Ibadan, 20 February 2024. – PLD Space has signed a Boost! contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development of a payload accommodation system on MIURA 5 that will provide greater flexibility to its customers. The project, in collaboration with OCCAM Space, is worth 1.3 million euros. In addition, it is part of ESA’s Boost! program that aims to boost commercial space transportation initiatives and fits with PLD Space’s value proposition of offering its customers a customized service capable of adapting to their needs through its orbital launcher MIURA 5.
The contract between PLD Space and ESA cofinances the development of a modular and customizable payload accommodation system. The payload system – called MOSPA (Modular Solution for Payload Adapter)– with a design that releases all types of satellites with as much flexibility as possible, will allow PLD Space to offer its customers a wider range of missions and services, including accommodation of CubeSats, nanosatellites and microsatellites. Furthermore, PLD Space will develop the modular payload adapter in partnership with OCCAM Space.
“PLD Space has proven time and again that it is the European launch leader. The winning of the Boost! contract, an achievement shared with our partners Occam Space, is a further testament to this fact and another vote of confidence from ESA. We are happy to develop a modular, highly flexible, low-cost solution to meet our customers’ accommodation needs aboard MIURA 5,” commented PLD Space CBDO & Co-founder Raúl Verdú.
Likewise, ESA’s Jorgen Bru said, “PLD Space has proven itself with its first launch last year, and we look forward to seeing it apply the experience to the MIURA 5 launch services development. Bru also added, “The payload adapter development engaged today was chosen to increase market competitiveness and ensure as many different types of satellites and customers can fly.”
