In the context of the ASPIRE initiative and following IMAR's participation in the 2018 ASPIRE Workshop in Washington, the project enabled the establishment of a Exploration Command Center on Faial Island to support the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer 2020 mission—"Voyage to the Ridge 2020" (EX2004, EX2005, EX2006). The mission focused on collecting baseline data through bathymetric mapping and water column studies, as well as exploring unexplored areas of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Azores Plateau, and the Charles Gibbs Fracture Zone. IMAR was actively involved throughout 2019 in defining dive and mapping areas, mission planning, and preparing the Command Center. The center enabled real-time monitoring of dives, direct intervention during missions, and live mapping activities. All data collected during the mission are openly accessible, contributing significantly to the knowledge of Azorean seabed mapping, imagery, and marine biodiversity. Beyond the scientific gains, the Exploration Command Center positioned the Azores at the forefront of deep-sea exploration, fostering opportunities for ocean literacy, civil society engagement, and involvement by regional decision-makers in scientific discoveries.

This project supported the installation and operationalization of an Exploration Command Center (ECC) on Faial Island, enabling real-time participation in the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer 2022 mission, known as "Voyage to the Ridge 2022." The center allowed IMAR researchers, local stakeholders, and decision-makers to actively engage in deep-sea exploration of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Azores Plateau, and Charles Gibbs Fracture Zone.