The countdown for construction has begun this Wednesday. The new headquarters of Elche aerospace company PLD Space On land in the IFA-Fira Alacant region. Generalitat Valenciana, Elche City Council, Project Association for Digital Transformation (SPTD) and PLD Space have signed the agreement of intent to locate the company. Centre designed for rocket production Ximo Puig, president of Consell, announced that the land affiliated with IFA will attract innovative companies and assist traditional industries in the transition to digitalisation.
A 140,000-square-foot land, aerospace company will have a thirdnow society governs Anthony Rodes urbanization, Once City Council Approved the transfer of the developer status of the TO-4 Sector of the General Town Planning Plan (PGOU) to the Project Community for Digital TransformationIt is subordinate to the Ministry of Innovation.
PLD Space is currently the only innovative company showing an interest in these areas because those in charge of the company themselves matchless in the province, meeting the requirements they need in addition to their extensions proximity to the airport.
To this end, the agreement of intent signed at Elche in the presence of the President of the Generalitat, Ximo PuigMinister of Universities, Josephine Goodmayor of Elche, Carlos GonzalezManaging Director of SPTD, Anthony Rodesand co-founder of PLD Space, Raul Verduvarious structure urban procedures necessary to carry out all actions with the active participation of the signatory parties.
As the councilor from Elche pointed out, this Wednesday Anchor in Elche “a revolutionary project”. The anchoring of the fast-growing company is certain to continue its operations in Elche, where this action took place.
PLD Space project also announced Strategic Regional Project from Consell In November 2022, as it has a high technological and innovative component, where the creation of highly qualified employment comes to the fore. “From Elche to the world”Co-founder of PLD Space, Raul Verduclaiming to be “global leaders”. The company from Elche is moving towards it, if it hasn’t arrived yet.
commitments
are fly the commitments set forth in this agreement of intent. On the one hand, PLD as the future operator of the activity, buy the landas long as the milestones set in the agreement are met.
On the other hand, Digital Transformation Projects Community (SPTD) manager the entire process through its introduction, impulse and processing. precision urban tools and carrying out urbanization studies of the TO-4 sector of Elche’s PGOU, because it already has the status of urbanization agent.
And Elche City Council is committed fast transaction required all agreements that had to be accepted.
PLD Space is expected to enact the purchase of land added to IFA late this year. The purpose of the company is to operate in its new facilities. in about two yearsAs confirmed in this newspaper by the company’s co-founder Raúl Verdú.
Thus, the aviation company will build Ship larger than 40,000 square meters on the lands where he will establish his new factory Production of reusable spacecraftnext to you testing lab and her offices central. There it will expand equipment and machinery. Investment in land and warehouse, explains Verdú, It will be more than 30 million euros. “Step by step and our feet are on the ground”sign.
4 to 6 new employees per month
The purpose of the company is to achieve its purpose. 300 to 350 employeescurrently has 140. Thus, it will cease to be an SME and turn into a large company.. The company’s growth is not only in its technology and expansion of facilities, but also in job creation. Actually, have a hiring rate of 4 to 6 new workers per month. “We don’t just need highly qualified engineers and jobs, We are also looking for Vocational Training There are technical experts in electronics or welding, and the company has everything from lawyers to administrative staff,” says Verdú.
HE 80% of its employees are Spanishmany were repatriated from abroad, working in countries such as the United States or France.
The company is a five-year period in the expansion planMore than 40,000 square meters planned for the IFA environment, which includes the transfer from the existing facilities of the 1,000 square meter Business Park, where the Miura 1 rocket, which will be launched from Huelva to space this month as the test of Miura 5, is produced, to More’s new warehouse.
The company from Elche has already taken over more than 65 million euros financing of different plans.
directing
Consell has already built Elche, born at Miguel Hernández University (UMH), to the level of the Volkswagen battery factory in Sagunto, “wealth, employment and a bright future” Emphasizing that Josefina Bueno, Minister of Universities, is responsible for these lands.
Generalitat President Ximo Puig “hope for the future” this represents the “ambitious” and “disruptive” project of PLD Space. Puig said the initiative reflects the importance of having a “strong” university system closely linked to research and innovation, and The entrepreneurial capacity of the Elche community. “To exist in the future, you have to be with the sectors of the future”, Puig pointed.
Now it’s time for a cumbersome administrative process called “hard rock”, as the company’s founding partner put it. procedures and licenses. However, all parties have made commitments. speed up. “Someone’s signature Transcendent, vital and historic agreement for the city and will contribute to the transformation of the generative model,” stressed Carlos González.
Lunch
Verdú confirmed the launch of the rocket built by PLD Space at Elche. first Spanish and European special Miura 1, launched into orbit, will be this May. The spacecraft, which has been at the launch base of the El Arenosillo Experiment Center (Cedea) in Moguer (Huelva) since 8 March and will be launched from there, has successfully completed all important tests except one of the launch trials. HE It is scheduled to happen this week. IT IS INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOUNDERS OF THE COMPANY.
About “hot test”, full power static ignition. This time the engine will run at full power for 5 seconds. This will check engine operation or pressure.
When this test is passed, the green light will illuminate for takeoff. there is planned multiple launch windows until the first week of June. The flight will take place first thing in the morning, between 6 and 7:30 am. better weather conditions there. “We’re being very conservative about the launch, we’ve reviewed everything eight times.” Raúl explains Verdú.
The take-off will only take place if all safety conditions are met. Therefore, in the event of rain, storm, lightning or wind, among others, the weather will be decisive in the first place, as it will cancel and move on to the next authorized flight window.
Also on launch day Some roads in the surrounding area will be closed, air and sea traffic will be restricted. in the departure area. Finally, all data and variables sent by the rocket must be correct for the launch to take place.
Any change will result in the cancellation of the take-off, this can be done up to one minute and 45 seconds before going into space (after this time it switches to automatic sequence and there is no going back). PLD Space reported that no official will participate in the take-off. company yes will be streamed.
Miura 1 is Europe’s first private rocket launched into space. Micro launcher with a length of 12.5 meters and a weight of 2,500 kilograms, on takeoff, will serve to put small satellites into orbit. Actually Miura 1, technology demonstrator, Elche wants to test up to 70% of the technology next. It will be valid for Miura 5, rocket to really start It carries out commercial cargo missions and is expected to be commissioned in 2024.
Miura 1 will put on a performance suborbital Flight, so it will rise 150 kilometers altitude but without circumambulating the Earth completely. It is designed to lift from 100 kilos to 150 kilometers high. 12 minute flight Three minutes of microgravity are obtained to perform the experiments.
The demonstrator microlauncher will carry an experiment from the University of Bremen’s German Center for Applied Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) for verification purposes under the following conditions. gravity some of the technologies this scientific institution has created for the space industry.
Return of the shooter is a parachute It is in the Atlantic, about 70 kilometers from the launch point where it will be picked up by a ship.
In addition to Elche, PLD Space’s Teruelthat the company owns the test bench and will also expand it.