As Ariane 6 prepares for its second launch (end of February 2025), the company PLD Space has announced that it has acquired the Spanish public commercial company, Cofides. has secured an 11 million euro loan to accelerate development of the launch site Miura 5. Kourou Space Center, French Guiana.
In total, PLD Space will invest 16 million euros in the development, constructionconstruction and the operation of this strategic infrastructure located within the Guyana Space Centre. The loan complements the company’s planned investment in the Miura 5 launch complex, which will span 15,765 square meters dedicated to its future launcher launch campaigns. The facilities will be organized into three main areas: the firing point, the preparation area and the control center. The Miura 5’s first flight campaign is planned to begin in late 2025. The PLD Space initiative will help guarantee independent and competitive access to space for Europe, while creating more than 10 direct and 50 indirect jobs in Coro.
PLD Space’s ambitions are so lofty that few hesitate to compare it SpaceXSpaceX. The company plans to field a family of Miura launchers, capable of meeting a wide range of launch requirements, from small satellites to 50-ton payloads. In addition, from 2030, PLD Space plans to carry out manned missions with Europe’s first manned commercial capsule lens. To learn more about these ambitions, we had the opportunity to interview Raul Verdú, director of business development and co-founder of PLD Space.
Futura: Your plans sound very ambitious and I would like to know if you think there is a big enough market in Europe and the world to fully support all your launcher activity?
Rawal Vardu: The launcher segment is the backbone of the space industry, which today is more important than the electric vehicle sector. As only GatewayGateway The limited and erratic availability of launchers globally, allowing satellite operators to access space, has created a ObstacleObstacle This lack of significant launch capacity limits the overall growth of the industry. At the same time, the launch market is expected to grow and reach $30 billion in 2033.
In the short term, Miura 5 will unlock the small payload sector valued at $1.92 billion in 2023 (estimated based on the launch value of all payloads below 500 kg) and steadily growing at double-digit growth rates. will move towards next ten years. Projected size of small payload industry and current status of development of others Small launchersSmall launchers This will allow Miura 5 to play a significant role in the $1.8T market (according to McKinsey).
The company’s upcoming plans aim to tackle larger markets. The Miura Next family will open up new service markets that do not yet exist in Europe and are very limited in the rest of the world, where there will not be enough skills to meet all the demand. These include cargo missions (any payload in any orbit) and manned missions (Moon and etc.). International Space StationInternational Space Station).
Futura: Can you share the results of your market studies for each of your launchers, as well as your cargo and manned vehicles?
Rawal Vardu: A market study conducted by PLD Space has concluded that the Miura family will allow the company access to 100% of commercial missions available on the market, giving us the means to guarantee access to payloads in any orbit. will get
Additionally, PLD Space will have access to institutional and defense missions designed specifically for our vehicles, which are our This is only possible thanks to the technological capabilities of the future product family. The most relevant example is the Lince-powered vehicle, which will open the way to new, hitherto untapped missions.
Futura: What are these hitherto unused missions?
Rawal Vardu: Low-orbit missions to the International Space Station and future private space stations, lunar orbit and space resource-related missions.
Futura: What are your interests in space tourism and commercial human flight for industry and the scientific community?
Rawal Vardu: Currently, the space tourism market and Human flightsHuman flights Commercials are not part of our plans. PLD Space’s business model focuses on launching payloads into orbit, space infrastructure and manned institutional missions.
Futura: Has funding been secured, and do you think it is sufficient to launch and develop your various ranges of launchers?
Rawal Vardu: To date, we have secured over €170 million in funding, the majority of which has come from private investors. We have currently ensured the full development of the Miura 5, including its manufacturing, testing and launch, as well as our technology roadmap to 2028. For the new Miura Next family of launchers and our Lynsmand capsule, we will need an investment of 700. million euros
Futura: What innovations or bold technical choices have you made in the development of your launchers?
Rawal Vardu: The industrial success of PLD Space is mainly marked by the technological choices made in recent years and which led to the first The rocketThe rocket Private sector in Europe, and current development of Miura 5, Miura Next family and Linus. Also, our developments incorporate techniques and materials that have reached great maturity in the industry, helping to reduce unnecessary risks.
