NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => ESA Launchers - Ariane, Soyuz at CSG, Vega => Topic started by: josespeck on 04/23/2015 11:16 am
-
Ignition test for a Spanish rocket
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDOCN6MW0AArZJB.jpg)
http://pldspace.com/
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space
-
Awesome! Great to see some more EU startups!
We are ready and committed. Developing a new family of small rocket launchers for suborbital and orbital markets, ARION-1 & ARION-2, PLD Space pretends to contribute to the european aerospace sector growth, providing fiability and innovation
PLD Space pretends to contribute to the european aerospace sector growth, providing fiability and innovation
PLD Space pretends to contribute...
They really need somebody to iron out the English on their webpage, if for PR and intelligibility purposes alone. Also, is it legally acceptable for them to show images of the rockets of other companies on their website?
-
Further reading reveals that they're attempting to make two ultra-light rockets, the ARION-1 (sounding rocket) and the ARION-2 (dedicated orbital picosatellite LV). There are some token words about reusability: they aim to develop a "full[y] reusable launch vehicle." The scale graphic suggests that one day in the indeterminate future they aspire to be an Arianespace competitor. Nothing too solid available on the website.
Edit: Graphics of ARION-1 and 2 are visible on the website. Big darn' fins.
-
Ignition test for a Spanish rocket
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDOCN6MW0AArZJB.jpg)
http://pldspace.com/
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space
Good thing that was only an ignition test! that camera would have been history with anything more energetic!
-
In spanish , sorry.
http://www.cinturondeorion.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Programa-241-9-de-junio-de-2015.mp3
10 kg/s or 10 l/s...
-
First hot fire for their NetonVac engine
Source: Twitter@PLD_space
-
Ok, everybody here must admit this is a great vid :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2X7E8Ly-Cs
-
Nice new development for PLD Space. They got a contract to test the engine developed by the DLR SMILE program, on their test-stand in Spain. Info here (http://actualidadaeroespacial.com/default.aspx?where=10&id=1&n=16875) and here (http://www.elmundofinanciero.com/noticia/50212/empresas/pld-space-probara-motores-de-propulsion-liquida-para-el-centro-aleman-para-aviacion-y-vuelos-espaciales-dlr.html)
Also A nice article was written by Spanish journalist Julio Miravalls about PLD Space, it can be found here (http://www.pldspace.com/blog/en/2015/12/27/the-european-little-space-x-published-at-medium-com/) and here (http://www.elmundo.es/ciencia/2015/12/24/567ae32322601d4c488b45a1.html).
The specs for Arion 1 and Arion 2 so far:
Arion1 Length 10m, Diameter 0,6m, engine Neton1 30kN LOx/RP-1. Suborbital rocket 100kg to 220km. The stage is reusable by guided parachute landing.
Arion 2: 2 or 3 stage rocket. Length 20m, Diameter 1,2m, First stage 2xSTG1 90kN, Second stage Neton1V 30kN (third stage 6kN green Hypergoolic (most likely HTP-Cathalist+RP-1). The first stage is also parashute rexoverable.
PLD Space plans a total of 18 launches per year from Spanisch launch center EL Arenosillo (Huelva, Spain), INTA. 10 Launches of Arion 2 the other 8 Arion1, for this they will constantly need three of both rockets. One in fabrication, one in refurbishment and one being prepared for a launch.
At the beginning of this year PLD Space wants to test the flight version of Neton1, they are raising 6mln euro to develop Arion1. In the article it is claimed that PLD Space has an orderbook worth of 40mln Euro already.
I wonder if the SMILE engine test program is included in this number.
-
Today PLD announced that they have got €1.56M funding from the Spanish government to develop a reusable liquid rocket engine via the TEPREL project (acronym=Spanish Reusable Space Propulsion Technology for Launchers).
As per their estimate, the full development cost will need €6M, so they are almost half way there (they had some previous funding from CDTI and some private investors).
BTW, in addition to developing their rockets, they want to use El Arenosillo as their main launch facility. They say that it might be a good competitive alternate to places like Kiruna (if only for the weather!). Actually in the future they'd like to launch Arion 2 from El Hierro in the Canary Islands, but that's tricky since it is a natural reserve and the local government usually opposes any form of industry (certainly tourism is their main income source and the hotel owners have a lot of influence).
There's a lot more info in this presentation from 18 months ago (in Spanish).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm6QgrnZsEA
-
Nice video, I only don't understand Spanish and the translated subtitles aren't working.
What I could see was that the old design for Arion 1 was presented. It changed in 2015.
Here is an article (http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2015/11/23/arion-2-un-proyecto-de-cohete-espanol-capaz-de-alcanzar-la-luna/) (spanish), and one in english (http://www.parabolicarc.com/2015/11/19/pld-space-announces-plans-arion-reusable-launch-vehicles/) with the new design.
PLDspace is also involved in a Horison2020 project: :)
-
Nice video, I only don't understand Spanish and the translated subtitles aren't working.
What I could see was that the old design for Arion 1 was presented. It changed in 2015.
Here is an article (http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2015/11/23/arion-2-un-proyecto-de-cohete-espanol-capaz-de-alcanzar-la-luna/) (spanish), and one in english (http://www.parabolicarc.com/2015/11/19/pld-space-announces-plans-arion-reusable-launch-vehicles/) with the new design.
PLDspace is also involved in a Horison2020 project: :)
Yup, I found about PLD fron Daniel Marín's blog! :) I overlooked the other one, though, thanks.
In fact the video is a bit outdated, but Raul Torres tells the story of their project and outlines their future plans so it's still worth watching if you don't know them.
I've emailed them with a lot of questions, but still no reply, welI I guess they are too busy!
The most interesting aspect of this project is that, contrary to an all too common trend in aerospace industry, they are focused on building things from day 1 rather than PR (they've just got a powerpoint and a couple of videos). In the presentation he tells how one of the engineers of the team had to design the test stand because nothing like that had ever been built in Spain!
-
I think this post should also be placed here.
PLD just got spanish government contract (http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/04/10/pld-space/). Not big but a good boost for their prospects
So PLDspace got has two contracts running. The engine test for DLR (SMILE-horizon2020) and the contract from the spanish government to continue work on their own engines.
-
So here is all of the YouTube Updates to date as some are missing in this topic thread:
PLD SPACE Tour - Propulsion test stand VTS-1
PLD SPACE
Published on Jul 2, 2015
PLD Space teaser trailer. Propulsion Vertical Test Stand 1 located at Teruel Airport (Spain)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-7lXsw3b90
PLD Space Development Engine. Calorimetric Model Hotfire Test
PLD SPACE
Published on Jul 24, 2015
NetonVac1 development engine on PLD Space Propulsion Vertical Test Stand-1 (VTS-1) at Teruel Airport (Spain).
LOX-Kerosene , pressure fed engine. Total burning time of 3 seconds. Calorimetric test to study combustion stability and star-up, cut-off sequence.
9 test performed, continuing research stage towards a regenerative model.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzrSrcjH7t4
PLD Space development engine. Full power engine test
PLD SPACE
Published on Oct 13, 2015
NetonVac1 development engine on PLD Space Propulsion Vertical Test Stand-1 (VTS-1) at Teruel Airport (Spain).
LOX-Kerosene , pressure fed engine. Full power thrust engine test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDLehaKCN7Q
This is PLD Space | 2015
PLD SPACE
Published on Dec 1, 2015
Commercial Launch Services. Dedicated to small Payloads.
Real Hardware, not just a Concept.
PLD Space is a European startup that is developing space technologies to provide suborbital and orbital commercial launch services, dedicated to small payloads and nanosatellites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2X7E8Ly-Cs
TEPREL 1A | Test fire. T-10 Spanish countdown autosequence
PLD SPACE
Published on Jun 6, 2016
TEPREL 1A LOX-Kerosene rocket engine T-10 countdown autosequence.
Test performed at PLD Space Propulsion Test Facilities in Teruel Airport (Spain).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88luBAmhXXs
PLD Space Project. Opening #Space for commercial exploitation
PLD SPACE
Published on Jun 13, 2016
We are PLD Space, a european space startup that is working very hard to become the world leader in providing commercial launch services to small satellites. #GoFlight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EC6Xsj0C6I
-
I found this PLD SPACE EU project (https://ec.europa.eu/eipp/desktop/nl/projects/project-169.html) page.
PLDSPACE is trying to raise 20mln euro in a series B for the Arion 2 development.
16mln euro has to be private money. Minimal investment is 4mln.
According to the document, the development will start September 2017.
-
ESA is backing these guys some more
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/11/02/pld-space-esa-support-reusable-booster-development/
PLD Space ambition is to launch ARION 1 by the end of 2018 as Europe´s first liquid-fueled reusable launcher.
Meanwhile at PLD Space’s headquarters in Elche, engineers are working in the three major subsystems (propulsion, structures and avionics) of the ARION 1 micro-launcher to meet its first maiden flight by the end of 2018.
-
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C1J3992XgAA-_rL.jpg)
-
23k euro? I'm assuming that's after tax? Otherwise that's a ludicrously low wage for a job like that, surely?
-
I would say that the salary is before taxes, as taxes depend on your marriage status, number of children, etc.
Engineering positions in Spain and Portugal pay really bad and there isnt much public recognition of our job. Plus, unemployment in Spain is quite large. So tens of thousands of Engineers leave for other European countries (that's why I partially moved to Germany).
Engineers from Spain have a harder time getting out, as their level of English is usually quite bad.
-
Peter B. de Selding @pbdes 8m8 minutes ago
GMV(1) invests in Spanish rocket startup PLD Space, brings PLD to EUR 6.7M frm public/private sector, to supply GNC for PLD's Arion rockets.
https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/818501906763051010 (https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/818501906763051010)
Peter B. de Selding @pbdes 5m5 minutes ago
GMV(2): @PLDSpace suborbital Arion1 to launch 2018 frm Spain. Arion2 for smallsats targets 2020 launch. @infoGMV CEO Serrano on PLD board.
https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/818503179990089728 (https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/818503179990089728)
-
Peter B. de Selding @pbdes 8m8 minutes ago
GMV(1) invests in Spanish rocket startup PLD Space, brings PLD to EUR 6.7M frm public/private sector, to supply GNC for PLD's Arion rockets.
Thats a good strategic investor. Lots of experience and resources from a traditional industry background to complement the startup energy and ideas. Best of luck !
-
New test of the Arion-1 engine:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/832161820093845504
-
New engine testing campaign announced in Twitter, starting in June.
Talking about a 30% power increase, to be tested initially for >1 min duration static fire.
Meanwhile, final review of Arion-1 is about to start, with static fires by the end of this year.
-
#FirstFlight engine hardware material arrieves at @PLD_Space headquarters. Test hardware assembled soon. #GoPLD
-
#FirstFlight engine hardware material arrieves at @PLD_Space headquarters. Test hardware assembled soon. #GoPLD
what is the size?
Diameter 40 cm and length 120 cm?
-
#FirstFlight engine hardware material arrieves at @PLD_Space headquarters. Test hardware assembled soon. #GoPLD
what is the size?
Diameter 40 cm and length 120 cm?
They look quite shorter than that: I'd say 80-100 cm long at most.
-
They are showing some progress:
After 2 years of liquid rocket engine testing, performing dozens of hot firings, at PLD Space we are ready to accomplish our next giant leap.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/879379322821386240
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY8GaVHU4Ws
-
They are showing some progress:
After 2 years of liquid rocket engine testing, performing dozens of hot firings, at PLD Space we are ready to accomplish our next giant leap.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/879379322821386240
Indeed, in the video description they are announcing the unveiling and first testing of a new regeneratively-cooled engine.
-
Very nice writeup (in Spanish) in Daniel Marin's blog, on PLD's plans and achievements.
http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2017/06/28/pld-space-dos-anos-de-pruebas-de-motores-cohete-en-espana/
Some snippets:
- Tests so far have used a calorimetric model, not machined on the outside (simple cylinder shape), for simplicity and to ease measurements. The 32-kN engine is a real-scale prototype for the Arion-1 single-stage suborbital launcher.
- Immediate plans call for the test of TEPREL-A, with a 110-s burn time, the same as the nominal first stage burn time of Arion-1.
- TEPREL-B will be the second iteration of the engine, with a 165-s burn time.
- Finally, TEPREL-C, to be tested before next year, will be the qualification version of the real Arion-1 engine.
- First (suborbital) flight of the Arion-1 is expected for NET April 2018, from El Arenosillo (Huelva, Spain). It will demonstrate a 220 km apogee trajectory for a 100 kg payload.
- Orbital launches with Arion-2 would follow in their long-term strategy after that, with first flight pencilled-in for 2021.
-
Today we have the honour to introduce the new combustion chamber TERPEL-A, the new regenerative cooling rocket engine.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/882519746125680641
See attachment.
-
TEPREL-A test performed!
