Three Miura 5 rockets built

Spanish launch company PLD Space has built its first three Miura 5 orbital rockets. Two are qualification units for testing. The third is the first flight vehicle, still being assembled.

Testing the second stage

PLD Space has started system-level testing of a fully assembled second stage at its test site in Teruel, eastern Spain. It will undergo a wet dress rehearsal with real propellants, then a static fire test.

Building in parallel accelerates learning

Manufacturing three vehicles at once lets engineers feed test results directly into the flight vehicle. Chief executive Raúl Torres said this approach accelerates the learning process before the first demonstration flight.

“Having manufactured three vehicles in parallel allows us to accelerate this learning process”

First flight planned for 2027

PLD Space has completed stage separation tests and nose cone tests. It has built seven complete engines and thirteen fuel tanks. First demonstration flight is planned for the first half of 2027.