Beyond its global media footprint and the ascent of PLD Space from Elche to a position among aerospace leaders, Spain joined a select group of nations with deep space capabilities. It became the first European company to launch rockets. This milestone also drove a notable economic impact. As the company president, Ezequiel Se1nchez explained on Monday, PLD Space secured contracts worth 21 million euros in purchases from partner firms. The activity stimulated economic revival across the regions where the company operates.
He shared these insights during a keynote at the Strategic Value of Industrial Areas conference hosted by Fepeval. There he reviewed the firm7s progress to date and outlined confident plans for the near future, aiming to position PLD Space as Europe7s premier space technology company. In his words, the ambition is clear and strong.
The roadmap envisions onboarding roughly 30 new employees every three months through 2024, building on a current workforce of about 170. The company is preparing Miura 5, its first commercially focused payload rocket, following the successful technology demonstrator Miura 1.
In this context, the chairman highlighted a sustained effort to connect the Valencian Community with the project, particularly in Elche, where a first factory will drive development and house prototypes.
The real leap forward will come with the next phase: the creation of a factory dedicated to mass production of rockets. The project is designed to keep the workforce engaged across a 75,000 square meter site, with plans to locate it on non-expansion land managed by the Alicante Fair Authority, which will be converted into an industrial zone.
value chain
The manager underscored a central strategic principle: PLD Space aims to integrate the entire value chain within a single company. I35t is designed, built, tested and operated by the same organization. Historically, these steps were fragmented in the industry, but the integrated approach has helped shorten development timelines and reduce costs subsequently.
In this framework, the Elche-based firm remains a shipping enterprise at heart, with a clear mission to transport a satellite from an operator on Earth to a specific orbit once entrusted with the task.
There is also a strong belief that new sectors of activity will emerge from a project of this scale, particularly around towing and related logistics. The anticipated growth potential across future projects is seen as a key driver for the regional economy and the broader industrial strategy of the area.