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/886859400719339521
El nuevo motor cohete regenerativo de @PLD_Space ruge con fuerza. Comportamiento mecánico y térmico nominal. Muy pronto vídeo completo.
The new regenerative(ly-cooled) rocket engine from PLD_Space roars powerfully. Mechanical and thermal behaviors are nominal. Complete video coming up very soon.
-
First hotfire of Spain startup @PLD_Space's regeneratively cooled engine for upcoming #Arion1 microlauncher vehicle 🚀youtu.be/xRm4zaoZjCI
https://twitter.com/megsylhydrazine/status/888842341900926976
https://youtu.be/xRm4zaoZjCI (https://youtu.be/xRm4zaoZjCI)
-
@PLD_Space is ready to unveil its new own facilities next week. Here we have a first advance of how it looks like. #RocketFactory #NewSpace
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/902184301697142784
-
PLD Space @PLD_Space 22m22 minutes ago
Unfortunately this year @PLD_Space couldn´t attend the #IAC2017. We are working really hard, major announcement soon! Keep an eye!
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/912601130978435072 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/912601130978435072)
-
@PLD_Space is please to show for the first time how our beast will be. HD Artist Conception. Meet ARION 1, Our technological demonstrator.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/923134542075981824 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/923134542075981824)
-
Spacenews article: Spain’s launch startups make a case for hosting a European spaceport (http://spacenews.com/spains-launch-startups-make-a-case-for-hosting-a-european-spaceport/)
I always tought PLD Space had it's eyes set on INTA's (CEDEA) El Arenosillo (http://www.inta.es/opencms/export/sites/default/INTA/es/quienes-somos/historia/el-arenosillo/) test Center . maps (https://www.google.nl/maps/place/Instituto+Nacional+de+T%C3%A9cnica+Aeroespacial+Centro+De+Experimentaci%C3%B3n+De+El+Arenosillo/@37.1009918,-6.7353184,2291m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0xd11df2ec060a7f3:0x3952162e61663347!8m2!3d37.1019466!4d-6.7364243)
The Article is wrong on DLR leading the SMILE (http://small-launcher.eu/) project, its NLR (Dutch instead of German, but it's practically the same) And Smile looks to the north (http://andoyaspace.no/?p=2282) not south for a launch site.
In my opinion it is unlikely that one startup company (in Europe) will be able to develop an orbital launcher and be able to offer a service. But PLD Space has one of the best business cases in my opinion.
-
As you may know, next week @PLD_Space will announce a huge step forward in the ARION European #Microlauncher development program. “Paulatim Ergo Certe”. #ARION #European #Reusable #Microlauncher
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/950004458993471489
-
IT IS OFFICIAL: @PLD_Space awarded 2 Million Euro grant from the European Commission for the ARION #microlauncher programme #Europe #Space #Launchers
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/951031174939447296 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/951031174939447296)
-
This financial support from the #EC is currently the biggest public support to PLD Space and one of the biggest European public supports for SMEs. #ARION is strategic for Europe´s Independence and Competitiveness.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/951031612829061120
With the European Commission, joined to the Spanish Government and to the European Space Agency, @PLD_Space has now the support of the 3 more important European institutions to develop a #Microlauncher. More than 30 private investors has also been joined to #ARION
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/951032115935641600
The company and #ARION has also been supported by European space-related personalities, such as Mr. Franco Malerba, the first Italian astronaut who flew in the Space Shuttle @NASA Mission STS-46 and member of the European Parliament.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/951032619180929024
"Thanks to this strategical institutional support we are closer to have all the necessary support and resources for a fully commercial launch service dedicated to small payloads in Europe , and be one of the 10 worldwide countries with launch capabilities" - Raúl Torres, CEO.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/951033373803212802
the technologies that will be directly transferred to ARION 2, PLD Space´s proposed Spanish small satellite launcher, which will be entirely produced by European industry.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/951034632727859200
Edit to add:
“This support strengthens the position of PLD Space in the space industry and increases the confidence of private investors. We are now ready to the next step forward in our company, the closing of an A2 investment round of 8 million Euro very soon”. - Raúl Verdú, CBO.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/951035890742149120
-
So Malerba is going to supervise their work. Interesting.
-
IT IS OFFICIAL: @ESA awards Spain´s @PLD_Space´s #ARION2 proposal for a small satellite orbital #Microlauncher. #Smallsats #Spain #Technology #Science
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/959019785567834114 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/959019785567834114)
#ARION2 is a three stages #Microlauncher, designed to launch up to 150kg payload(s) around earth orbit, for #Europe and from #Europe. First stage under deep design with @esa support to be #Reusable.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/959020000110669826
(for general PLD Space info see this thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37384 )
-
PLD Space have announced their ARION2 orbital microlauncher:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44832.0 (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44832.0)
-
I have already seen those grid fins somewhere.
-
I have already seen those grid fins somewhere.
The attached image also tweeted is also reminiscent of something ...
Haven't seen any info yet on how the booster will land. No sign of legs - too great a payload penalty for a small launcher? - so maybe ditching in the sea, or perhaps airbags?
-
Parachutes only for Arion 1; plus rockets for Arion 2
http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2016/11/02/pld-space-el-primer-cohete-reutilizable-europeos/#more-58088 (http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2016/11/02/pld-space-el-primer-cohete-reutilizable-europeos/#more-58088)
--- Tony
-
My test is still running, it's been a week and counting. (I found it out three days ago)
But your getting warm https://ec.europa.eu/research/eic/index.cfm?pg=prizes (https://ec.europa.eu/research/eic/index.cfm?pg=prizes)
I couldn't :-X (What moving two charicters and adding a "=" can do)
[ :-\ I ruined my own test, really bad that it takes over a week before NSF notices this. I'm really disappointed. :P :-[
Edit: not that I can read it; Paywall >:( SpaceIntelReport article (https://www.spaceintelreport.com/spain-gmv-eu-commission-now-comes-esa-investment-pld-space/)
The ESA FLPP contract is only about 300 000 euro.
Let's add that PLDspace was awarded a SME Instrument from the EU Horizon 2020 program in 2016. That was for the Arion 1 sounding rocket. That was the first contract they got from outside of Spain.
I really fear I've exposed a lot of European startup to more competition by exposing this. That's why I keep some thing quiet.
-
Mid Air Recovery would be ideal for booster this size. They may need to do reentry burn.
-
Google Translated from above like: http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2017/06/28/pld-space-dos-anos-de-pruebas-de-motores-cohete-en-espana/
The company PLD Space continues with its ambitious goal of becoming the first Spanish company to build an orbital launcher. And today we have great news, because the European space agency (ESA) has chosen PLD Space as the main contractor of the LPSR (Liquid Propulsion Stage Recovery) program to develop a reusable first stage. Come on, a kind of SpaceX to the Spanish.
To put ourselves in a position, remember that PLD Space is developing two rockets, the Arion 1 and the Arion 2. The Arion 1 will be a single-stage suborbital launcher, while the Arion 2 will be able to put satellites in low Earth orbit - and even more there- thanks to its three stages. Precisely PLD Space intends to use these launchers as demonstrators of ESA's LPSR program, a program in which other Spanish companies such as COMET Engineering and Tecnalia-CTA Technology Center will also participate. The contract of the LPSR program amounts to 750,000 euros.
The objective of PLD Space is therefore to provide the Arion 2 with a reusable first stage, although previously they will carry out test flights with the Arion 1. So, does this mean that we are going to see a Spanish rocket returning to the launching pad as the Falcon? 9 from SpaceX? Not quite. Precisely the LPSR program must identify which technologies are the most suitable for the recovery and reuse of the first stages of liquid fuel rockets. In the Arion 1 reuse technologies associated with both the supersonic phase of flight and the subsonic will be tested. The techniques of reuse that will be tested in the Arion 1 will be more traditional and will consist of parachutes (both supersonic and subsonic), although the possibility of using controlled paragliders or ballutes, a mixture of parachutes and balloon that was very popular, will also be studied. in the 60s (in fact it was proposed as a braking medium for the MAR manned landing module). In addition, Arion 1 flights will test the benefits of new thermal protection systems (TPS) of the coping - remember that this suborbital launcher will reenter the atmosphere with the nose ahead - and other technologies to reduce the adverse effects of corrosion due to seawater.
The first flight of Arion 1 is scheduled for the end of 2018 and, depending on the success of this vector, the Arion 2 will follow in 2020 (obviously, no one will be shocked if there is finally some delay in these plans). A possible mission of the Arion 1 within the LPSR program could be the following: the rocket takes off from the base of El Arenosillo (Huelva) and 40 seconds later exceeds the speed of sound. About 110 seconds after the launch, the engine shuts off at an altitude of 80 kilometers and two minutes later the rocket reaches its peak at 220 kilometers. 390 seconds after the takeoff, reentry into the atmosphere would begin, which the rocket would carry out with the cap pointing towards the ground, as if it were an arrow. At 420 seconds of the mission the supersonic parachute would be deployed and at 510 seconds it would be the turn of the two larger subsonic parachutes. Finally, the landing in the Atlantic would take place 700 seconds after takeoff. Prior to this mission, a test of Arion 1 will be conducted by launching it from a military cargo plane to test the sequence of events related to the landing.
For its part, the Arion 2 will have a more advanced reuse system that will make use of the vehicle's engines. However, returning the first stage of Arion 2 to almost the launch ramp in a similar way to Falcon 9 is another matter. Why? Because this launcher is already quite small in itself and carry the necessary fuel for reuse would reduce its load capacity to practically zero. For this reason what PLD Space will do within the LPSR program is to recover the first stage of the Arion 2 using rocket engines, yes, but also parachutes, as well as nitrogen propellers and supersonic ailerons similar to those used by SpaceX on top of the first stage of the Falcon 9 (ailerons, by the way, that are used in the emergency escape system, SAS, of the Soyuz). Nitrogen thrusters and supersonic ailerons would allow to maintain control of the vehicle from the supersonic phase to landing. In the final, subsonic phase, the two motors of the first stage would be added to guarantee a vectorial control of the descent and allow to delimit the landing zone with great precision. In order to reduce the technological gap between the Arion 1 and the Arion 2 PLD Space wants to test the Arion 1.5, an improved version of the Arion 1 with two stages, the first of which will be more powerful. Although it will also be a suborbital vector, the Arion 1.5 will have a second stage that will be placed on a trajectory that simulates an orbital launch.
Although there are currently several initiatives within the ESA to create reusable launch systems, this is the first time that the European agency - and not the various space agencies of the EU countries - decides to bet on the development of technologies for recovering complete stages of liquid fuel launchers, techniques that at the moment only dominate the North American companies SpaceX and Blue Origin. And the good news is that these technologies will be tested on Spanish rockets. PLD Space now has a huge challenge ahead: to prove that not only are they capable of launching rockets, but they can also recover them. Whether they succeed or not, they will undoubtedly make history. From here we wish you all the luck of the world. I bear witness that they deserve it.]The company PLD Space continues with its ambitious goal of becoming the first Spanish company to build an orbital launcher. And today we have great news, because the European space agency (ESA) has chosen PLD Space as the main contractor of the LPSR (Liquid Propulsion Stage Recovery) program to develop a reusable first stage. Come on, a kind of SpaceX to the Spanish.
To put ourselves in a position, remember that PLD Space is developing two rockets, the Arion 1 and the Arion 2. The Arion 1 will be a single-stage suborbital launcher, while the Arion 2 will be able to put satellites in low Earth orbit - and even more there- thanks to its three stages. Precisely PLD Space intends to use these launchers as demonstrators of ESA's LPSR program, a program in which other Spanish companies such as COMET Engineering and Tecnalia-CTA Technology Center will also participate. The contract of the LPSR program amounts to 750,000 euros.
The objective of PLD Space is therefore to provide the Arion 2 with a reusable first stage, although previously they will carry out test flights with the Arion 1. So, does this mean that we are going to see a Spanish rocket returning to the launching pad as the Falcon? 9 from SpaceX? Not quite. Precisely the LPSR program must identify which technologies are the most suitable for the recovery and reuse of the first stages of liquid fuel rockets. In the Arion 1 reuse technologies associated with both the supersonic phase of flight and the subsonic will be tested. The techniques of reuse that will be tested in the Arion 1 will be more traditional and will consist of parachutes (both supersonic and subsonic), although the possibility of using controlled paragliders or ballutes, a mixture of parachutes and balloon that was very popular, will also be studied. in the 60s (in fact it was proposed as a braking medium for the MAR manned landing module). In addition, Arion 1 flights will test the benefits of new thermal protection systems (TPS) of the coping - remember that this suborbital launcher will reenter the atmosphere with the nose ahead - and other technologies to reduce the adverse effects of corrosion due to seawater.
