PLD Space Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com Covering the business and politics of space Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:26:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-SN_forza_star-32x32.png PLD Space Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com 32 32 80681979 PLD Space secures loan for Miura 5 launch facility https://spacenews.com/pld-space-secures-loan-for-miura-5-launch-facility/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-secures-loan-for-miura-5-launch-facility/#respond Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:26:44 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=509565 Miura 5
Miura 5

Spanish launch vehicle startup PLD Space has secured a loan to help fund development of the launch site of its Miura 5 rocket in French Guiana.

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Launch companies need to diversify to survive, say industry executives https://spacenews.com/launch-companies-need-to-diversify-to-survive-say-industry-executives/ https://spacenews.com/launch-companies-need-to-diversify-to-survive-say-industry-executives/#respond Wed, 23 Oct 2024 11:21:47 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=507557 A revised design of the Neutron rocket features larger landing legs optimized for barge landings. Credit: Rocket Lab
A revised design of the Neutron rocket features larger landing legs optimized for barge landings. Credit: Rocket Lab

Industry executives believe that pure-play launch companies need to diversify into other areas to survive in a demanding market that remains dominated by SpaceX.

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PLD Space unveils plans for larger launch vehicles and crewed spacecraft https://spacenews.com/pld-space-unveils-plans-for-larger-launch-vehicles-and-crewed-spacecraft/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-unveils-plans-for-larger-launch-vehicles-and-crewed-spacecraft/#respond Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:04:20 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=506800 Miura Next Heavy
Miura Next Heavy

Spanish startup PLD Space, currently developing a small launch vehicle, has outlined plans to work on progressively larger, reusable rockets as well as a crewed spacecraft.

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Small launch vehicles press ahead despite market setbacks https://spacenews.com/small-launch-vehicles-press-ahead-despite-market-setbacks/ https://spacenews.com/small-launch-vehicles-press-ahead-despite-market-setbacks/#respond Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:47:52 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=506178 Latitude Zephyr rocket
Latitude Zephyr rocket

Despite stiff competition from SpaceX rideshare services and some high-profile failures, ventures are still pursuing small launch vehicles that they argue can fill niches in the market.

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PLD Space to start building French Guiana launch facilities next month https://spacenews.com/pld-space-to-start-building-french-guiana-launch-facilities-next-month/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-to-start-building-french-guiana-launch-facilities-next-month/#respond Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:35:11 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=498371

As Arianespace ramps up following Ariane 6’s July maiden flight from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana, a Spanish venture is preparing to become the first non-institutional launcher to reach orbit from the base next year.

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PLD Space raises funding to expand facilities for Miura 5 rocket https://spacenews.com/pld-space-raises-funding-to-expand-facilities-for-miura-5-rocket/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-raises-funding-to-expand-facilities-for-miura-5-rocket/#respond Tue, 23 Apr 2024 08:42:40 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=368375 PLD Space staff
PLD Space staff

Spanish company PLD Space has raised enough funding to embark on an expansion of production facilities for its small launch vehicle.

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Starship could have a big impact on small launch vehicles https://spacenews.com/starship-could-have-a-big-impact-on-small-launch-vehicles/ https://spacenews.com/starship-could-have-a-big-impact-on-small-launch-vehicles/#respond Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:21:23 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=358863 Fragnito
Fragnito

A large launch vehicle could end up having a big effect on the small launch vehicle market through low prices and encouraging customers to build larger satellites.

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Small launch companies seek niches to compete with SpaceX rideshare https://spacenews.com/small-launch-companies-seek-niches-to-compete-with-spacex-rideshare/ https://spacenews.com/small-launch-companies-seek-niches-to-compete-with-spacex-rideshare/#respond Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:56:44 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=344794 Electron launch
Electron launch

Small launch vehicle developers are working to carve out niches in a market for smallsat launches that is increasingly dominated by SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare missions.

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PLD Space wins Spanish government funding for Miura 5 launch vehicle https://spacenews.com/pld-space-wins-spanish-government-funding-for-miura-5-launch-vehicle/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-wins-spanish-government-funding-for-miura-5-launch-vehicle/#respond Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:06:15 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=232077 Miura 1 launch
Miura 1 launch

PLD Space has secured 40.5 million euros ($43.8 million) from the Spanish government after completing a preliminary design review of its Miura 5 launch vehicle.

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ESA and EU collaborate on launch initiative https://spacenews.com/esa-and-eu-collaborate-on-launch-initiative/ https://spacenews.com/esa-and-eu-collaborate-on-launch-initiative/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:25:31 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=230611 EU launch competition
EU launch competition

The European Space Agency and European Commission have selected five launch companies to participate in a new program to provide flight opportunities for new technologies, a sign of a greater role the European Union seeks to play in launch.

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European launch deal praised despite competition questions https://spacenews.com/european-launch-deal-praised-despite-competition-questions/ https://spacenews.com/european-launch-deal-praised-despite-competition-questions/#respond Wed, 15 Nov 2023 10:31:56 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=207701 Naja Space Tech Expo
Naja Space Tech Expo

European governments and launch companies hailed an agreement reached last week on the future of the continent’s launch industry despite questions about how one aspect of that agreement, a competition, will work.

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PLD Space calls first launch a success https://spacenews.com/pld-space-calls-first-launch-a-success/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-calls-first-launch-a-success/#respond Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:44:44 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=197345 Miura 1 launch
Miura 1 launch

Spanish launch vehicle startup PLD Space declared their first suborbital launch a success, clearing the way for development of an orbital launch vehicle.

