PLD Space Makes History with Miura-1: Europe’s First Private Reusable Rocket Launch

The Spanish aerospace company, PLD Space, achieved a milestone on Saturday by successfully launching its reusable rocket, Miura-1, into space from a site in the southwestern part of Spain. This event marks a significant achievement as the first fully private rocket launch by a European company, instilling optimism for the continent’s space exploration aspirations.

This successful launch came after the cancellation of two previous attempts. The Miura-1 rocket, named after a formidable breed of bulls, stands at a height equivalent to a three-story building and boasts a payload capacity of 100 kilograms.

While the rocket carried a payload intended for testing purposes, it was not designed for separation. A video snippet from the mission control room captured the exhilaration of engineers as they celebrated the rocket’s ascent into the dark night sky.

The initial launch endeavor in May faced cancellation due to strong winds at higher altitudes, while the second attempt in June encountered technical issues, leading to the suspension of the takeoff with visible smoke and flames from the rocket.

Stringent security measures were implemented around the launch site, with airspace, maritime zones, and roads closed off prior to the launch.

This achievement underscores Europe’s commitment to developing capabilities for launching small satellites into space, gaining particular importance following the setback of Virgin Orbit’s attempt to launch an orbital rocket from British soil in January.