PLD Space Lays the Foundations for the Miura 5's Guidance and Navigation System

PLD Space, the Elche-based company, has enlisted Deimos to co-lead the development of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) system for the Miura 5 rocket. This technology will enable the launcher, scheduled for late 2025, to provide dedicated missions and shared flight options for small satellites.

The recruitment of Deimos joins a prestigious group that PLD Space is assembling for the development of its Miura rockets. Deimos is a European technology group with 500 professionals and headquarters in Spain, offering services to a wide range of industries, including aerospace.

The Miura 5 will be the first of PLD Space's launchers to reach space, with more expected in the next decade, including a manned capsule to land on the moon. This GNC system is a «crucial» component to achieve this, ensuring the vehicle's stability, direction, and precision throughout the mission, from launch to payload delivery.

According to the Elche-based company, Deimos was selected as a partner for this subsystem's development due to its experience, knowledge, and commitment. This decision aligns with the goal of consolidating a national and European value chain in the launcher industry.

«Our collaboration with Deimos on the GNC of MIURA 5 is a fundamental part of PLD Space's commitment to consolidating a high-level national and European value chain in such a sophisticated industry,» explained Raúl Torres, co-founder and CEO of PLD Space. He assured that «their experience enhances our ability to offer precise and reliable missions, providing more flexibility to our clients and ensuring high standards of safety and performance.»

The collaboration also includes a significant role for this company in the Verification and Validation (V&V) of the onboard software, further enhancing the reliability of this launcher's critical systems.

Deimos has stated that «we are proud to bring advanced GNC expertise to the Miura 5 missions.» The company's CEO, Simone Centuori, highlighted that this collaboration «demonstrates how innovation and expertise can come together to improve access to space for both scientific and commercial missions.»

Designed for maximum flexibility, Miura 5 will conduct over 30 missions per year by 2030, launching from various spaceports, including the European spaceport in French Guiana, CSG, owned by CNES and ESA. This flight cadence capability reduces the complexities and risks inherent in large vehicles, offering both tailored and shared flight solutions to meet the needs of a wide range of clients.