Few people know that the first words transmitted from the Moon were not heard first in Houston—but in Madrid. It was a station near Robledo de Chavela that captured Neil Armstrong’s historic message in 1969, reflecting Spain’s early and vital role in space communications. Just a few kilometers away stands the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC), one of only three facilities in NASA’s Deep Space Network, along with stations in California and Australia.

Operated jointly by NASA and Spain’s aerospace agency INTA, the MDSCC enables continuous communication with deep space missions. Last year, Spain and the United States renewed their bilateral scientific cooperation agreement, extending MDSCC operations for another 15 years and reaffirming a long-standing alliance in space exploration.

Launch Milestones Strengthened by Invest in Madrid

That partnership continues to flourish. In January 2025, the Spanish satellite SpainSat NG I was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Weighing six tons and equipped with Europe’s most advanced active X-band antennas, the satellite delivers secure communications for Spain’s Ministry of Defense, enhancing the nation’s role within NATO and the European space community. A second satellite, SpainSat NG II, is set to launch later this year.

A Hub for Deep Space Science and Collaboration

Invest in Madrid also celebrates its deep ties with global research organizations. Madrid is home to the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB)—a globally respected research institution affiliated with NASA’s Astrobiology Program. This year, CAB achieved historic success: five of its projects were selected for the James Webb Space Telescope’s fourth operational cycle, with four led by CAB researchers. That feat places CAB ahead of global institutions like Harvard, CalTech, and MIT.

Starting in July 2025, CAB will use approximately 280 hours of telescope time to study early-universe galaxies, black hole environments, and dense star clusters in the Milky Way’s core.

Local Talent, Global Reach

Madrid’s contribution to scientific exploration is also reflected in individual excellence. Ana Inés Gómez de Castro, lead researcher of the AEGORA Space Astronomy Group at the Complutense University of Madrid, was chosen by the European Space Agency to join NASA’s panel for the upcoming Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO)—a groundbreaking telescope aiming to detect life beyond Earth.

Aerospace Infrastructure That Powers Discovery

From Getafe to Tres Cantos, Invest in Madrid fosters a thriving aerospace ecosystem that includes satellite communication, Earth observation, and aircraft engineering clusters. Combined with a highly skilled, multilingual workforce, Madrid offers ideal conditions for advancing global space exploration.

Invest in Madrid is fueling Europe’s next great leap, ensuring that the phrase “De Madrid al Cielo”—From Madrid to the Stars—rings truer than ever.