PLD Space, a Spanish aerospace startup founded in 2011, is making significant strides in the global space race with the unveiling of its Miura Next project. The project introduces a new series of heavy-lift launchers, including Miura Next, Miura Next Heavy, and Miura Next Super Heavy, which will play a key role in establishing PLD Space as a formidable competitor in the space transport sector. The company also announced Lince, a manned capsule capable of carrying up to five astronauts, marking Europe’s first privately-developed spacecraft for human spaceflight.
According to PLD Space CEO Raúl Torres, the Miura Next Super Heavy will be "one of the most powerful launchers in the world," with the ability to launch more than 16 tonnes to the Moon and 13 tonnes to Mars in a non-recoverable configuration. In its reusable version, the launcher will be able to carry 3.6 tonnes to the Moon and 2.4 tonnes to Mars.
The investment for this ambitious project is estimated at €700 million, and while PLD Space has raised €155 million so far, further funding will be necessary to achieve its goals. The company is well-supported by the Spanish government and enjoys a strong reputation in the European space industry, but it faces considerable challenges in competition, financing, and institutional backing.
Currently, PLD Space employs 254 people and operates out of its headquarters in Elche, near Alicante. The company successfully launched its Miura 1 mini-launcher in a suborbital flight in October 2023, marking its first major milestone. Miura 5, a larger reusable launcher designed for orbital missions, is in development and is expected to make its maiden flight by late 2025 or early 2026 from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in Kourou. The company plans to ramp up its commercial activities with six launches scheduled for 2026.
Looking ahead, PLD Space aims to conduct 30 flights per year by 2030, operating from three launch sites. The company has already secured a €47 million contract and estimates the market potential for Miura 5 at €280 million, with proposals worth €267 million currently in play.
In addition to its heavy-lift launchers, PLD Space is pushing the boundaries of Europe’s space capabilities with the Lince capsule. Designed for crewed space missions, Lince will allow Europe to launch astronauts and return them safely to Earth, enhancing the continent’s technological sovereignty in human spaceflight. The first unmanned test flights of Lince are expected by 2028, with testing beginning in 2025.
PLD Space's ambitions to provide complete space transport solutions reflect its determination to compete on a global scale. "We want to offer the market a complete space transport capacity that covers 100% of flight needs," said Torres during the unveiling. With Miura Next and the Lince capsule, the company hopes to fulfill a significant gap in Europe’s space transport infrastructure, which is currently dominated by American and Chinese companies.
PLD Space’s expansion is set against a backdrop of growing competition, particularly with SpaceX, led by Elon Musk. The Spanish firm’s vision echoes Musk’s goals of reusable spaceflight and interplanetary exploration, but PLD Space is focused on establishing Europe as a key player in the space sector. As the company prepares for its next phase of growth, including the production of six Miura 5 launchers and 60 TEPREL-C engines by 2025, it is positioning itself to take on the giants of the space industry.
With the Miura Next program and the Lince capsule, PLD Space is pushing the envelope of what a European private space company can achieve. By 2030, the company hopes to be at the forefront of space exploration and transport, rivaling industry heavyweights like SpaceX and ensuring that Europe remains competitive in the new space age.