The first flight of Arion 1 is scheduled for the end of 2018 and, depending on the success of this vector, the Arion 2 will follow in 2020 (obviously, no one will be shocked if there is finally some delay in these plans). A possible mission of the Arion 1 within the LPSR program could be the following: the rocket takes off from the base of El Arenosillo (Huelva) and 40 seconds later exceeds the speed of sound. About 110 seconds after the launch, the engine shuts off at an altitude of 80 kilometers and two minutes later the rocket reaches its peak at 220 kilometers. 390 seconds after the takeoff, reentry into the atmosphere would begin, which the rocket would carry out with the cap pointing towards the ground, as if it were an arrow. At 420 seconds of the mission the supersonic parachute would be deployed and at 510 seconds it would be the turn of the two larger subsonic parachutes. Finally, the landing in the Atlantic would take place 700 seconds after takeoff. Prior to this mission, a test of Arion 1 will be conducted by launching it from a military cargo plane to test the sequence of events related to the landing.
For its part, the Arion 2 will have a more advanced reuse system that will make use of the vehicle's engines. However, returning the first stage of Arion 2 to almost the launch ramp in a similar way to Falcon 9 is another matter. Why? Because this launcher is already quite small in itself and carry the necessary fuel for reuse would reduce its load capacity to practically zero. For this reason what PLD Space will do within the LPSR program is to recover the first stage of the Arion 2 using rocket engines, yes, but also parachutes, as well as nitrogen propellers and supersonic ailerons similar to those used by SpaceX on top of the first stage of the Falcon 9 (ailerons, by the way, that are used in the emergency escape system, SAS, of the Soyuz). Nitrogen thrusters and supersonic ailerons would allow to maintain control of the vehicle from the supersonic phase to landing. In the final, subsonic phase, the two motors of the first stage would be added to guarantee a vectorial control of the descent and allow to delimit the landing zone with great precision. In order to reduce the technological gap between the Arion 1 and the Arion 2 PLD Space wants to test the Arion 1.5, an improved version of the Arion 1 with two stages, the first of which will be more powerful. Although it will also be a suborbital vector, the Arion 1.5 will have a second stage that will be placed on a trajectory that simulates an orbital launch.
Although there are currently several initiatives within the ESA to create reusable launch systems, this is the first time that the European agency - and not the various space agencies of the EU countries - decides to bet on the development of technologies for recovering complete stages of liquid fuel launchers, techniques that at the moment only dominate the North American companies SpaceX and Blue Origin. And the good news is that these technologies will be tested on Spanish rockets. PLD Space now has a huge challenge ahead: to prove that not only are they capable of launching rockets, but they can also recover them. Whether they succeed or not, they will undoubtedly make history. From here we wish you all the luck of the world. I bear witness that they deserve it.
-
The ESA FLPP contract is only about 300 000 euro.
The hype factor in this sector is insane.
-
The ESA FLPP contract is only about 300 000 euro.
The hype factor in this sector is insane.
But there is some other news_ (http://ec.europa.eu/research/eic/index.cfm?pg=prizes_space)that is exiting. But nobody picked it up jet.
"yet" ... (not "jet")
perhaps you could just tell us what it is? Save the teasing for Facebook.
-
The ESA FLPP contract is only about 300 000 euro.
The hype factor in this sector is insane.
But there is some other news_ (http://ec.europa.eu/research/eic/index.cfm?pg=prizes_space)that is exiting. But nobody picked it up jet.
Clever ;o)
I saw that on Twitter a while back, but no details yet.
-
For the love of my sanity, please don't "fight club" a spaceflight forum. If you have claims, source em.
-
Picture shows undeployed grid fins and thrusters on attached interstage.
Looks like an evolvable design following the Falcon 9R path. Possibly using 3 instead of 4 (thrusters/fins/legs) to save weight.
Possibly sea landing with partial booster reuse, moving up to downrange landing for full booster reuse.
-
Confirmed. We are ready to make the biggest announcement of our history next Monday, 11 of June at 12 h. We've overcome ourselves again. It's brand #Spain #Space #Science #Technology
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1004383109826121728
-
PLD SPACE COMPLETES ITS 17 MILLION EURO INVESTMENT ROUND
PLD Space, the European Microlauncher company, has closed a new funding round of 9 million euros completing its Series A round of 17 million euros. Among the new investors are the Spanish aeronautical company Aciturri, founded by Ginés Clemente, and the Spanish investment fund JME Venture Capital, led by José Manuel Entrecanales, CEO of Acciona, one of the largest infrastructure and renewable energy companies in Spain.
In January 2017, PLD Space announced a successful fundraising of 7.8 million euros as its first tranche of Series A financing round, which allowed the company to grow from 6 to 40 employees today, as well as carry out the engineering development of the ARION 1 suborbital launch vehicle. This year in May, the second investment tranche of 9 million euros was completed, comprised of 7.1 million euros of private investment and 1.9 million euros of public investment.
– “Receiving the confidence of a large aeronautical firm like Aciturri is very important for us. With more than 40 years of experience in the sector, for us they are a reference in the aeronautical industry”-, said Raúl Verdú, Chief Business Development Officer of PLD Space.
Regarding entering PLD Space as a shareholder, Aciturri’s General Director of Strategy, Álvaro Fernández Baragaño, states that -“the PLD Space project is a commitment to the space sector that fits perfectly with our diversification strategy, which, in addition to our support as a financial partner, we believe we can provide with our knowledge and technology“-.
– “It is the first time in the history of Europe that a venture capital fund like JME has decided to invest in space launchers, something that until now had only happened in the United States. It is undoubtedly a milestone in the history of the European Venture Capital,” pointed out Joaquín Durán, financial advisor of PLD Space.
Lourdes Álvarez de Toledo, JME’s Principal, said: “We believe that PLD Space will be the first private European company capable of launching a small rocket into space. The small satellite launch sector is growing by leaps and bounds and currently there are no providers in the European market to meet the growing demand. We are strongly committed to PLD Space because it has the team, the partners, and the institutional support to achieve this”.
In addition, the previous partners, including the multinational GMV and the ALZIS group, have also decided to invest in this new round, which strengthens their support for PLD Space. In the case of the technology group GMV, which became a stakeholder of PLD Space in December 2016, it once again opts for PLD Space, maintaining its stake in the company and continuing with the development of the avionics of the ARION 1 rocket. GMV’s 12-member technical team, led by Emanuele Di Sotto, GMV’s head of the Launchers and Re-entry Systems division, coordinates the AVIOAR (Avionics for ARION) project which is currently working on the development and qualification of the ARION 1 flight avionics, set to be ready for its maiden flight next year.
At the beginning of the year, PLD Space received financial support of two million euros from the European Commission’s SME-2 Instrument and, in addition, a contract with the European Space Agency for the detailed technical and commercial study of the ARION 2 orbital microlauncher, as well as its future launch base in Europe.
Now, this new financial support will allow PLD Space to start manufacturing two complete reusable ARION 1 rockets that will be ready to fly into space in 2019 from the CEDEA “El Arenosillo” test range in Huelva, belonging to the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA). In addition, PLD Space will expand its propulsion test facilities at the Teruel airport to include testing of more rocket engines and a new test bench for complete rocket stages.
Raúl Torres, CEO and co-founder of the company: – “We are in the process of manufacturing our first two space rockets, and we hope to start their integration and testing by the end of this year. It’s the beginning of a new era in our company, very nice but complex, because for the first time, we’re going face to face with building our first space launcher. In fact, we have already started purchasing materials and equipment to manufacture those 2 vehicles and more than 8 rocket engines that will be qualified for the first space launch in PLD Space’s history. In addition, I am proud to say that everything is being developed in Spain: Design, Manufacturing, Integration, Qualification, and the future Launch, which increases Spain’s competitiveness and brings added value to our national aerospace industry, which is strategically important at international level”-.
http://pldspace.com/new/2018/06/11/press-release/
-
Considering the fierce competition among mini launchers companies, would you invest money in one of them? It is hard to tell which of them will become profitable.
-
Arion 1 payload user guide, dated May 31, 2018
-
Considering the fierce competition among mini launchers companies, would you invest money in one of them? It is hard to tell which of them will become profitable.
Given that the investors are Spanish, I'd think it has more to do with national pride/patriotism than it has a high chance of becoming profitable. Of course, by injecting money into the project, they are increasing the chances of it becoming profitable than not funding them at all.
Also consider the earliest Rocket Lab investor was a Kiwi, the Silicon Valley investors didn't come till later.
-
Given that the investors are Spanish, I'd think it has more to do with national pride/patriotism than it has a high chance of becoming profitable. Of course, by injecting money into the project, they are increasing the chances of it becoming profitable than not funding them at all.
Both the major "investors" are contributing services, not cash i.e. they will build some subsystem like GNC or structures in exchange for shares.
It's clear why those guys would do it - they get to co-propose launcher projects to the European state-funding gravy train and get their staff paid for the next 10 years to develop launch vehicle at almost no cost to themselves.
The weakness in this model is that it is just too slow and risk averse to match up with private models like Rocket Lab and Vector - and the techncial concept is from 1955.
I suspect this company will ultimately be what is called a zombie - survive forever but never make serious money for investors.
-
Considering the fierce competition among mini launchers companies, would you invest money in one of them? It is hard to tell which of them will become profitable.
Probably none of the mini launch companies will become profitable. Most markets support 2 big companies and a specialist company. SpaceX, ULA or possibly the Chinese launch company are the big ones. So the rest are competing to become the mini launch company. Some of these companies are owned by governments so they do not need to make a profit.
-
I hope everybody realises that Arion 1 is a suborbital, single stage rocket, also known as sounding rocket.
Arion2 is their proposal for a orbital rocket. Congrets to PLDspace for closing the funding for Arion1.
The best of luck with keeping the progress going on the Arion rocket program.
Edit to add:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YXA2s3WPlQ8
-
According to their launch manifest for the Arion 1, they are charging ~1M$ for a suborbital flight with a nominal payload of 100 kg. Is it worth to pay 10,000 $/kg for a +4 minutes of microgravity? It is not even orbital. :-\
-
A new entry on Daniel Marin's blog (in Spanish) summarizing what's already on the User's guide. However there's a little bit of new info at the end which I'll quote here:
With the Arion 1, PLD Space wants to gain enough technical and commercial experience before going forward with Arion 2's design, an bigger orbital microlauncher. It seems that the Arion 2 will finally have 2 stages (they were pondering whether to add a third stage) and multiple engines on the first stage. This rocket will use technologies originally created for the Arion 1, including various of the recovery techniques. By the way, if you're of those who think that Arion sounds similar to Ariane, don't worry, because Raúl Torres - one of the CEO's of the company - has told me that they have the intention to change its name soon to avoid any confusion.
http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2018/06/13/pld-space-presentando-el-arion-1/
-
According to their launch manifest for the Arion 1, they are charging ~1M$ for a suborbital flight with a nominal payload of 100 kg. Is it worth to pay 10,000 $/kg for a +4 minutes of microgravity? It is not even orbital. :-\
AFAIK those cost are below average for suborbital rockets. Currently in Europe all scientific rockets are military surplus or imported from the North America, Brazil or Japan.
But indeed it's expansive. They assume about 10 annual launches.
Note watch out for July 16th. 😁
-
Note watch out for July 16th. 😁
I think I know why. PM?
-
@PLD_Space and @TelespazioVEGAD sign MoU to provide suborbital flight opportunities from Europe on-board ARION 1
Source. (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1008650791337553920)
-
New test stand for the full Arion-1 first stage, with a full-blown underground exhaust deflector, is taking shape in Teruel Airport.
Known as T2 bench, this new facility at @TeruelAirport will help us to qualify the complete flight vehicle for our first space launch attempt next year.This is a huge step forward for @PLD_Space and our #Microlauncher space program.
Full press release here: https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1026417646139523073
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1047136452843380739
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1047405978180898816
-
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1047473376548335616
-
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1047473376548335616
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1047476496070311937
-
They are progressing slowly but steadily.
-
GNC: outsourced to GMV
Recovery: outsourced to Airborne
Structures: outsourced to Aciturri
Nosecones: outsourced to Ruag
Launch site: outsourced to CSG
It's more like a PC "manufacturer" who just assembles components, not clear what they do in-house at this point.
And not a very low cost model either...
I think "outsourced" does not always have the same meaning here. I am not sure that they outsource the design of the structures, for example, I think they just outsource the production of them.
-
And for example, GMV and Aciturri both are investors in PLD, you can "say" this production are "make in house" ;)
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1059755491495235584
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1059756844581826562
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1059758383862083584
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1059760052876337152
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1059761388736909312
-
Going for Falcon-1 performance and name changing. Some months ago he explained in a podcast that ARION is so close to Ariane that ESA or some European entity requested them to change it.
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1059871089646542849
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1059877373519319041
-
Arion renamed Miura.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1062282565976055808
-
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=38446.msg1877187#msg1877187
PLD presentation at ESA Phi event
-
Interesting deck. But do I read it right that they moved from 150kg to 300kg class? In other words they have completely re-designed the second launcher Arion 2 to be much bigger?