From an industrial perspective, we have adopted a strategy of vertical integration of the entire cycle process by allocating the necessary infrastructure. As a result, PLD Space stands out for its agility in meeting delivery deadlines, thanks to the greatest reliability of flights. speedspeed The repeatability and quality control of the process, as well as the profitability that allows it to be competitive in the market.
In terms of technology, we confirm our commitment to the environment through our launcher recovery strategy and the production of biofuel for rocket engines together with Repsol. Additionally, we recently announced that we are working on a propulsive landing system for the first stage of our launch vehicles, an innovation that will further strengthen our sustainability approach.
Futura: What are the characteristics of a reusable engine in terms of performance, mass, reusability and cost? What kind of fuel are you planning to use?
Raul Verdo: The Miura 5 first stage is powered by five Teprel-C engines, PLD Space’s flagship engine. With a thrust of 190 kN, Teprel-C uses a cycle. The generatorThe generator Of GazGaz And represents a step forward from the flight-proven TeprelL-B of Miura 1 (our technology demonstration rocket).
Each Teprel-C has its own. Turbo pumpTurbo pumpAn independent ignition system and control avionics, allowing each engine to be tested separately before final assembly into a first-stage engine block.
The second phase of Miura 5 is based on the same structural architecture as before. The second stage is powered by a single vacuum optimized Teprel-C engine of 75 kN thrust. It is able to reboot multiple times, including one CombustionCombustion Deorbiting the launch vehicle to reduce its environmental impact.
On the other hand, all of our engines will useOxygenOxygen liquidliquid and biokerosene. The difference between the Taper-C (Miura 5 engine) and the Miura Next engine (as yet to be named) is that the former is open cycle, while the latter will be closed cycle. This new engine will be an evolution of the Teprel-C and will operate using an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle.
Futura: Are launchers partially or fully reusable?
Rawal Vardu: Only the main phase of our launchers will be reusable.
Futura: What are the characteristics of the cargo vehicle and its manned version in terms of mass, dimensions, transport capacity and age in orbit?
Raul Verdo: PLD Space has taken a major step forward by expanding its space transportation offering with Linus, the first manned capsule developed by a private European company with a capacity of 8 meters.3. This program will allow shipping to Europe. AstronautAstronaut Take them into space and bring them back safely to Earth, thereby strengthening Europe’s sovereignty over manned space missions.
The capsule is capable of carrying four to five astronauts per flight to the International Space Station (ISS) at an altitude of 420 km or an inclination of 51.64°. In addition, it will be able to carry a payload of 5,000 kg and bring up to 3,400 kg of cargo back to Earth. In addition, it will offer transfer capabilities for lunar missions.
Lince’s first tests are expected to begin in 2025, with Miura 5 carrying out its first unmanned test flight in 2028, launched from the European Space Station at Kourou in French Guiana, with a target of 2030. I was to achieve the first orbital flight.
“We believe that there is only room for one or two companies in Europe, and that a European champion of space launchers will be appreciated in the market.“
Futura: Will Spain be your only base or are you planning to set up elsewhere?
Rawal Vardu: Miura 5 will be launched from the European Spaceport in Kourou (French Guiana), owned by the National Center for Space Studies (Cnes) andEuropean Space AgencyEuropean Space Agency (ESA). In fact, we will become the first non-institutional launch operator to orbit from this historic base. We have always been committed to ensuring that. CSGCSG Be the main site for Miura 5’s frequent launches, as it is the most competitive launch base in Europe. Kouro is the only base in Europe with operational experience where Miura 5 can reach any orbit. For PLD Space, it is also an opportunity to close the loop by developing, manufacturing, testing and launching rockets into orbit from the European mainland. PLD Space will initially invest more than 10 million euros in the Miura 5 launch complex at CSG.
Futura: What does this correspond to the 848 million euros of commercial interest?
Rawal Vardu: It’s tomorrow. The pipelineThe pipeline Steady sales through 2027, opportunity evaluation, proposals and contracts distributed and signed.
Futura: ArianeGroup, Maia Space, Latitude, PLD Space: Is there room for everyone?
Rawal Vardu: We believe that there is only room for one or two companies in Europe, and that a European champion of space launchers would be appreciated in the market.
Futura: What do you say to people who compare you to SpaceX?
Rawal Vardu: We believe we are complementary. We share the same vision of providing comprehensive service and setting high goals.
