Portugal's Minister of Education and Science Nuno Crato said Wednesday that Portugal will integrate two scientific space exploration programs including the International Space Station, according to Portuguese Lusa News Agency.

"There is a lot of good news or Portugal, which will continue collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA) ... and will now incorporate the program for International Space Station and the program for Lunar Exploration," Nuno Crato told Lusa, after participating at a meeting at the ESA in Luxembourg.

Ministers of the ESA met Tuesday in Luxembourg, and agreed to develop new launchers, as well as approving investment in the international space station and space exploration programs.

Crato said that Portugal benefited through its participation with ESA "on various levels," like Portuguese scientists getting involved with the space agency's work and enabling the country to use more sophisticated technology.

"Being part of the International Space Station is very important for us ... The program for lunar exploration is a new program and we will join it from the start. So our software development companies will participate in this effort and will be able to make orders from these programs," Crato added.

The next ESA meeting will take place in Switzerland in 2016.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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Portugal to integrate two scientific space exploration programs: media