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1064493572722999296
-
Interesting deck. But do I read it right that they moved from 150kg to 300kg class? In other words they have completely re-designed the second launcher Arion 2 to be much bigger?
Yes. They are aiming for Class 1 (> 200 kg) satellites.
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1065161610388488192 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1065161610388488192)
For reference, "El Arenosillo" is in Huelva, southwestern Peninsular Spain, and the Miura-1 is the just-rebranded Arion-1 (suborbital pathfinder, to be launched next year).
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1073239833819140096
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1074702643371655170
PLD Space is pleased to present the first #MIURA1 Test Flight mission patch. Tomorrow at 8 am we will provide all the technical details of the Test Flight-1.
#GoPLD #GoMIURA1 #TestFlight1 #Patch
-
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Winning_ideas_for_new_space_transport_services
Winning ideas for new space transport services
Spain’s PLD Space microlauncher, Miura 5 (formerly Arion 2), is the winning entry in the category ‘Light satellite access to space’, aimed to provide dedicated launches for an emerging small satellites market. Recognised as one of Europe’s most advanced microlauncher projects, PLD Space already intends to offer sub-orbital flight opportunities on its Miura 1 (formerly Arion 1) launcher next year.
Image credit: PLD Space
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1074702643371655170
PLD Space is pleased to present the first #MIURA1 Test Flight mission patch. Tomorrow at 8 am we will provide all the technical details of the Test Flight-1.
#GoPLD #GoMIURA1 #TestFlight1 #Patch
Q4 2019 sub-orbital according to the slides. Is this the first vehicle they ever built?
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1074702643371655170
PLD Space is pleased to present the first #MIURA1 Test Flight mission patch. Tomorrow at 8 am we will provide all the technical details of the Test Flight-1.
#GoPLD #GoMIURA1 #TestFlight1 #Patch
Q4 2019 sub-orbital according to the slides. Is this the first vehicle they ever built?
Yep, there's a reasonable chance it slips into 2020 but hoping for the best!
Note the patch includes the 3 key sites for PLD Space: its HQ in Elche (Valencia), its test site in Teruel's Airport (Aragón) and its launch site for Miura(Arión)-1 in El Arenosillo (Andalucía), as well as its partnership with GMV, the well-established Spanish GN&C company.
-
I'm trying to think of the last successful suborbital launch recently: Astra has had two (?) failures, Interorbital in Japan had a spectacular liftoff failure, Landspace failed a couple of months back, Vector doesn't count as those were mostly mockups. Super Strypi failed going back further. Virgin Galactic counts I guess, and Nammo had a good one with a small rocket. What else?
-
I'm trying to think of the last successful suborbital launch recently: Astra has had two (?) failures, Interorbital in Japan had a spectacular liftoff failure, Landspace failed a couple of months back, Vector doesn't count as those were mostly mockups. Super Strypi failed going back further. Virgin Galactic counts I guess, and Nammo had a good one with a small rocket. What else?
Korea's KSLV-II TLV had a successful launch last month with a single engine suborbital vehicle.
-
I'm trying to think of the last successful suborbital launch recently: Astra has had two (?) failures, Interorbital in Japan had a spectacular liftoff failure, Landspace failed a couple of months back, Vector doesn't count as those were mostly mockups. Super Strypi failed going back further. Virgin Galactic counts I guess, and Nammo had a good one with a small rocket. What else?
There are many successful suborbital flights every month. Most scientific or "informationally open" launches happen from Esrange or White Sands (see the Black Brant IX launched just yesterday from the latter!)
PLD is interesting in that it's coming from a country without past liquid rocket development, or even a proper space agency, from a private startup drawing inspiration from SpaceX in its reusability ambitions, and (anomalously) attracting quite some serious EU and national government attention - but they certainly won't be unique in the mission design they'll offer with Miura-1.
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1093471152184414208 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1093471152184414208)
Note this is the (orbital) Miura-5, not the pathfinder suborbital Miura-1.
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1100410189990158336 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1100410189990158336)
PLD preparing for an imminent engine test of its TEPREL-B engine at the same time the Spanish Minister of Science (astronaut Duque) is inaugurating and visiting its facilities in Teruel Airport.
UPDATE: And that was successful:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1100435015169585152 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1100435015169585152)
UPDATE 2: 10 second test (plus ~2 seconds of startup transients)
https://twitter.com/astro_duque/status/1100440727811751936
-
They conducted a drop test for their suborbital vehicle, testing the parachutes, here's a video:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1102903950980927488
-
Looks like a tear in the parachute.
-
I'm counting three tears in this snapshot.
(edited)
But the droges worked perfectly and the main parachute decelerated the MIURA1 enough for a safe land landing.
Thus there is work left to be done to improve the Main parachute, but the system worked in it's current state.
AFAIK PLD space is planning to use splash down (sea landing) instead of land landing for MIURA 1.
Didn't they also plan to use a parafoil for the main?
let's also share this video from PLD space youtube account. It shows the full MIURA 1 engine qualification test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwFb6TlSxD4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwFb6TlSxD4)
-
PLD Space presents the patch for the first recovery test of a liquid propulsion-based booster in Europe
PLD Space is presenting its mission patch for the first recovery project of its reusable liquid booster stage (Liquid Propulsion Stage Recovery, LPSR). This will be the company’s first drop test for the recovery of a complete first stage microlauncher demonstrator. The project made possible in 2016 thanks to the economic support of ESA, as part as of the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), will conclude next April with the recovery test of a full-sized demonstrator of the first stage of the MIURA 5 orbital microlauncher.
Assisting in the test campaign is the Battalion of Transport Helicopters V (BHELTRA V), of the Spanish Armed Forces, who is providing a Chinook CH-47 helicopter to carry out the drop of the demonstrator. Additionally, the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) is allowing the use of the Experimentation Centre “El Arenosillo” (CEDEA) as the launch site, where the test and the follow-ups of the flight and recovery operation will take place.
The project FLPP-LPSR has been financed by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the support of the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI). The final goal of the LPSR project is to recover the first stage of a liquid propulsion based microlauncher that will be used in a subsequent launch, for the first time in Europe.
http://pldspace.com/new/2019/03/14/pld-space-presents-the-patch-for-the-first-recovery-test-of-a-liquid-propulsion-based-booster-in-europe/
-
PLD Space presents the patch for the first recovery test of a liquid propulsion-based booster in Europe
Updates for the (just successfully completed) tandem flight test in collaboration with the Spanish Army:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1115859955343667200
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1115892338302255104
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1115893878039695362
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1115900542134493184
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1115903733299339264
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1115902379424124929
Drop test expected to take place tomorrow.
-
PLD Space presents the patch for the first recovery test of a liquid propulsion-based booster in Europe
That's not true. Copenhagen Suborbitals recovered the Nexo 2 liquid propelled rocket core from a parachute last year.
And that booster got there without a helicopter i.e. was actally rocket.
-
I guess by "booster" they refer to rocket meant for an orbital system. It isn't written like that though, so your point is still valid (and this is just a demonstrator, not an actual rocket stage).
In any case: drop test aborted due to a failure in the release mechanism.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116255501900222464 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116255501900222464)
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116260413635813377 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116260413635813377)
EDIT: Test back on at 12:50 pm CET.
-
Test back on! Confirmed separation.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116294307256983553 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116294307256983553)
Drogues out and stable:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116294473062014976 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116294473062014976)
Mains out and stable:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116294758429806592 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116294758429806592)
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116294615148244992 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116294615148244992)
GOOD SPLASHDOWN:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116295421868040194
-
Successful drop test called:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1116347462501961730
-
http://pldspace.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Successful-drop-test_press-release_eng.pdf
Successful drop test of the demonstrator of the first stage of MIURA 5
• PLD Space has successfully completed the first drop test with a full-scale demonstrator of the first
stage of the MIURA 5 orbital rocket
• This project is part of the FLPP-LPSR program, promoted by the European Space Agency (ESA)
• Drop Test has been achieved after a first attempt when drop was aborted due an electrical
problem.
Thursday, 11th of April, 2019.
Today, PLD Space has taken an important step forward in their attempt to develop a European reusable launcher. This morning, the recovery drop test of the first stage of the MIURA 5 rocket was carried out from El Arenosillo Experimentation Center (CEDEA), of INTA (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial). This operation, an essential part of the campaign to develop future launchers (FLPP) of the European Space Agency (ESA), serves the purpose of validating the recovery system of MIURA 5- PLD Space’s first private reusable orbital launcher. The drop test has been carried out successfully on April 11, 2019, which places PLD Space in a good position for the further development of this reusable orbital launcher that will allow space access services for small satellites.
This test was carried out by the Transport Helicopter Battalion V (BHelTra V), of the Aeromobile Forces of the Army. They released the demonstrator from a height of 5 km, using a Chinook CH-47 helicopter. In the first attempt, an electric problem caused the cancelation of the mission and, after repairing it, test started again. The demonstrator, 15 m long and 1.4 m in diameter, fell within a controlled area of the Atlantic, located 6 km from the coast of Huelva, part of a segregated space controlled by INTA. In carefully timed sequence controlled by the electronic systems on-board, a series of three parachutes
were ejected to decelerate the demonstrator, until its splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean at a speed of
about 10 meters per second.
The parachute system was designed and developed by Airborne Systems North America, the company that developed the parachutes for the NASA Apollo capsule, among others. This same parachute system, used aboard the drop test, will be used on MIURA 1 and MIURA 5 flights. Once the demonstrator impacted the water, a team of divers recovered the demonstrator, dragging it back to a nearby tugboat.
The demonstrator has been returned to the port of Mazagón after its successful recovery and will be transported back to the headquarters of PLD Space, in Elche, for further analysis. The FLPP-LPSR project has been funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the support of the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI).
This project was complicated and required tremendous organization. Achieving these highlights, the enormous potential and commitment of the PLD Space team, which has managed to make history in Europe with this project for the European Space Agency. PLD Space is proud to say that with their help, and the commitment of the entire company, the development of a European reusable space launcher is one step closer. Without a doubt, this project’s success is due to the support that PLD Space has received from ESA, CDTI, INTA and the Army (Ejército de Tierra), not to mention the coordination of companies
and other organizations that have participated in the project, such as Tecnalia, Airborne Systems North America, Sensonor, Solycal, Nomasa, Itecam, Mecanizados especiales, Talleres Blasco, Sertrain, STS, Helibasket, the University of Alicante and Integral Risk Global.
About PLD Space
PLD Space, founded in 2011, and based in Elche, is a Spanish company developing reusable rockets. Currently, PLD Space is working on two projects, the suborbital launcher MIURA 1 and the orbital launcher MIURA 5. The company, which had its beginnings in the Parque Científico of the Miguel Hernández University in Elche (UMH), now has a headquarters in the Parque Empresarial de Elche and has more than 50 employees. In addition, PLD Space has a state-of-the-art test facility at the Airport of Teruel since 2014. Recently, the Minister of Science, Universities and Innovation, Mr. Pedro Duque, inaugurated the new vertical test bench to qualify the entire suborbital MIURA 1 rocket.
-
ESA's article and pics: Drop test proves technologies for reusable microlauncher (https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Drop_test_proves_technologies_for_reusable_microlauncher)
Credits: PLD Space
-
Has anyone heard more about PLD's development status? It has gotten a bit quiet since that drop test.
-
Has anyone heard more about PLD's development status? It has gotten a bit quiet since that drop test.
Recent Tweet quotes one of the founders saying they are planning to launch the suborbital vehicle in 2020 now.
https://twitter.com/LatamSatelital/status/1162445768445386755?s=19
Was planned for late 2019 in previous statements, so it is delayed. They were just celebrating 8 years in business yesterday on Twitter.
-
Just checking PLD's web page and it looks to me like they have slashed their employee head count by about 30% in the past few weeks.
Here is the current page from today:
http://pldspace.com/new/employees/
Here is the same page from early September:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190902000155/http://pldspace.com/new/employees/
Trouble?
-
https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1182600794035707906
Smallsat launcher startup @PLD_Space says engine-test anomalies will delay suborbital flight; funding not an issue.
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1224740973433049089
Engine test campaign ahead at @PLD_Space propulsion and microlauncher stage testing facilities. Good results achieved by our team in the qualification process of #MIURA1 TEPREL-B engine recently. Important news to come soon.
-
https://spacenews.com/pld-space-books-first-suborbital-flight-nears-resolution-of-engine-setback/
Some news coming out: last year's maiden flight of Miura-1 was delayed because of engine overpressure anomalies during qualification and welding issues with some elements. Nice to finally hear some official word on PLD Space.
