Spain's First Private Rocket Miura1 Lifts Off

In a historic leap towards establishing itself among the elite space-faring nations, a Spanish company, PLD Space, successfully launched the nation's maiden private rocket, the MIURA1, in the early hours of Saturday. The remarkable launch occurred at 02:19 am (0019 GMT) from a military base in the southern region of Andalusia, marking a pivotal moment in Spain's aerospace ambitions. PLD Space, the driving force behind this endeavor, lauded the launch as a resounding success, confirming the achievement of all designated technical milestones. The MIURA1 rocket soared to an altitude of 46 kilometers (29 miles) above the Gulf of Cadiz, marking a triumphant step in Spain's journey into the realms of space. Approximately five minutes into its flight, the spacecraft touched down in the Atlantic Ocean, where PLD Space intends to dispatch a team for its recovery. The path to this accomplishment was not without hurdles, as the rocket's initial launch was postponed in May due to strong winds and subsequently in June due to issues with its umbilical cables, which provide power and fuel. The MIURA1 rocket, a 12-meter (39-foot) marvel, serves as the inaugural step in the development of MIURA5, a towering 35-meter-high, two-stage mini-launch vehicle engineered to deploy satellites weighing less than 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) into orbit, with an expected launch date set for 2025. Remarkably, PLD Space disclosed that approximately 70 percent of the components fashioned for MIURA1 will be repurposed for MIURA5. In a significant collaboration, the company has signed an agreement with the French National Centre for Space Studies, designating the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana as the future launch site for the mini-launcher. Founded in 2011 by two Spanish academics, PLD Space represents a dynamic force among European startups aiming to cater to the burgeoning market for launching micro-satellites into orbit. In comparison to large-scale launchers like SpaceX's Falcon 9 or ArianeGroup's Ariane 6, small rockets like the MIURA series offer versatility and rapid deployment capabilities, making them a compelling choice for launching single satellites and addressing the evolving demands of space exploration.