (ISR-Lisboa). Rogério Colaço also highlighted that ISTSAT-1 “was born from a dream and a vision” of its researchers, naming Rui Rocha, Moisés Piedade, and Luís Sousa, and acknowledging the dedication of many Técnico students. He emphasized the knowledge gained throughout the satellite's development and operations, as well as Portugal’s growing contribution to the space sector. His remarks concluded with a heartfelt thanks to all those involved in the project.

Following the mission presentation, Rui Rocha, project coordinator and founder of the NanoSat Lab, shared insights into the work and achievements of the past year. “This was truly a major milestone,” the researcher emphasized, underscoring the initiative’s contribution to academia and the national aerospace sector. He also highlighted the team’s adaptability in addressing challenges during the monitoring of the satellite’s orbit, such as communication difficulties caused by light noise. “We had to find solutions,” he explained, referring to the development of new antennas and ground stations. Currently, researchers are working on connecting three signal reception stations.

The event continued with a panel discussion titled “The Future of Space in Portugal”, featuring Joana Mendonça (Técnico faculty), Daniel Reis (LusoSpace), and Tiago Peres (Portuguese Space Agency). The discussion was moderated by João Paulo Monteiro, researcher at NanoSat Lab. Throughout the session, ongoing projects from each represented institution were presented, once again highlighting the key role of academia in driving the growth of the space industry—and vice versa.

The closing ceremony included remarks by Pedro Patacho, City Councillor of Oeiras, and Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency. Pedro Patacho reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to collaborating with Técnico, with innovation as a core goal. Ricardo Conde added, “Portugal is gaining access to space,” and mentioned that legislation is currently being developed to regulate the national space sector.

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