-
Getting talent back from SpaceX:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1225355597853396992 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1225355597853396992)https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1225376236307984385
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1230571234011877376
Today @PLD_Space achieved another important milestone in the engine qualification campaign with a T+1 minute full thrust #TEPREL-B engine test, a half of the necessary time to boost #MIURA1 into space. #NewSpace #Microlaucher
-
Full duration hot fire!
http://pldspace.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/200226_hottest-2-minutes_eng.pdf
And information about what happened in these 8 months: a catastrophic failure in the first flight engine when qualification-testing it meant a stop to the qualification program while the causes were being ascertained. Video of the failure is provided in the video update.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og1xzSF3dlE
Dialogues are decontextualized chatter about nominal parameters, not really worth translating.
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1235516052014075904
For our English-speaking friends, we share the video in which @Hispasat and @PLD_Space explain all the details about our agreement to collaborate in the compatibility analysis of small satellites on board #MIURA5 launcher.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_4Ppp2eHwo
Both companies have agreed to work together to explore the possible terms and conditions that can validate PLD Space as a launch services provider.
-
The helium carbon-fiber-reinforced high-pressure vessel (COPV >400 bar) has been successfully proven in a destructive test. It's a crucial step for one of the systems flying with MIURA-1's stage and allows to pressurize with helium all the propulsive stage during flight.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1237333801010974721
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1237340193516109824
#MIURA1 Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (#COPV) (Working pressure >400bar) successfully passed its first burst test. This component will be used to pressurize the #MIURA1 propulsive stage during all flights to ensure the nominal work of the engine and components.
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1248936331528503297
This project for the @esa, with the support of @CDTIoficial, made that development of a European reusable space launcher become one step closer.
#Space #Spain #MIURA5 #Microlauncher #Reusability
-
Engine qualification appears to be (finally) going well for TEPREL-B. On the other hand, they just posted a vacancy for a Senior Propulsion Engineer for this same qualification work, so not sure how much more work is ahead.
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1299296141838815232
-
Not really, in the last couple of months, most of their engineers left the company. People that started with PLD basically from the beginning.
The propulsion team today is only 1 guy, but the head of propulsion and the other engineer have left.
Even the former COO, that had a lot invested in the company, decided to quit.
PLD Space is becoming the european Vector Launch.
-
PLD do seem to have a lot of senior-level job openings on their website-one is for the senior (and afaict lead) designer for the Miura-1 propulsion system.
-
Because they are trying to replace all the prop team that left.
But the problem there is the management, the two original founders have created a horible working environment.
They can hire new people, but the main issue will still be there.
-
Are you a former employee? How have they created a horrible environment?
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1305809201386663947
Google translate:
📢@PLD_Space has closed an investment of 7 million euros with the collaboration of @arcanopartners . This operation is part of the Series B investment round, which will allow the development of launch vehicles to continue.
twitter.com/pld_space/status/1305812352491610113
Raúl Verdú, COO and co-founder of @PLD_Space has expressed "This operation allows us to continue meeting our financing objectives and we are sure that it will be the first of many together with Arcano".
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1305823682619736076
You can read the full press release in the attached files, or on our website:
https://www.pldspace.com/es/noticias/corporate/pld-space-cierra-una-inversion-de-7-millones-de-euros-con-la-colaboracion-de-arcano-partners
-
Are you a former employee? How have they created a horrible environment?
Yes.
Nobody thrust nobody, nobody cares about the company anymore, just do their job and go home with the minimum time worked. You need to be a really good ass kisser to feel comfortable there.
And c'mon, a Rocket company that today has no Propulsion Engineer because they all got enough of that environment. Not because there were burned out, because most of them would still like to keep working on it, if the Founders left the company.
-
That is just a conditional investment. They could get this money once they do achieve something.
But with all the team leaving...
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1305809201386663947
Google translate:
📢@PLD_Space has closed an investment of 7 million euros with the collaboration of @arcanopartners . This operation is part of the Series B investment round, which will allow the development of launch vehicles to continue.
twitter.com/pld_space/status/1305812352491610113
Raúl Verdú, COO and co-founder of @PLD_Space has expressed "This operation allows us to continue meeting our financing objectives and we are sure that it will be the first of many together with Arcano".
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1305823682619736076
You can read the full press release in the attached files, or on our website:
https://www.pldspace.com/es/noticias/corporate/pld-space-cierra-una-inversion-de-7-millones-de-euros-con-la-colaboracion-de-arcano-partners
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1308800239923494913
It's official!🚀 PLD Space successfully achieved a 180 seconds test of the MIURA 1 liquid rocket engine. This increased duration test (x1.5 MIURA 1 powered flight time) is focused on demonstrating the engine´s endurance and reliability.
#MIURA1 #hottest
-
As far as I know, today was the last day for who has been the CTO of the company. He and his colleagues are all gone. They were the people who designed, built and tested the rocket engine.
The company has gone from ~40 employees to ~20 since this summer and they are trying to hire now like crazy trying to fill up the important vacancies.
The critics at a certain famous company reviewing site are crystal clear of what happened. A couple of them are in English in case you feel curious about it.
-
Spanish science ministry keeps PLD Space alive by providing 450.000 Euros, and commits to contribute 15 M€ to next equity funding round (if anyone else gives money, too).
https://actualidadaeroespacial.com/el-cdti-invierte-junto-a-jme-venture-capital-y-alzis-en-pld-space/
-
Hopefully PLDspace get's it's Miura 1 sounding rocket into operation.
I don't expect they had the technical expertise in house to develop the Miura 5. With the brain drain that took place they certainly don't have the capability any longer. With all the other European contenders for small launchers I think they better focus on Miura 1. Otherwise I think a lot of money has gone trough the drain. Though the PLDspace test site at Teruel Airport might find other users.
Unfortunately PLDspace will likely turn into a bad spacestartup story. Anyone knows the joke.
-
I don't expect they had the technical expertise in house to develop the Miura 5.
I do think they had that competency in house. I know they still have some very experienced senior engineers in house, and they seem to have a working engine. I hope if they don't run out of money, they can get it done.
-
PLD space got the technology working for their sounding rocket Miura1. It's propelled by the TEPREL-1B a pressure feed 30kN KeroLOx engine. When they were testing the TEPREL-1B they experienced problems. PLD space provided acces to their test site for another engine, they were shown what other technologies are in development in Europe. I think they very soon realized they didn't have the right technologies.
So I really hope for PLDspace that they can get their Miura1 sounding rocket into profitable operation.
The Miura 5 has much more advanced, it uses two different engines, the TEPREL-C at least Gas Generator cycle.
According to PLDspace website the first stage has 5 engines combined providing 408kN at sea level.
That's 81,6kN per engine at sea level. (? ISP (SL) ~275s => ~89kN @ ISP(vac) 300s)
The the upperstage has a single engine providing a 65kN in vacuum. (? ISP(vac) ~300s => ~59,6 kN ISP(SL) 275s)
This are two very different engines with different sizes/propellent flow rates. It's not a sealevel or vacuum optimized version of nearly the identical engine. For me this is a red flag for PLDspace Miura5.
I very much like the design of PLDspace stage test stand, aka launch site. (It is expansive to build though)
I hope at CSG one or two of these rated for 1 to 2MN thrust can be constructed (in addition to the Diamond flat pad for Callisto and Themis). This can be multi-user small launch sites.
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1384818722561564673
ACHIEVEMENT | Continuing with our rocket engine tests, we have accumulated + than 800s engine runs with our SN5 engine, including 2 processes of integrating and dismantling the entire engine, to demonstrate robustness and availability of full inspection among flights. #Propulsion
twitter.com/pld_space/status/1384818724599996419
Engine performance is great, 30.8kN (sea level), ISP ~240s with 0.93 combustion efficiency (enough for a pressure fed cycle). 3 new engines SN6, SN7 and SN8 in flight version config. ready for qualification and acceptance before Flight Engine 1 assembly.
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1384818726030172161
A step closer to the full engine qualification. #Reusability #Propulsion #RocketEngine #Space #GoPLDSpace #MIURA1 @aeropuerteruel
-
https://twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1384844603912769537
If everything goes as planned, October 1st´2021 #MIURA1 propulsive stage goes vertical in Teruel for Qualification. First to arrieve and to be vertical will be MIURA1 Engineering functional stage and after it our SN1,the first fully integrated launch vehicle to fly by @PLD_Space
twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1384844606643318784
#TEPREL-B Engine is now transitioning from a development engine to a fully integrated flight version, including updated engine components, new components to ensure protection against flight loads and onboard avionics. Two new engines SN6 and SN7 to be tested in flight config.
https://twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1384844608035827718
SN8 engine to be assembled for Propulsive stage hot testing in Teruel and SN9 (F1) engine will be the very first engine ready to boost #MIURA1 launch vehicle into space.
-
https://twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1396885715133378564
Stay tuned for next Thursday announcement on @PLD_Space social media accounts! #MIURA5 launch vehicle booster reusability news are coming into scene! #Space #Technology #Reusability #Rocket
-
PLD Space has received a LPSR2 €1M contract award from ESA, as a continuation of the one awarded back in 2017, for feasibility studies concerning reuse of its Miura-5 LV, including super and hypersonic reentry regimes, with a second phase option to launch one of these rockets from French Guiana.
https://danielmarin.naukas.com/2021/05/28/el-cohete-miura-5-de-pld-space-sigue-adelante/ (https://danielmarin.naukas.com/2021/05/28/el-cohete-miura-5-de-pld-space-sigue-adelante/) [Spanish]
Note that yesterday also saw the creation of a formal Spanish Space Agency (AEE): the country lacked a formal agency, with its functions being more or less covered by the INTA (National Institute for Aerospace Technology, military). Still unclear whether this move won't just be a bureaucratic one though.
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1453768668454793216
#MuyPronto. Write down these dates: November 12, 13 and 14.#MIURA1
-
Miura-1's flight qualification model (for integrated and GSE tests in Teruel and the Huelva launch base, respectively) to be publicly exhibited in Madrid's National Sciences Museum next weekend (Nov 12-14th) together with its TEL.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1456582435286753281 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1456582435286753281)
-
And first flight article (although it isn't actually intended for free flight) fully stacked:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1457629152757133314
-
Test article.
-
First WDR for a Miura 1.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1486981473785860096
-
First WDR for a Miura 1.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1486981473785860096 (https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1486981473785860096)
This was only a partial loading of the propellants, the next step will be a WDR where the tanks will be at flight pressure.
-
Indeed, Raúl Torres, the company's CEO, mentioned in a tweet conversation that it would take a 'few weeks' for the test campaign to reach hot fire status, so they're going to take it very stepwise.
-
YES, WE BUILD ROCKETS IN-HOUSE. #MIURA1 propellant tank 100% manufactured in-house by @PLD_Space. Picture from inner anti-slosh baffles structure. Flight hardware fuel tank architecture.
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1542853073151860736
-
Miura Static Fires thread here:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=56765.0
-
Wait, but this is a commercial private company, not a State enterprise.
If PLD should be in the "Other Launchers" section of the International subforum, then so should Skyrora (UK), RFA (Germany), Gilmour (Australia), ARCA (lol, but ok technically Romania), or any of the other non-US companies under the Commercial Space section. Otherwise it's illogical IMO to move just this one to a section dealing mainly with national space ventures, such as Korea's (North&South), Argentina's, Iran's, Brazil's...
PLD is not State-backed by Spain other than through competitive subsidies and contracts. In fact, if it was to be moved somewhere, it should fall under ESA's section, given most individual funding probably has come from that side for them.
-
Wait, but this is a commercial private company, not a State enterprise.
If PLD should be in the "Other Launchers" section of the International subforum, then so should Skyrora (UK), RFA (Germany), Gilmour (Australia), ARCA (lol, but ok technically Romania), or any of the other non-US companies under the Commercial Space section. Otherwise it's illogical IMO to move just this one to a section dealing mainly with national space ventures, such as Korea's (North&South), Argentina's, Iran's, Brazil's...
PLD is not State-backed by Spain other than through competitive subsidies and contracts. In fact, if it was to be moved somewhere, it should fall under ESA's section, given most individual funding probably has come from that side for them.
ESA and EUSPA sanctioned (positively) development with EUSPA recently getting onboard making the company eligible for future EUSPA issued grant and loan series programmes. The ESA section should be renamed to include EUSPA and their respective cooperating and prospective EU member and observer states which support these commercial companies developments and growth as the ESA is not the lone intergovernmental/interagency kid on the European continent anymore. NASA nurtured SpaceX and other respective companies and the same is happening here via ESA, EUSPA and their home member state(s) and countries. A thread rename such as just simply the European Launchers Section would help with this recurring problem.
-
Wait, but this is a commercial private company, not a State enterprise.
If PLD should be in the "Other Launchers" section of the International subforum, then so should Skyrora (UK), RFA (Germany), Gilmour (Australia), ARCA (lol, but ok technically Romania), or any of the other non-US companies under the Commercial Space section. Otherwise it's illogical IMO to move just this one to a section dealing mainly with national space ventures, such as Korea's (North&South), Argentina's, Iran's, Brazil's...
PLD is not State-backed by Spain other than through competitive subsidies and contracts. In fact, if it was to be moved somewhere, it should fall under ESA's section, given most individual funding probably has come from that side for them.
