PLD Space, a Spanish space transportation company headquartered in Elche, is developing MIURA 5, a reusable orbital launch vehicle designed to provide dedicated and rideshare launch services for small satellites. As the company's flagship orbital launcher, MIURA 5 is engineered to offer reliable, customized and high-frequency access to space while supporting a wide range of orbital destinations for commercial, institutional and defense customers.
The MIURA 5 architecture is built around a two-stage reusable launch system optimized for small satellite deployment. According to PLD Space, the vehicle is designed to provide flexible mission configurations, enabling customers to access orbit through both dedicated missions and rideshare opportunities. The launcher is intended to support the growing demand for responsive and cost-effective orbital transportation services across the global small satellite market.
A major technical feature of MIURA 5 is its reusability-focused design philosophy. The vehicle incorporates recovery technologies derived from the company's MIURA 1 program, which serves as a technological demonstrator for the orbital launcher. PLD Space has stated that data and technologies validated through MIURA 1 contribute significantly to the development of MIURA 5, reducing technical risk while accelerating qualification of key subsystems.
The launch vehicle utilizes a two-stage liquid-propellant propulsion architecture powered by PLD Space's in-house developed engine technology. The first stage is designed to provide primary ascent performance, while the upper stage performs orbital insertion and mission-specific deployment operations. This architecture enables the launcher to support a variety of satellite deployment profiles while maintaining operational flexibility across multiple orbital missions. Beyond the launch vehicle itself, PLD Space is developing MIURA 5 as part of a broader industrial strategy focused on scalable manufacturing, launch infrastructure, and high-cadence operations. The company is advancing launch facilities, production capabilities, and subsystem qualification programs to support future commercial launch services and long-term transportation growth.
A key objective of the MIURA 5 program is to strengthen independent access to space for small satellite operators through a reusable and operationally efficient launch architecture. By combining reusable technologies, proprietary propulsion systems, and dedicated launch services, PLD Space aims to expand launch flexibility while reducing barriers to orbit for emerging satellite constellations and space missions.
About PLD Space
PLD Space is a Spanish space transportation company headquartered in Elche, Spain, focused on developing reusable launch vehicles and orbital transportation technologies. Founded in 2011, the company specializes in launch systems, propulsion technologies, and space access services for commercial and institutional customers. Its technology portfolio includes the MIURA family of launch vehicles, with MIURA 1 serving as a reusable suborbital demonstrator and MIURA 5 forming the foundation of its orbital launch services strategy. Through in-house development of propulsion systems, launch infrastructure, and reusable rocket technologies, PLD Space is working to establish scalable and independent access to space for the European and global satellite industry.
Click here to learn more about PLD Space's MIURA 5 Launch Vehicle
