Spanish company PLD Space has visited the site where the future launch pad for its orbital rocket MIURA 5 may be located in Kourou (French Guiana), the Spanish company PLD Space announced today. The company traveled to the facilities of CNES (National Center for Space Studies). After the announcement of his pre-selection to fly MIURA 5 in 2024 from this European complex. He also had the opportunity to further his plans for the future in this spaceport.
A team of representatives from the MIURA 5 program traveled to the Guyana Space Center (CSG) in Kourou this week, where they were able to see firsthand the areas that CNES plans to make available to small European launch operators. a public call. As announced at the end of July by CNES President and CEO Philippe Baptiste, PLD Space is one of seven European companies shortlisted to operate on the site known as Diamant.
During this visit, Spanish company made progress on previous steps To the preparation of the preliminary contract with the French space agency. Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO), PLD Space Raul VerduMet with Marie-Anne Clair, director of the Guyana Space Center (CSG).
“Since 2018 we have expressed our interest in running MIURA 5 from CSG for commercial launches. “We are proud to be one of the first supporters of this new use of the historic spaceport.”Verdu says.
“We are very happy to support” new european players especially in their access to space by giving them the opportunity to work from the European spaceport at Kourou”Clair’s comments.
PLD Space has been actively working with CNES since 2018 on the opportunity to leverage the CSG, which has been in operation since 1968 as MIURA 5’s main spaceport. This spaceport, currently used for the Ariane and Vega launchers, can accommodate new European launch vehicles as an additional form To increase Europe’s competitiveness and create independence for access to space.
PLD Space manifesto, starting in 2024 with the two-year MIURA 5 flight mission from French Guiana, between 10 and 12 releases per year. Currently, the firm is developing the design and construction activities of the launch infrastructure in Kourou, as well as the management of operational needs.
“Our statement is clear: we want the future of PLD Space and MIURA 5 to be sustained in one of the world’s most important spaceports.”Highlights the co-founder and CEO of PLD Space, Raul Torres. “This collaboration reinforces our commitment to provide commercial launch services to small satellites from European soil”.
Next steps of MIURA 1 and MIURA 5
PLD Space’s programmatic schedule maintains scheduled times. The company is completing its qualification campaign for its suborbital rocket MIURA 1 at the test bench in Teruel. At the same time, It has already started production of the flight unit, which will be launched at the end of 2022 from the base in El Arenosillo (Huelva), which is currently under construction.
At the same time, the Spanish company is making progress in the design and development of MIURA 5, which will fly in mid-2024. To meet this strategic milestone, PLD Space Technical facilities in Teruel and the production facility in Elche. Its team of more than 110 professionals will also grow, and it hopes to grow to 200 people next year.
About the PLD Field
PLD Space is a leading Spanish company in the aerospace industry and a European reference point for the development of reusable rockets, with industry-renowned prestige and a solid project. in the vehicles launch date: suborbital MIURA 1 and orbital MIURA 5, some rockets that will put Spain among the few countries capable of successfully sending small satellites into space.
With a history of ten years, PLD Space plans to launch the MIURA 1 prototype in the second half of 2022 and to perform the first true space transport mission with MIURA 5 in 2024. Based in Elche (Alicante) and with technical facilities in Teruel, the firm and Huelva have already invested more than 45 million Euros to promote its project in the space sector.
About CNES/CGS
CNES (National Center for Space Studies) It is the government agency responsible for designing and running the French space program.. It develops and directs research in the fields of space science and engineering. It is also the French center of excellence for space technologies and applications.
The European spaceport CSG (Guiana Space Center) is where the Ariane and Vega launchers fly. It offers a particularly advantageous geographic location for certain launches and a track record of over 50 years. CNES has chosen the Diamant launch complex to host the new micro-launches. The complex includes common facilities for various launchers – access road, power systems, etc. – as well as special facilities for each launcher – launch table, assembly building, etc. will provide. Bringing together international actors in French Guiana It enables the launch of satellites from operators around the world for space applications essential to daily life, around major strategic issues.