Personally , I think all the non-US launch providers should be moved to this subforum, or to the Indian or Japanese subfora as appropriate. The title of this subforum doesn't mention "state-owned" anywhere (unlike the ESA subforum, which very specifically is about programs and services paid for by the ESA).
-
Wait, but this is a commercial private company, not a State enterprise.
If PLD should be in the "Other Launchers" section of the International subforum, then so should Skyrora (UK), RFA (Germany), Gilmour (Australia), ARCA (lol, but ok technically Romania), or any of the other non-US companies under the Commercial Space section. Otherwise it's illogical IMO to move just this one to a section dealing mainly with national space ventures, such as Korea's (North&South), Argentina's, Iran's, Brazil's...
PLD is not State-backed by Spain other than through competitive subsidies and contracts. In fact, if it was to be moved somewhere, it should fall under ESA's section, given most individual funding probably has come from that side for them.
Personally , I think all the non-US launch providers should be moved to this subforum, or to the Indian or Japanese subfora as appropriate. The title of this subforum doesn't mention "state-owned" anywhere (unlike the ESA subforum, which very specifically is about programs and services paid for by the ESA).
Sure, but seems much more work-intensive for the admins ti move every non-US company out of the Commercial section, which would also require renaming... and personally I find it a bit too US-centric to relegate the rest of the world's commercial efforts to a small subsection with such a hypertrophied Commercial subforum.
Another question is what is to be done when some of these companies eventually achieve orbit? So far new sections were created for them (see Astra, VirginOrbit and RocketLab, even when it was still a Kiwi company), accepting to keep all Chinese private ventures separate. Will this still be the case, as long as they're not too many?
-
Wait, but this is a commercial private company, not a State enterprise.
If PLD should be in the "Other Launchers" section of the International subforum, then so should Skyrora (UK), RFA (Germany), Gilmour (Australia), ARCA (lol, but ok technically Romania), or any of the other non-US companies under the Commercial Space section. Otherwise it's illogical IMO to move just this one to a section dealing mainly with national space ventures, such as Korea's (North&South), Argentina's, Iran's, Brazil's...
PLD is not State-backed by Spain other than through competitive subsidies and contracts. In fact, if it was to be moved somewhere, it should fall under ESA's section, given most individual funding probably has come from that side for them.
ESA and EUSPA sanctioned (positively) development with EUSPA recently getting onboard making the company eligible for future EUSPA issued grant and loan series programmes. The ESA section should be renamed to include EUSPA and their respective cooperating and prospective EU member and observer states which support these commercial companies developments and growth as the ESA is not the lone intergovernmental/interagency kid on the European continent anymore. NASA nurtured SpaceX and other respective companies and the same is happening here via ESA, EUSPA and their home member state(s) and countries. A thread rename such as just simply the European Launchers Section would help with this recurring problem.
Fine, but the problem remains with other non-US conmercial launch ventures currently in the Commercial subforum, even if they're European but do not receive major ESA/EUSPA support.
-
Wait, but this is a commercial private company, not a State enterprise.
If PLD should be in the "Other Launchers" section of the International subforum, then so should Skyrora (UK), RFA (Germany), Gilmour (Australia), ARCA (lol, but ok technically Romania), or any of the other non-US companies under the Commercial Space section. Otherwise it's illogical IMO to move just this one to a section dealing mainly with national space ventures, such as Korea's (North&South), Argentina's, Iran's, Brazil's...
PLD is not State-backed by Spain other than through competitive subsidies and contracts. In fact, if it was to be moved somewhere, it should fall under ESA's section, given most individual funding probably has come from that side for them.
ESA and EUSPA sanctioned (positively) development with EUSPA recently getting onboard making the company eligible for future EUSPA issued grant and loan series programmes. The ESA section should be renamed to include EUSPA and their respective cooperating and prospective EU member and observer states which support these commercial companies developments and growth as the ESA is not the lone intergovernmental/interagency kid on the European continent anymore. NASA nurtured SpaceX and other respective companies and the same is happening here via ESA, EUSPA and their home member state(s) and countries. A thread rename such as just simply the European Launchers Section would help with this recurring problem.
Fine, but the problem remains with other non-US conmercial launch ventures currently in the Commercial subforum, even if they're European but do not receive major ESA/EUSPA support.
A restructuring of the forum and some renaming would fix the majority of that as adding a new section for every new launcher would make a very long forum main page as some forums have.
-
A restructuring of the forum and some renaming would fix the majority of that as adding a new section for every new launcher would make a very long forum main page as some forums have.
There could be some sort of threshold to receive a dedicated subforum, such as a minimum number of launch attempts. (I suggest "launch attempts" because those tend to get individual threads, although maybe "number of individual threads" would be a sufficient metric on its own.)
I'm not sure about PLD going in the ESA subforum, though...are they really directly government-funded in the same way that ArianeSpace/Avio are? My understanding was that they've received various government grants, but so have other companies like Isar and RFA, and all of these have considerable private investment (unlike ArianeSpace and Avio, which may have private customers but receive heavy investment from the ESA). Unless the ESA forum will grow to include all European launch providers, public and private?
If the mods are interested in taking issues of forum reorganization into a different thread, I'd be glad to do so.
-
Personally I'd prefer to just leave all of the new launch companies in the Commercial Space area, but if we're going to split them up geographically then the European section should contain more than just Arianespace. We just need to tweak the naming at some point.
-
Note that Indian companies like Skyroot and Angikul are already in the India section, while TiSpace, Venture Orbital Systems (which has been renamed Latitude), TLON Space, Orbit Boy, and Black Arrow (the new company, not the historical British program) are in the International Space Flight section. So if all commercial companies should live in Commercial Space Flight General, those need to move too.
Never mind launch sites...to what extent are those commercial? The Australian ones (Southern Launch, Equatorial Launch Australia, Queensland Space Launch) are all in International Space Flight, but the Scandinavian ones (Andøya and Esrange) are in Commercial Space Flight General, and as for the Scottish ones, Sutherland is in the Live Event subforum for some reason, while SaxaVord/Shetland doesn't have a thread at all.
-
Yes, what about all the PRC Chinese "businesses" with threads in the Chinese launch section?
Consolidate all of them in the commercial section and watch Satori hit the ceiling for interference in his feudal domain.
-
Personally I see advantages in both schemes, but I would note the "Commercial" subforum is already titled "Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles"; which although a bit ambivalent seems to suggest only US spaceflight is discussed there. Indeed, every subsection therein except currently the first one are exclusively about US initiatives... and the last section deals with "Other US Launchers", reinforcing that impression. So the "Commercial Spaceflight General" section is just an anomaly in that regard, containing some, but not all, of the commercial companies not based on the USA out there.
Chinese "private" companies, apart from being somewhat obscure, are difficult to neatly separate from the State conglomerates - so maybe it's easier to just clean up a renamed "US Commercial Spaceflight General" section from non-US organizations, and move them into the International subforum, à-la-Chinese.
-
??? Only PLD Space moved to the ESA Launchers section. While they are only working on their sub-orbital Miura 1 (aka liquid sounding) rocket. They are miles away from orbital launch!!!
For Miura 5 they need to develop two new engines. So shouldn't this topic be moved to sub-orbital?
Is this topic the best location to discuss the location on NSF for European commercial spaceflight?
I don't think so. By moving the PLD Space topic, the moderating team initiated a larger reorganization of the forum in my opinion. So good luck moderating team.
-
Yes, this is patently not an ESA launcher, so it's the wrong section. If you want to rename it to European rockets, sure.
-
It has been a while since their test call off and we haven't heard from them again regarding a new date. Maybe the mishap wasn't that small after all.
-
Flight mission test successfully completed Now, #MIURA1 is ready to fly---
Full Mission Test successfully completed. Now, #MIURA1 is ready to fly #VAMOSMIURA1..
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1570312244872757250
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1570396037931741185
It hasn't been easy, but 11 years later, the dream of two people has
become the reality of 115.
Today we are closer than ever to the stars.
And it's all thanks to you, team 💫
-
https://youtu.be/_ZSsftEZMHE
-
https://youtu.be/ugsHsN5V0kg
-
PLD Space completes static-fire tests of Miura 1 (https://spacenews.com/pld-space-completes-static-fire-tests-of-miura-1/) [dated Sept. 16]
PLD Space, a Spanish company developing a small launch vehicle, says it is ready to proceed with the launch of a suborbital technology demonstrator after completing a static-fire test.
The company conducted a 122-second test of its Miura 1 rocket Sept. 15 at a company facility in Teruel, Spain. That firing, called the full mission test, came after two earlier static-fire tests lasting 5 and 20 seconds.
<snip>
The series of tests confirmed the vehicle is ready for an actual flight. “We have collected a list of small modifications that require programmatic management, such as changing a component or updating some design that we need to improve, but nothing critical,” Torres said.
With the static-fire test campaign complete, PLD Space is ready to proceed with the first flight of the suborbital vehicle. That launch is scheduled for as soon as December from the El Arenosillo site in southwestern Spain.
“Our plan is to do two test flights,” said Raúl Verdú, chief operating officer, in an interview during World Satellite Business Week. The company has enough hardware for three such vehicles.
-
Maiden launch date NET Jan 15th, 2023:
https://danielmarin.naukas.com/2022/10/08/el-cohete-miura-1-de-pld-space-rumbo-al-primer-lanzamiento/ [in Spanish]
The TEPREL-B [static fire test] ignition took place during 122 seconds, simulating a real launch. Now, everything is ready for Miura-1's first mission from El Arenosillo (Huelva province), a long-awaited event that will take place no earlier than the 15th of January. [...] to test launchers is absolutely non-trivial, and PLD Space tried to execute the static fire test up to seven times before it was successful.
With the lessons learned, PLD Space has started construction of the flight unit of Miura-1 that will be used on the inaugural flight. With luck, this Miura-1 will reach the facilities at El Arenosillo by the end of December. The maiden flight was foreseen for the end of this year but, according to Torres, the global supply chain crisis -mainly capacitors and chips- and the rampant inflation have been the main reasons for the delay, apart from the intrinsic complexities of such a project.
Negotiations with the French space agency CNES are progressing smoothly, and will allow Miura-5 to launch from the old pad dedicated to the French Diamant rockets, whose facilities are being repurposed to be utilized by up to six European microlauncher companies. Indeed, this last September a PLD Space delegation traveled to Kourou to visit the zone. [...] The construction of the first pieces of Miura-5 has already begun in the company's facilities in Elche, like the kerosene tank and the turbopump of the TEPREL-C engine this launcher will carry. Towards this aim, the company aims to significantly enlarge its location in Alicante. At this time, 120 people work in PLD Space, a number that will probably grow in the future when Miura-5 is introduced.
[...] Despite the enormous number of New Space companies in the Old World that spawned during the last decade, at this time only two can rival with PLD Space in being the first to reach orbit with a microlauncher: the Germans Isar and RFA (the British environment is very different and moves independently). Both companies, born in 2018, are developing launchers capable of putting 1 tonne in LEO -1300 kg for Isar and 1000 kg for RFA-, which is comparable to Miura-5's 850 kg, and which diverge from other microlauncher projects able to only loft a few hundred kg of payload. [...] It's remarkable that, in spite of having very generous budget allowances -much greater than PLD Space's- these companies won't have an operational launcher as soon as tomorrow.
-
Miura-5 (orbital) starts construction!
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1595693386195140610
-
Flight 1 for Miura-1 now scheduled for NET March!
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1604771534471835650 (https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1604771534471835650)
Spoiler #1: #MIURA1 Flight 1 (SN1) is being integrated for its first launch 📸
Spoiler #2: flight acceptance stating firing in February 🔥
Spoiler #3: launch, March. 🚀
The exact date will be announced some days earlier. There will be a live Stream
[/size]
-
I spent the last week analyzing PLD Space to figure out how the company is actually doing. It was quite a ride.
So after their engine failure in 2019, around 30-40% of the team quit, as pointed out by a few before here, but since then they've gone on an absolute hiring spree and they're back to 115 according to their Twitter. The founder also planned to go up to 200 employees at the end of 2022 - I'm not sure how healthy that can be.
Then I looked at their books, and there's actually pricing for the rockets in there. In 2020 and 2021, they used a launch price of 8 million for the MIURA 1, with 100kg payload, equalling EUR 80,000 / USD 78,000 per kilogram for a suborbital launch! Absurd.
(https://moontomars.space/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PLD-Space-Launch-Prices-1024x554.png)
What's a bit more concerning is that they use that price to value their assets on the balance sheet. With EUR 8 million for a launch, the assets are currently worth EUR 15 million against (+ roundabout EUR 25 million in equity) against roughly EUR 12 million in debt. If you'd go with a more realistic price of EUR 2 million per launch, this would materially impact their balance sheet.
The Miura 5 has much more advanced, it uses two different engines, the TEPREL-C at least Gas Generator cycle.
