PLD Space makes history with the first private space rocket launch in Europe

MIURA 1 comes with recovery and reuse requirements

Image credit: Canva

Spanish company PLD Space achieved a significant milestone by successfully launching MIURA 1, the first private European rocket.

Here are a few key points:

• PLD Space (also known as Payload Aerospace S.L.) was founded in 2011.

• The suborbital launcher, which took off from the El Arenosillo Experimentation Centre, met all technical objectives during its maiden flight, including engine thrust, trajectory tracking, and launcher behavior. MIURA 1 reached an altitude of 46 kilometers before landing in the Atlantic Ocean.

• One notable aspect of MIURA 1 is its recovery and reuse requirements, a feat achieved by only three companies in the space industry.

• This launch marks a significant step toward the development of MIURA 5, the company's orbital launcher, with nearly 70% of its design and technology validated through MIURA 1's flight. A MIURA 5 launch is planned for 2025 while commercial operations would commence in 2026.

• With this accomplishment, Spain has become the tenth country in the world with direct space capability.