PLD Space to Establish Its Own Satellite Launch Centre for Miura 5

PLD Space, a company based in Alicante, has signed a contract with the French space agency CNES to develop its launch complex at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), from where its Miura 5 satellite launcher will take off starting in 2026. With this agreement, PLD Space becomes the first private company to develop and operate its own launch complex in the ELM-Diamant area of the historic European spaceport.

This new contract gives the green light to the execution of the infrastructure project designed by PLD Space with technical support from CNES. It grants legal use of the land in the ELM-Diamant area, where the Miura 5 Preparation Zone and Launch Zone will be located. Construction will begin when the dry season starts in French Guiana, expected this summer.

With this signing, PLD Space leads the way for private operators in the ELM-Diamant area. This alliance combines the agility, commercial focus, and lessons learned from the successful flight of PLD Space's Miura 1 with CNES's experience, which spans over 60 years of designing infrastructure for institutional launchers.

The Launch Complex will cover a total area of 15,765 square metres and will be divided into specific and common facilities. CNES will develop the common facilities aimed at providing services to five Launch Systems, including access roads, electrical networks, and communication networks, while PLD Space will handle the specific installations related to the integration, testing, and launch of its rockets.

Carine Leveau, Director of Space Transportation at CNES, stated that "entrusting PLD Space to develop and operate its own launch complex at the CSG demonstrates CNES's commitment to opening the European spaceport to new players. This collaboration reflects an evolution of the European space model and reinforces our ambition to support the commercial ecosystem."

Meanwhile, Raúl Verdú, co-founder and Business Development Director of PLD Space, highlighted that "this contract marks a key milestone for our company. It will allow us to begin materialising at the CSG an infrastructure designed to maximise efficiency, reduce costs, and increase the launch cadence. It is a decisive step to ensure the operational success of Miura 5 from European soil."

This milestone is complemented by the recent completion of the first phase of the Flight Safety Submission for Miura 5, audited by the CSG Flight Safety team. This achievement demonstrates that the vehicle's architecture meets the base's safety requirements, making PLD Space the first private company to complete this stage towards launching from the ELM-Diamant area.

Among the unique features of the Miura 5 Launch Complex at the CSG is the design of the Preparation Zone with two clean rooms to carry out the final integration of satellites in these facilities. This adaptation will reduce the duration of campaigns, decrease technical and operational risks, and enhance the quality of customer service.

Additionally, the integration area will be prepared to refurbish the first recovered stages of Miura 5, ready for reuse in new flights.

The Miura Launch Complex in ELM-Diamant is divided into three operational areas:

Preparation Zone: where the launcher's components and satellites are integrated, including assembly operations and functional tests. It is also where the technical team makes final adjustments before transferring to the Launch Zone.

Launch Zone: equipped with infrastructure for the erection of the launcher, cooling and gas evacuation systems, as well as remote control of the system during the final launch sequence.

Launch Control Centre: a building from which all installations are controlled during the launch timeline and critical tests. It includes fibre optic connections to the launcher, which will be switched to radio frequency transmission moments before liftoff.

The complex has been designed with a modular and versatile approach, capable of accommodating different launchers in the future and facilitating tasks such as testing, integration, transportation, and refurbishment.