According to PLDspace website the first stage has 5 engines combined providing 408kN at sea level.
That's 81,6kN per engine at sea level. (? ISP (SL) ~275s => ~89kN @ ISP(vac) 300s)
The the upperstage has a single engine providing a 65kN in vacuum. (? ISP(vac) ~300s => ~59,6 kN ISP(SL) 275s)
This are two very different engines with different sizes/propellent flow rates. It's not a sealevel or vacuum optimized version of nearly the identical engine. For me this is a red flag for PLDspace Miura5.
I very much like the design of PLDspace stage test stand, aka launch site. (It is expansive to build though)
I hope at CSG one or two of these rated for 1 to 2MN thrust can be constructed (in addition to the Diamond flat pad for Callisto and Themis). This can be multi-user small launch sites.
I found this surprising as well, those are completely different rockets. The team has further estimated the cost at 25 million in 2017 and by now they're already estimating EUR 70 million for the MIURA 5 - they're still off dozens of millions.
You can read the full report and write up here with a lot more details: https://moontomars.space/space-companies/pld-space/
It was quite fun to have a deeper look and by god they do a lot of PR. It seems there might (!) have been a turnaround with new owners taking over through the Series B, but there are some fundamental issues in their business model and pricing. I wish them the very best of luck. Let's see whether they can at least get the MIURA 1 to a successful launch.
-
https://youtu.be/CGqMeYPNDKk
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1621125473383387136
🚀🚀For the first time in our history, 2 space launch vehicles at our facilities.
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1621125473383387136 (https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1621125473383387136)
🚀🚀For the first time in our history, 2 space launch vehicles at our facilities.
Rocket on Left: Miura 1 SN1, Vehicle for March maiden flight
Rocket on right: Qualification vehicle used for testing
Rocket on back: Vehicle used for parachute testing.
-
https://twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1626288882034655233
#MIURA1 launch complex is built and being accepted in preparation for #MaidenFlight using our already qualified vehicle (tested in Teruel). @PLD_Space team pushing hard and giving the best to meet key milestones. T-1 month and counting. #VamosMIURA!
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1631652038043123712
🖊️Our team signs the first test flight unit of MIURA 1 before its transport to the launch base in El Arenosillo.
This is teamwork💪
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1632341276832964609
⏰Tick-tock. We're working on the final details of the first MIURA 1 flight unit before its next departure to the launch base in Huelva.
-
CEO highlighting the importance of this campaign:
https://twitter.com/RaulTorresPLD/status/1632374335506718724
[FST edit to add:
Milestone for the history of @PLD_Space , for the sector #aeroespacial , for the history of #España 🇪🇸 and #Europa 🇪🇺 . For the first time, a private space launcher is ready for transport to the launch base, in this case, Médano del Loro, in Huelva. @intaespana @CDTI_innovacion
]
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1633022497770684417
🪹 Our headquarters in Elche says goodbye to the first MIURA 1 flight unit.
👋Hello, launch pad in Huelva.
-
🪹 Our headquarters in Elche says goodbye to the first MIURA 1 flight unit.
👋Hello, launch pad in Huelva.
For context, this is the location Miura-1 will launch from, located on the Southwestern Spanish coast, close to the Portuguese border, on the Gulf of Cadiz. As stated, it's in the Huelva provice, within the Andalusian autonomy, with open (retrograde) launch azimuths over the Atlantic.
The site's official name is CEDEA (Centro de Ensayos De El Arenosillo, or "El Arenosillo" Testing Center, with the toponym referencing a "sandy" location). It was first established in the 60s in collaboration with NASA, initially for atmospheric circulation studies through sounding rocket launches and ground-based instruments at the general latitude of KSC. Both British- and Spanish-design rockets have primarily been launched from there, as well as high-altitude balloons.
Notably, at the time of the first and last fully Spanish (government-led, solid-fueled) orbital rocket development -Capricornio- during the 90s, this base was employed for motor testing, although the actual rocket would have been launched from the Canaries.
-
https://youtu.be/lKYcySUruWo
https://youtu.be/HhSXE0VpJ8I
-
I have the feeling that the change came from the inflow of capital from the government. Before that they had at least a big problem, they didn't have enough money to finish the rocket and they were advancing very slow (too slow) probably because of don't having the money. They published some estimates about how much money they would need for Miura 1 and 5 and they had received like 10 o 20% of that amount in investment. I now think that problem has been fixed and the speed of progress is now noticeable. Since they are now under adult supervision from the government it is probably going to throw whatever amount of money they need as long as they keep making progress. Their biggest danger would be a change of government in Spain, and the possibility the next government has no interest in the project (opposition party prefers working with big companies). IF that happens and they need extra money they are not gonna have it. The opinion of the Spanish voters on whether it is worth investing money in them is also important, and the success of the launch of the Miura 1 can greatly influence this. Otherwise if they achieve the promised goals within the expected time frame, which means that there will not be many competitors in Europe with a fully operational launch vehicle, the business model can be fixed. They build almost everything in-house, unlike other European competitors, so while the initial investment will be higher their cost per launch can't be higher than their competitors and whatever price the market establishes they should be able to make a profit.
It was quite fun to have a deeper look and by god they do a lot of PR. It seems there might (!) have been a turnaround with new owners taking over through the Series B, but there are some fundamental issues in their business model and pricing. I wish them the very best of luck. Let's see whether they can at least get the MIURA 1 to a successful launch.
-
Very nice overview of the launch pad facilities in Southern Spain. Notice the facilities are owned by INTA (the Spanish pseudo-space agency that is being integrated/coordinated by the just-established Spanish Space Agency AEE) and the Ministry of Defense, while seeming to be mostly newly built and tailored for PLD, but the company is adopting a containerized approach similar to other small LV providers in China/USA to house much of the GSE.
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1633876336027762689
-
YouTube version
https://youtu.be/jnDsI873EeM
-
The pad looks custom built but El Arenosillo has lots of interesting stuff, high speed cameras, telemetry sensors, optronic stations, trajectory radars, etc and other services that they need like firefighting and weather station so that's why they are launching from there.
Very nice overview of the launch pad facilities in Southern Spain. Notice the facilities are owned by INTA (the Spanish pseudo-space agency that is being integrated/coordinated by the just-established Spanish Space Agency AEE) and the Ministry of Defense, while seeming to be mostly newly built and tailored for PLD, but the company is adopting a containerized approach similar to other small LV providers in China/USA to house much of the GSE.
-
Launcher release tests completed:
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1636306297275531266
-
I had the opportunity to visit their launch site and mission control room yesterday. I'll probably have an article about this once closer to launch which is expected within a few weeks https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1641473497477029889
-
Image from the tweet.
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1642874276335288320
Wet Dress Rehearsal ✅
MIURA 1 ha superado con éxito el ensayo de carga completa de propelentes con reloj hasta T0. Estamos un paso más cerca del lanzamiento🚀
MIURA 1 has successfully completed the full propellant loading test up to T0. We're one step closer to launch🚀
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1642874282832166912
This is one of the most critical tests of the campaign: with all the launch steps prior to engine ignition, including the loading of kerosene, liquid oxygen, helium and nitrogen. All at nominal pressure.
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1642874286342918146
T0 is achieved with the launcher in self-sequence, in an autonomous sequence of events synchronized with the launch infrastructure. When it reaches T0, an "auto abort" is executed, commanded by the rocket itself.
-
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1644670152821075971
Throwback to my visit last week to @PLD_Space's launch site in El Arenosillo. They allowed us to take close up shots of the Miura 1 rocket and we even got the chance of signing it! Cool stuff 😁
Teams have been preparing the Miura 1 SN1 vehicle for launch for the last month and should be ready to go really soon. The vehicle completed a Wet Dress Rehearsal last week 👇
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1644670160110862337
After this, the plan is to begin development of their gas generator engine for the Miura 5 orbital rocket which PLD Space aims to launch by the end of next year from Guiana. It's an aggressive timeline to develop a brand-new engine in a year so we'll see if it happens. Good luck!
-
As of March 19:
Spain To Launch Miura 1, The First Private Reusable Rocket From Western Europe, In Late 2023 (https://news.abplive.com/science/spain-to-launch-miura-1-the-first-private-reusable-rocket-from-western-europe-in-late-2023-all-about-it-1589550)
This usually translates to 2024 in real time, and means that Miura 5 won't launch before 2027.
-
Miura-1 launch now NET late this month of May (several windows available, ground winds must not exceed breezes of 20 km/h as per commit rules):
https://www.infoespacial.com/texto-diario/mostrar/4278666/nuevo-cohete-espanol-miura-1sera-lanzado-desde-huelva-finales-mayo (https://www.infoespacial.com/texto-diario/mostrar/4278666/nuevo-cohete-espanol-miura-1sera-lanzado-desde-huelva-finales-mayo)
EDIT: And now we have NOTAMs for May 12th-13th (i.e. this very Friday and Saturday!), not so much "late" May. We'll see if they follow through with them.
https://twitter.com/adoc90du/status/1655545169544896512
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1659086516239364102
Succesful 5-seconds hot test!
Extremely glad to announce that yesterday we successfully completed our Hot Fire Test of Rocket MIURA 1 for MIURA1 SN1 Test Flight!
We are one step closer to complete our dream mission!
Stay tuned for more news coming soon! #VamosMIURA
-
https://youtu.be/-JRt0k5UPkE
-
https://youtu.be/LuOTAeZXbks
MIURA 5 will be the reusable orbital micro-launcher, privately developed and designed by PLD Space. This vehicle is dedicated to small satellites, ranging from CubeSats to Class 1 (300 kg) payloads.
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1671492672270356489
Excited! PLD Space has signed today a binding agreement with the French Space Agency (@CNES) whereby we obtain permission to operate our orbital launcher MIURA 5 from the ELM-Diamant launch base at Guiana Space Centre (CSG).
Click below for more info:
https://www.pldspace.com/en/news/corporate/pld-space-to-operate-from-europe-s-spaceport-in-french-guiana
PLD Space to operate from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana
CORPORATE
21 JUNE 2023
PLD Space has signed a binding contract with the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) to launch its MIURA 5 micro-launcher from the Guiana Space Centre (CSG).
With this agreement, PLD Space becomes one of the few operators that will be able to launch from Kourou.
This location is highly sought after by PLD Space's clients. Decades of experience and the ability to reach any orbit are among the big advantages of this spaceport.
Paris. 21 June 2023. PLD Space, a company that designs, develops, manufactures and operates Europe's first private micro-launcher, has been selected to launch its MIURA 5 orbital launcher from Europe’s Spaceport located to the northwest of Kourou (French Guiana).
The binding agreement signed with the French Space Agency (CNES), grants the Company permission to initiate the negotiation process for the development phase of the MIURA 5 launcher from the ELM-Diamant launch base at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG). PLD Space thus becomes one of the few private operators that will be able to operate from this historic spaceport.
Raúl Verdú, Chief Business Development Officer and co-founder of PLD Space, said: "This agreement is further proof of the company's unquestionable leadership in this segment at a time when Europe needs it most thanks to its consolidated track record. It also validates PLD Space's value proposition in the market".
A highly demanding approval process
In 2021, CNES announced that it would make the ELM-Diamant site available for micro-launchers in order to increase European access to space. Since then, the company has been involved in a highly demanding accreditation process.
In this sense, PLD Space has been selected after having passed a rigorous technical assessment of the MIURA 5 project, which covers the analysis of issues related to the design and development logic of the rocket, launch operations, facilities, financial soundness as well as safety considerations. Upon its conclusion, CNES informed PLD Space that the audit had been positively evaluated and its outcome formalised through the signature of a binding contract (Binding Term Sheet, BTS) between the parties.
PLD Space has always chosen CSG as the main launch site for MIURA 5 because of its experience, reliability and versatility. "It is a port that has been in operation since 1968, where Ariane and Vega are currently launched," adds PLD Space co-founder and CEO Raúl Torres. "Additionally, it offers the possibility of sending satellites to multiple different orbits.
The agreement's commitments
The signed Binding Term Sheet (BTS) commits both entities to a number of conditions. On the one hand, CNES will provide the common resources for the MIURA 5 launch operations, such as road access, electricity supply, fire water network and control of access to the complex. In addition, the agency will make available to PLD Space a specific area of the GSC where the launch base of the Spanish micro-launcher will be located.
For its part, PLD Space will be responsible for the development of the specific means necessary for the integration, test and launch operations of MIURA 5 from the GSC base. In order to be able to operate from the spaceport, a new infrastructure dedicated to the MIURA 5 launch system will need to be developed.
PLD Space will have a large area divided between the launch base itself and a preparation zone, which will include the integration hangar, a clean room, the control centre and the commercial and work offices. CNES has already set in motion the process related to civil works activities and PLD Space will begin development of its own platform in 2024.
