Spanish company plans to fly people into space in five years

Spanish aerospace start-up PLD Space, which achieved Europe’s first fully private rocket launch last year, is now aiming to expand its capabilities to carry both cargo and, eventually, humans into space. This bold vision is supported by significant funding, including backing from the Junta of Andalusia

At the company’s “Beyond” event in Elche, CEO and co-founder Raul Torres (top photo) emphasized PLD Space’s ambition to become a leading player in the global space industry, competing with heavyweights like Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Ezequiel Sanchez, Executive President of PLD Space, announced that the company is preparing to launch small orbital satellites with a new rocket by 2026, marking the beginning of its commercial journey. Looking further ahead, PLD plans to develop a family of larger launchers over the next decade.

“Our goal is to launch any type of cargo that the market may require, and that includes the possibility of transporting humans,” Sanchez told Reuters.

PLD Space’s growth is supported by a mix of private and public funding, with one of the major contributors being the Junta of Andalusia, underscoring the strategic importance of this project to the region. The company has raised a total of €155 million to date, with €40 million coming from European Union pandemic recovery funds, in addition to significant regional investment from Andalusia.

Following the successful suborbital launch of its Miura-1 rocket, named after the famous breed of Spanish fighting bulls, the company is now focusing on the development of its Miura-5 orbital launcher. Two test launches of Miura-5 are scheduled for 2025 and 2026 from French Guiana. These tests will advance the company’s technological capabilities for future, more complex launchers.

“Within the Miura-5 flight configuration, we can evolve the technology necessary for the next generation of launchers,” Sanchez said.

Founded in 2011 and based in Elche, in eastern Spain’s footwear manufacturing hub, PLD Space has attracted significant interest from clients, with potential contracts worth around €600 million ($657 million). The company is also planning to raise further capital in the coming months to accelerate its growth.

With the support of the Junta of Andalusia and other stakeholders, PLD Space is expanding its team, expecting to add 70 new employees to its 250-strong workforce by the end of the year. The company has recently inaugurated a 12,000-square meter facility for the development of Miura-5 and has set plans to increase its industrial capacity six-fold over the next four years.

“We are determined to compete globally with the most important players in the space industry,” Sanchez added.

The rapidly growing space race, fuelled by the launch of internet-beaming satellites and an anticipated surge in commercial space activity, is projected by analysts to become a €1 trillion market by 2030. This growth is creating new opportunities for companies such as PLD Space.

Spain’s space industry now plays a major role in the country’s economy.