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Small launch companies struggle to compete with SpaceX rideshare missions https://spacenews.com/small-launch-companies-struggle-to-complete-with-spacex-rideshare-missions/ https://spacenews.com/small-launch-companies-struggle-to-complete-with-spacex-rideshare-missions/#respond Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:10:06 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=196635 Jurvetson
Jurvetson

Industry executives argue that SpaceX’s dominant position in the launch market is making it difficult for small launch vehicles to compete, as a prominent investor warns of a wave of bankruptcies among launch companies.

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PLD Space launches first suborbital rocket https://spacenews.com/pld-space-launches-first-suborbital-rocket/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-launches-first-suborbital-rocket/#respond Sat, 07 Oct 2023 16:17:40 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=193037 Miura 1 launch
Miura 1 launch

Spanish company PLD Space launched its first suborbital rocket Oct. 6, with the company calling the flight a success despite reaching a lower altitude than planned.

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PLD Space postpones first launch to September https://spacenews.com/pld-space-postpones-first-launch-to-september/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-postpones-first-launch-to-september/#respond Tue, 27 Jun 2023 19:12:51 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=165953 Miura 1 during June launch attempt
Miura 1 during June launch attempt

Spanish launch vehicle startup PLD Space has postponed a suborbital test flight to September after weather and a technical glitch scrubbed earlier launch attempts.

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PLD Space prepares for suborbital test launch https://spacenews.com/pld-space-prepares-for-suborbital-test-launch/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-prepares-for-suborbital-test-launch/#respond Thu, 18 May 2023 23:21:25 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=157967 Miura 1 on pad
Miura 1 on pad

Spanish launch startup PLD Space plans to conduct a suborbital launch before the end of the month to test technologies for its small orbital launch vehicle.

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Launch demand remains high despite industry struggles https://spacenews.com/launch-demand-remains-high-despite-industry-struggles/ https://spacenews.com/launch-demand-remains-high-despite-industry-struggles/#respond Sun, 12 Feb 2023 14:13:22 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=142985 Miura 1 displayed at the National Museum of Natural Science in Madrid, Spain, in November 2021.
Miura 1 displayed at the National Museum of Natural Science in Madrid, Spain, in November 2021.

Despite concerns about the viability of many new launch vehicle developers, many in the industry say those vehicles are needed as demand for launch outstrips supply.

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PLD Space completes static-fire tests of Miura 1 https://spacenews.com/pld-space-completes-static-fire-tests-of-miura-1/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:48:26 +0000 https://dev-spacenews.pantheonsite.io/?p=131798 Miura 1 static-fire test
Miura 1 static-fire test

PLD Space, a Spanish company developing a small launch vehicle, says it is ready to proceed with the launch of a suborbital technology demonstrator after completing a static-fire test.

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PLD Space closes a Series B investment round of $28 million https://spacenews.com/pld-space-closes-a-series-b-investment-round-of-28-million/ Mon, 27 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:8888/spaceref/?p=85420 PLD Space, the Spanish company that leads the space launch business for small satellites in Europe, has just closed a Series B funding round of $28 million. The operation, led […]

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Spanish startup PLD Space gears up for 2022 suborbital launch https://spacenews.com/spanish-startup-pld-space-gears-up-for-2022-suborbital-launch/ Wed, 24 Nov 2021 13:53:57 +0000 https://dev-spacenews.pantheonsite.io/?p=121587 Miura 1 displayed at the National Museum of Natural Science in Madrid, Spain, in November 2021.
Miura 1 displayed at the National Museum of Natural Science in Madrid, Spain, in November 2021.

Spanish launch startup PLD Space has debuted a fully assembled Miura 1 reusable suborbital rocket as a step towards its inaugural flight in 2022.

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Commercial spaceports seen as the future for European launch https://spacenews.com/commercial-spaceports-seen-as-the-future-for-european-launch/ Wed, 17 Nov 2021 22:23:01 +0000 https://dev-spacenews.pantheonsite.io/?p=121284

Actors engaged in the emerging European commercial launch sector are looking to European commercial spaceports to be established rather than shipping rockets farther afield.

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PLD Space exhibits the first privately-developed Spanish rocket and positions the country at the forefront of the industry in Europe https://spacenews.com/pld-space-exhibits-the-first-privately-developed-spanish-rocket-and-positions-the-country-at-the-forefront-of-the-industry-in-europe/ Tue, 16 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000 http://localhost:8888/spaceref/?p=85082 PLD Space has achieved a new milestone with the official presentation in Madrid of its MIURA 1 rocket, that has been exhibited fully assembled for the first time in the capital’s […]

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PLD Space raises €7 million as it aims for sounding rocket’s 2021 debut https://spacenews.com/pld-space-raises-e7-million-as-it-shoots-for-sounding-rockets-2021-debut/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-raises-e7-million-as-it-shoots-for-sounding-rockets-2021-debut/#respond Fri, 18 Sep 2020 20:34:34 +0000 https://dev-spacenews.pantheonsite.io/?p=106091

Launch startup PLD Space of Spain raised 7 million euros ($8.2 million) this week from Madrid-based investment bankers Arcano Partners to continue development of its Miura family of partially reusable rockets.

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PLD Space completes critical testing of its Teprel-B rocket engine https://spacenews.com/pld-space-completes-critical-testing-of-its-teprel-b-rocket-engine/ https://spacenews.com/pld-space-completes-critical-testing-of-its-teprel-b-rocket-engine/#respond Mon, 31 Aug 2020 22:24:22 +0000 https://dev-spacenews.pantheonsite.io/?p=105555

PLD Space has taken a step closer to qualifying its Teprel-B rocket engine that will power the company's suborbital Miura 1 rocket.

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