https://spacewatch.global/tag/pld-space/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:44:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/pld-space/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/pld-space-secures-e30-million-european-investment-bank-financing-to-support-miura-5s-development/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72740 The European Investment Bank has signed a €30 million venture debt loan with PLD Space to support the final development stage of the company's MIURA 5 rocket.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/munich-space-summit-european-launcher-companies-demand-contracts-as-agencies-continue-to-book-spacex/ Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72296 The launcher panel at Day 2 of the inaugural Munich Space Summit exposed a fundamental disconnect in European space policy: the continent's commercial launcher companies are building factories, filling order books, and preparing for flight - while European institutions continue to procure launch services from SpaceX and Rocket Lab.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/pld-space-secures-e180m-series-c-funding-to-accelerate-global-access-to-space/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71650 PLD Space has successfully closed a €180 million Series C equity funding round, led by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, alongside with other investors. With over €350 million raised to date, this financing advances PLD Space’s strategic roadmap, supporting its transition to commercial operations and the scaling of its industrial and launch capabilities. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/sateliot-and-pld-space-sign-contract-for-dedicated-launch-of-two-trito-satellites-with-miura-5/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71373 PLD Space and Sateliot have signed a commercial contract for the launch of their first two high-capacity 5G Direct to Device satellites. The agreement covers the launch of two Tritó satellites and their subsequent deployment into low Earth orbit. The flight will take place on a dedicated MIURA 5 mission, scheduled for 2027.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/pld-space-unveils-miura-5s-first-qualification-unit-towards-the-launchers-validation-campaign/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69235 PLD Space has unveiled the first fully integrated MIURA 5 unit, the Qualification Model 1 (QM1), marking a decisive step forward in the orbital launcher's validation campaign. This unit will allow PLD Space complete MIURA 5's first and second stages, under real conditions, towards minimizing flight risk and ensuring the vehicle's reliability before its first mission in 2026. The QM1 unit will serve to qualify two key elements of the launcher. Firstly, the MIURA 5 second stage will undergo a destruction test in the United States to validate the functioning of the Flight Termination System. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/pld-space-to-begin-launch-campaign-in-early-2026-leveraging-its-launch-testing-capabilities/ Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69042 PLD Space is operating its launch test infrastructure at full capacity at the Teruel Airport in Spain, where it boasts over 155,000 square meters of surface area for its MIURA 5 launch vehicle. These facilities, entirely designed and managed by the company, represent one of the largest private launcher testing capabilites in Europe. It is also a strategic asset within PLD Space's vertical integration model, allowing the company to adopt a "Test like you fly" development strategy. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/oman-set-for-launch-as-regulator-announces-spaceflight-framework/ Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68454 Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has introduced a framework to approve commercial space launch activities. Etlaq Spaceport, the region’s first commercial spaceflight hub, has welcomed the announcement. The recently issued Civil Aviation Directive (CAD 5-01) sets out the process for coordinating spaceflight activities within Oman’s airspace. Under the directive, companies seeking launch approval must submit an evidence-based safety case to the CAA in order to reserve launch windows in the Muscat Flight Information Region (FIR). ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/pld-space-develops-miura-5-in-record-time-as-it-consolidates-europes-leadership-in-space-access/ Wed, 15 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68345 PLD Space is advancing towards the final validation of its MIURA 5 reusable orbital launcher, developed in a record time of just two years. This achievement confirms the company’s industrial maturity and its capability to provide Spain and Europe with a new, sovereign access to space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/09/pld-space-secures-esa-gnc-contract-to-develop-halcon-hybrid-navigation-system/ Thu, 18 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67800 ESTEC has selected PLD Space for a GNC contract to develop HALCON, a hybrid navigation software for reusable launch vehicles. The HALCON project aims to develop advanced software that combines Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/08/spacewatchgl-opinion-who-are-europes-next-space-unicorns-meet-10-companies-building-europes-space-future/ Mon, 25 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67291
Written by Ieva Sipola
