Spanish aerospace company PLD Space has achieved a major milestone with the rapid development of its MIURA 5 reusable orbital launcher, completed in just two years. This achievement positions Spain and Europe at the forefront of global space access, consolidating the continent’s industrial autonomy in the launch sector.
A European Launcher Built in Record Time
Developed under a vertically integrated industrial model, MIURA 5 leverages the technological experience gained from the MIURA 1 suborbital program. The rocket is now in the validation and qualification phase for all critical subsystems — including engines, structures, avionics, and separation systems.
PLD Space has also initiated semi-serial production of its TEPREL-C and TEPREL-C Vac engines, with plans to achieve one-engine-per-14-days production capacity by the end of 2025. The company expects to complete full integration of the first MIURA 5 vehicle by late 2025, with demonstration flights scheduled for 2026.
Read More: PLD Space Wins First ESA GNC Contract for Hybrid Navigation Development
Driving Spain’s Role in Europe’s Space Industry
With over €170 million in funding and a network of 397 suppliers across Spain and Europe, PLD Space is spearheading Europe’s transition to independent space access. Between 2024 and mid-2025, more than €50 million has been invested in the MIURA 5 supply chain.
The company operates 180,000 m² of proprietary infrastructure, including Europe’s largest private rocket test center in Teruel (Spain) and an upcoming launch complex in Kourou (French Guiana) — the site for MIURA 5’s maiden flight in 2026. By Q1 2026, PLD Space aims to enter full industrialization, scaling toward 30 launches per year by 2030.
Talent and Innovation “Made in Spain”
The company’s success is driven by a highly qualified, young international workforce that grew by 40% in 2025, surpassing 400 employees.
“This is the team that made it possible to develop an orbital rocket in half the time of our international competitors,” said Ezequiel Sánchez, Executive President of PLD Space.
“We are proving that we have what it takes to lead the next generation of space transportation — and that the future of innovation will be built in space.”
