{"id":901,"date":"2026-05-13T10:02:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T10:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/?p=901"},"modified":"2026-08-12T11:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T11:27:15","slug":"nasa-santa-maria-azores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/","title":{"rendered":"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"View of Santa Maria Airport in the Azores, with the island's coastal landscape in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-1434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some places feel remote from the world \u2014 others, even in the middle of the Atlantic, become strategically important on a global scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s exactly what happened when NASA chose Santa Maria, in the Azores, as a support base during the space race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But why did NASA choose Santa Maria in the Azores? And what does that mean for travellers today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this guide, we explore the connection between NASA and Santa Maria, its historical context and why this island still surprises visitors looking for <a href=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/things-to-do-sao-miguel\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"347\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nature, history and authenticity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why NASA chose Santa Maria<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NASA\u2019s decision to use Santa Maria was far from random.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The island\u2019s position in the North Atlantic made it ideal for tracking, communication and logistical support between North America and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the 1960s and 1970s, Santa Maria played an important role in supporting early space missions, acting as a monitoring station and communication link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, Santa Maria Airport \u2014 originally built during World War II \u2014 already had the infrastructure required for long-distance operations, making it a natural strategic base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Azores and the space race<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When discussing NASA and the Azores, Santa Maria stands out as a key strategic link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before satellite systems became fully developed, intermediate stations like this were essential for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>communication monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>technical support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tracking operations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>transatlantic coordination<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This role placed Santa Maria on the international map long before tourism shaped the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What you can still see today<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although NASA is no longer active on the island, its legacy remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, visitors can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>explore Santa Maria Airport<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>understand the island\u2019s historical context<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>learn about its strategic importance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>combine history with landscapes and local culture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Santa Maria is much more than its NASA connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also offers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>sandy beaches (rare in the Azores)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>dramatic coastal cliffs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>scenic walking trails<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>quiet villages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A strong contrast with S\u00e3o Miguel\u2019s lush volcanic landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is Santa Maria worth visiting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes \u2014 especially if you\u2019re looking for something different within the Azores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Santa Maria offers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>fewer crowds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a more authentic atmosphere<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>unique historical relevance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>landscapes that differ from the rest of the archipelago<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s drier, sunnier and has a distinct identity of its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Combining Santa Maria and S\u00e3o Miguel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re planning a trip to the Azores, combining S\u00e3o Miguel with Santa Maria can be an excellent choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">S\u00e3o Miguel offers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>volcanic lakes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/hot-springs-sao-miguel\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"988\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">geothermal hot springs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/hiking-trails-sao-miguel\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"576\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lush landscapes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>rich gastronomy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Santa Maria adds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>aviation and NASA history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>unique sandy beaches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a slower, calmer rhythm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two islands, two complementary experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Combining both islands works particularly well \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/sao-miguel-road-trip\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"457\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">having flexibility allows you to adapt your itinerary<\/a> and make the most of each destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQ \u2014 Is NASA still present in Santa Maria?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. NASA\u2019s active presence ended several decades ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, its historical legacy remains an important part of the island\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final tip<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exploring the Azores is about discovering contrasts \u2014 between science and nature, history and landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/sao-miguel-road-trip\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"457\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rent a car in S\u00e3o Miguel<\/a> and start your Azores journey with complete freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Santa Maria is one of those destinations that quietly surprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond its connection to NASA, it reveals a different side of the Azores \u2014 calmer, sunnier and deeply authentic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Azores, every island tells a story \u2014 and the best way to discover them is with freedom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover Santa Maria&#8217;s connection with the history of space exploration and why the island is worth visiting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1434,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,248],"tags":[249,250],"class_list":["post-901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acores","category-culture","tag-azores-cuisine","tag-traditional-azorean-food"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why did NASA choose Santa Maria? Discover the historical connection between this Azorean island and space exploration.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Why did NASA choose Santa Maria? Discover the historical connection between this Azorean island and space exploration.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Amazing Island\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-13T10:02:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-12T11:27:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1705\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Duarte Rego\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Duarte Rego\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Duarte Rego\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/09a152d8a325a7ee163011cc4c39e7b9\"},\"headline\":\"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-13T10:02:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-12T11:27:15+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":561,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Azores cuisine\",\"traditional Azorean food\"],\"articleSection\":[\"A\u00e7ores\",\"Culture\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/\",\"name\":\"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-13T10:02:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-12T11:27:15+00:00\",\"description\":\"Why did NASA choose Santa Maria? Discover the historical connection between this Azorean island and space exploration.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1705,\"caption\":\"View of Santa Maria Airport in the Azores, with the island's coastal landscape in the background.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"In\u00edcio\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Amazing Island\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Amazing Island\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/logo-amazingisland.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/logo-amazingisland.png\",\"width\":551,\"height\":214,\"caption\":\"Amazing Island\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/09a152d8a325a7ee163011cc4c39e7b9\",\"name\":\"Duarte Rego\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9fcc5031127dfbbe52936c18da0d93f30b7a361ea00a0856a783208b5f2a1199?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9fcc5031127dfbbe52936c18da0d93f30b7a361ea00a0856a783208b5f2a1199?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9fcc5031127dfbbe52936c18da0d93f30b7a361ea00a0856a783208b5f2a1199?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Duarte Rego\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/amazingisland.pt\\\/en\\\/author\\\/duarterego\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)?","description":"Why did NASA choose Santa Maria? Discover the historical connection between this Azorean island and space exploration.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)?","og_description":"Why did NASA choose Santa Maria? Discover the historical connection between this Azorean island and space exploration.","og_url":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/","og_site_name":"Amazing Island","article_published_time":"2026-05-13T10:02:14+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-12T11:27:15+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1705,"url":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Duarte Rego","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Duarte Rego","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/"},"author":{"name":"Duarte Rego","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/09a152d8a325a7ee163011cc4c39e7b9"},"headline":"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)","datePublished":"2026-05-13T10:02:14+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-12T11:27:15+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/"},"wordCount":561,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg","keywords":["Azores cuisine","traditional Azorean food"],"articleSection":["A\u00e7ores","Culture"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/","url":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/","name":"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2026-05-13T10:02:14+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-12T11:27:15+00:00","description":"Why did NASA choose Santa Maria? Discover the historical connection between this Azorean island and space exploration.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28-nasa-santa-maria-azores-amazing-island-rent-a-car-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1705,"caption":"View of Santa Maria Airport in the Azores, with the island's coastal landscape in the background."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/nasa-santa-maria-azores\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"In\u00edcio","item":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why NASA chose Santa Maria (Azores)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/","name":"Amazing Island","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#organization","name":"Amazing Island","url":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/logo-amazingisland.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/logo-amazingisland.png","width":551,"height":214,"caption":"Amazing Island"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/09a152d8a325a7ee163011cc4c39e7b9","name":"Duarte Rego","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9fcc5031127dfbbe52936c18da0d93f30b7a361ea00a0856a783208b5f2a1199?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9fcc5031127dfbbe52936c18da0d93f30b7a361ea00a0856a783208b5f2a1199?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9fcc5031127dfbbe52936c18da0d93f30b7a361ea00a0856a783208b5f2a1199?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Duarte Rego"},"url":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/author\/duarterego\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=901"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1435,"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/901\/revisions\/1435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingisland.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}