As global space policy shifts, Europe faces a unique opportunity to build its own future in space. This moment has become a catalyst for the continent's most ambitious scale-ups and aspiring unicorns, who are ready to shape a more independent and resilient space sector. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/07/european-launcher-challenge-unveils-five-preselected-challengers/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=66167 Five Challengers have been preselected to move forward following the first stage of the European Launcher Challenge. They are Isar Aerospace, Maiaspace, Orbital Express Launch, PLD Space, and Rocket Factory Augsburg. ESA will subsequently consolidate the proposals for the ESA Council at ministerial level (CM25) in November 2025.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/04/pld-space-and-d-orbit-sign-launch-agreement-for-equatorial-missions/ Fri, 04 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64694 PLD Space has signed an agreement with D-Orbit to deploy satellites aboard MIURA 5 to equatorial orbit. Through the agreement, D-Orbit will fly payloads aboard MIURA 5, including its flagship ION Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV). ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/02/pld-space-to-launch-from-etlaq-spaceport-expanding-global-coverage/ Fri, 21 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64088 PLD Space has announced that the Etlaq spaceport in Oman will be its second global launch base for the MIURA launch vehicle family. Raul Verdú, Co-founder and CBDO of PLD Space, signed the agreement with the Founder & CEO of Etlaq, His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, at the first annual Etlaq Launch Conference (ELC 2025), held in Muscat (Oman).]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/pld-space-unveils-miura-5-miura-next-and-lince/ Tue, 08 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61561 PLD Space has unveiled its strategic plan at the Beyond_ event, which it held at its new headquarters to mark the first anniversary of the successful MIURA 1 launch. The company also showcased significant progress in the MIURA 5 program, confirming that it is on course to achieve key milestones and begin its launch campaign by the end of 2025.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/07/esa-council-facilitates-diverse-european-launch-services/ Mon, 08 Jul 2024 06:00:54 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55971 The European Space Agency (ESA) Council has adopted a resolution setting the way for the ESA-developed Vega launcher to be commercialised by its prime contractor, Avio. The Resolution follows from an earlier resolution that the ESA Council adopted in Seville on 6 November 2023, calling upon the ESA Member States and the Director General to initiate a review of the legal framework governing the exploitation of ESA-developed launchers with the objective that Avio could become the operator and launch service provider of Vega as soon as possible]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/07/pld-space-announces-free-access-to-first-two-miura-5-flights/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 06:00:06 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55931 PLD Space has presented its MIURA 5 SPARK Program, which will allow educational centers, universities, institutions and companies globally to access the first two MIURA 5 launches free of charge. The Company commits to covering the costs of the mission with the ultimate goal of promoting scientific and technological innovation to improve people's lives from space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/05/spacewatchgl-venture-space-april-2024/ Mon, 13 May 2024 08:00:33 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55136 April was another banner month in VC investment, with $472m total invested across 26 deals. Across four months, the global space tech VC ecosystem now nears $3b, indicating 2024 could be one of the strongest years in history for investment in the sector.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/04/pld-space-announces-expansion-plans-amid-funding-support/ Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:00:07 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=54860 PLD Space has announced that it has attained 120 million euros in funding to date, thus ensuring it can meet its upcoming technological and corporate milestones, culminating in the launch of the MIURA 5 mission at the end of 2025. The Company has received 78 million euros in investment from shareholders who have invested in its technological program and business model. In addition to this sum, there are 42 million euros from the PERTE backed by the Government of Spain for a Spanish space launcher (1.5M€ in July 2023 and 40.5M€ at the end of January 2024).]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/02/pld-space-wins-esa-contract-to-develop-payload-system/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 07:00:38 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=53740 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.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/10/pld-space-announces-success-of-miura-1-mission/ Mon, 23 Oct 2023 06:00:10 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=51888 PLD Space has announced the success of its MIURA-1 rocket launch after analyzing the data the rocket gathered. The Company consequently achieved 100% of its main objectives and successfully validated its in-house technologies in flight. The suborbital mission went according to all the necessary parameters, both in the behavior of all the subsystems and the execution of the operations]]>