The MIURA family, key to increasing European access to space
PLD Space is immersed in the launch of the first MIURA 1 SN1 experimental flight; the first private micro launcher developed in Europe, which had to be postponed last June 17th after the countdown had reached zero due to a failure in the release of all the umbilical cables in the avionics bay. The rocket has been fully designed by PLD Space as a technology demonstrator with recovery and reusability requirements that only 3 companies have achieved in space history.
This first suborbital flight is a turning point for the development of the MIURA 5 microsatellite launcher, as the MIURA 1 SN1 mission will provide the opportunity for validation of much of the design and technology that will serve as the basis for the development of the MIURA 5 orbital launcher, whose maiden flight is scheduled for 2025. The company has already started the manufacturing of some of its subsystems, which are already being tested in the company's 100,000 m2 test facilities at Teruel Airport.
-
twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1675991491750109184
We have just announced that @PLD_Space has won the national contract PERTE for the development of domestic orbital launch capabilities. This is a huge step forward for #MIURA5 development and to become the first fully private European company to access orbital launch services.
https://twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1675992988877479936
The contract for orbital launch vehicle development has a total budget of 45M€. The company has won the first phase, granted with 1.5M€ and will work towards engineering development until end of the year where phase 2 winner will be announced. #VamosMIURA!
-
https://www.pldspace.com/en/news/corporate/pld-space-wins-the-aerospace-public-private-partnership-contract-promoted-by-spanish-government-to-develop-a-micro-launcher
PLD Space wins the aerospace public-private partnership contract promoted by Spanish Government to develop a micro launcher
CORPORATE
03 JULY 2023
PLD Space, together with Aciturri, AIRBUS, Air Liquide, ALTER, Anteral, Applus, Caye, CECOM, CMASA, Deimos, INSYTE, LOGO 2, Mecanizados Especiales, OCCAM, Repsol, Swagelok, Talleres Ramón Clemente and Tecno Lanema, wins the PERTE to develop a micro launcher.
PLD Space obtains the best technical qualification by the Contracting Board, which has positively valued the trajectory and key industrial capacity that guarantee the development of the MIURA 5 as a leading solution for access to space.
PLD Space is the only Spanish company with experience developing launchers and the only one with the necessary infrastructure and capacity to develop, manufacture and launch an orbital rocket into space in just two and a half years.
Thanks to PERTE (the contract), the company will be able to accelerate the development and manufacturing of MIURA 5 and become the first private company in Europe to commercialise space access services.
PLD Space is one of three European companies authorised by the French Space Agency, through a binding agreement, to operate MIURA 5 from the CSG Space Centre in French Guiana.
Elche. 03 July 2023. PLD Space, the company that designs, develops, manufactures and operates the first private launcher in Europe, wins the aerospace public-private partnership contract promoted by Spanish Government to develop a micro launcher (PERTE), having obtained the best technical qualification by the Contracting Committee, as well as the independent experts appointed to evaluate the projects submitted.
PLD Space comes to PERTE with most of its technological partners and with strategic supply agreements, which strengthens the project and allows speeding up its development. Strategic partners already approved in MIURA 1 include Aciturri, AIRBUS, Air Liquide, ALTER, Anteral, Applus, Caye, CECOM, CMASA, Deimos, INSYTE, LOGO 2, Mecanizados Especiales, OCCAM, Repsol, Swagelok, Talleres Ramón Clemente and Tecno Lanema. This supply chain will provide technical support, components, engineering and manufacturing support for the development and production of the MIURA 5 orbital launcher, scheduled for launch in 2025.
Ezequiel Sánchez, CEO of PLD Space, says: "We are working to facilitate European access to space and very soon we will achieve it. If we want Spain to become the tenth country with direct access to space, we must encourage private-public collaboration, but we cannot replicate in PERTE what has not worked before in ESA programmes. We must work together to be more agile and with a different style of leadership and risk-taking.
The company's track record, coupled with its high industrial capabilities and financial strength, together with MIURA 5 supply chain drive and its commercial potential, consolidate PLD Space as one of the reference players in the small space launcher sector at European level, which has been positively assessed by the PERTE aerospace tendering authority.
Raúl Verdú, co-founder and business development director of the company, highlights: "Thanks to this contract, Spain and PLD Space will be able to compete in the global market for launch services for satellites of less than 500kg without any complexes. As we have demonstrated in the past, this public contract will allow us to triple the total budget available with private investment, ensuring that we will be able to deliver our first MIURA 5 unit within the demanding timelines set by this contract, and to provide Spain with independent access to space.
The first phase of the PERTE contract, which will start once the documentation is signed, is worth €1.5 million for each successful bidder. It will focus on the design of the launcher and will end in December 2023. The tendering body will then evaluate the proposals submitted and the most competitive design will move on to a second phase in 2024, which is valued at €40.5 million.
The only Spanish company with the necessary infrastructure to launch a rocket into space PLD Space is the only Spanish company with experience developing launchers and the only one with the infrastructure and capacity to develop, manufacture and launch an orbital rocket into space in just two and a half years.
The company is currently immersed in the launch of MIURA 1, the first private rocket developed in Europe and the only one that is ready to be launched soon on the continent. It has been fully designed by PLD Space as a technology demonstrator with recovery and reusability requirements that only 3 companies have achieved in space history.
This first suborbital flight of MIURA 1 is a turning point for the development of the MIURA 5 orbital launcher, as it will allow to extract a large amount of information to validate much of the design and technology that will serve as the basis for the development of the MIURA 5 orbital launcher.
Raul Torres, CEO and co-founder of PLD Space, says: "We are progressing at breakneck speed in the development of MIURA 5 thanks to MIURA 1, as we have an integrated team and a clear engineering strategy. Although we failed to launch on the last attempt, we were able to complete all procedures and reach the self-sequence phase on time, with nominal engine start and thrust. All these learnings are being transferred to the development of MIURA 5, so we are making a qualitative leap in its development.
PLD Space - which has obtained more than 65 million in funding to date - is headquartered in Elche (Alicante), has a team of more than 140 professionals and three centres located in Elche, Teruel and Huelva with more than 100,000 m2 of industrial facilities. It is the only Spanish company with the necessary infrastructure to validate the different MIURA 5 subsystems, including a liquid rocket engine test bench.
Having recently received permission from the French National Study Centre (CNES) to operate MIURA 5 at the Guiana Space Centre (Korou) in 2025, PLD Space becomes one of only three private European companies that will be able to operate from the historic space centre. In addition, the company has already booked launch services for its first five flights and has signed a memorandum of understanding with the European space transportation operator Arianespace, whereby the two companies will explore cooperation to meet the growing commercial demand for access to space.
-
https://twitter.com/pld_space/status/1701185749486330237
Bringing life to MIURA 5! Exciting times ahead!
#MIURA5
-
twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1701602903063175384
Raul Verdu of PLD Space says at World Satellite Business Week that they're now targeting October for their next Miura 1 launch attempt.
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1701604823148499270
According to NOTAMs, this launch could occur as early as October 7th
-
https://twitter.com/andrewparsonson/status/1702607436324962681
Spanish launch startup @PLD_Space has announced plans to hire 150 new employees by 2024 to support the development of MIURA 5.
-
Please use the respective applicable mission thread for mission updates and discussions. This thread is for general company and launcher development updates and discussions.
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcMBiyy7EI4
-
A new day and a new update to the European launch vehicles infographic. The @PLD_Space Miura 5 has grown to a very specific 35,7 metres tall, and the @HyImpulseTech SL1 is now 30 metres tall. I don't think either of these figures has been shared publically before.
https://twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1738305514050564589
Yeah, producing first vehicle subsystems for qualification next year . System is designed. Looking forward 2025 launch! #GoMIURA5!
When TEPREL-C testing?👀
https://twitter.com/raultorrespld/status/1738309448446124039
Broth engines are designed. Horizontal testing of combustion chambers, gas generators and turbopump begins in February. Looking for TEPREL-Cvac full integrated test before summer. First stage TEPREL-C engine will begin in summer too.
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1746943711496282412
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1746943711496282412
“Nuestra ambición es construir la instalación industrial en espacio más relevante de Europa”. Nuestro presidente ejecutivo, Ezequiel Sánchez (@ezequielsanchez), participa esta tarde en la entrega de premios a las áreas industriales avanzadas de la Comunitat Valenciana en @IFA_FiraAlacant organizada por @FEPEVAL @GVAivace. ¡Gracias por la invitación!
Google translate:
“Our ambition is to build the industrial facility in the most relevant space in Europe.” Our executive president, Ezequiel Sánchez (@ezequielsanchez), participates this afternoon in the awards ceremony for the advanced industrial areas of the Valencian Community at @IFA_FiraAlacant organized by @FEPEVAL @GVAivace. Thanks for the invitation!
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1749831215882870834
-
Translation.
"We are very happy to be one of the five European companies (and the only Spanish one) selected as a launch provider for the @EU_Commission and @esa in the Flight Ticket Initiative."
-
https://Pawdawantwitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1750077679603257814
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1750917909398814962
-
https://twitter.com/ESpaceflight/status/1751140882219237405
-
This is extremely good news. The government is enganged and has pretty unlimited funds at hand. Miura 5 now is a project of strategic national importance. This makes it European small launcher No. 3 - besides RFA One and ArianeSpace's Maia - which is funded throughout the first demo flights and has a good chance to prevail (by itself, or by being upgraded to a larger launcher).
Report by Jeff Foust:
https://spacenews.com/pld-space-wins-spanish-government-funding-for-miura-5-launch-vehicle/
-
This is extremely good news. The government is enganged and has pretty unlimited funds at hand. Miura 5 now is a project of strategic national importance. This makes it European small launcher No. 3 - besides RFA One and ArianeSpace's Maia - which is funded throughout the first demo flights and has a good chance to prevail (by itself, or by being upgraded to a larger launcher).
Report by Jeff Foust:
https://spacenews.com/pld-space-wins-spanish-government-funding-for-miura-5-launch-vehicle/
Sorry my opinion is very different. In my opinion PLD space has not a good launcher design with Miura 5, because they are required to develop two very different engines for it. Each engine costs roughly 100mln to develop and certify for orbital launch. So with this funding they are under 20% of the funding required to get Miura 5 operational.
For main land Europe, I think there are at least five orbital launchers further along in development than Miura 5.
If the UK is included there are over seven launcher ahead of Miura 5.
-
In my opinion PLD space has not a good launcher design with Miura 5, because they are required to develop two very different engines for it.
Their first stage is powered by 5 TEPREL-C engines and their second stage is powered by 1 TEPREL-C vacuum engine. The names of the engines suggest they're related but the vacuum engine has about one fourth the thrust (per engine). Either the two versions of the engine have roughly the same mass (excluding nozzle), in which case the vacuum version has a really bad thrust to weight ratio, or the vacuum version is much lighter, in which case most of the parts (weighted by mass) aren't shared. So I guess I agree with Rik's criticism of Miura 5. I wonder why they aren't using a greater number of first stage engines (like most other modern launchers do) so they can use the same engine on both stages.
Edit: if the sea level engines have about 4 copies of most of the hardware they could reuse more parts but that would make the 5 sea level engines basically ~20 engines in disguise so why not be simpler and use ~20 ordinary engines.
-
In my opinion PLD space has not a good launcher design with Miura 5, because they are required to develop two very different engines for it.
Most rockets have very different 1st stage and upper stage engines. Falcon and Electron just happen to be two very successful examples of the same-engine philosophy, but that wasn't enough for Terran-1 to succeed at market, and it didn't stop Atlas V from being a success.
Their first stage is powered by 5 TEPREL-C engines and their second stage is powered by 1 TEPREL-C vacuum engine. The names of the engines suggest they're related but the vacuum engine has about one fourth the thrust (per engine).
Presumably the "TEPREL-C vacuum" is a relatively minor redesign / vacuums optimization of the TEPREL-B that they already developed and flew on Miura. "TEPREL-C sealevel" really should have been named TEPREL-D or TEPREL-2 to indicate different engine, common heritage. Keeping the same TEPREL-C suggests they expect to just build the same design/layout at 200%+ scale.
-
Most rockets have very different 1st stage and upper stage engines. Falcon and Electron just happen to be two very successful examples of the same-engine philosophy, but that wasn't enough for Terran-1 to succeed at market, and it didn't stop Atlas V from being a success.
Historically first and second stage engines have usually been different but common engine designs seems to be the state of the art these days for cost-effective launch vehicles. You mentioned Falcon, Electron and Terran 1 as using common engines; Starship, Neutron, Terran R, Maia, and RFA One are five more. SLS, Ariane 6 and Vulcan use different engines but those are mostly-expendable rockets that are unlikely to be cost effective. New Glenn and Stoke's Nova use different engines and may be cost effective so I wouldn't say having two different engine types is always wrong, it's just a decision that needs justification and I don't see it for Miura 5. (For Nova the justification to use different engines is clear from their second stage reuse plans. For New Glenn the justification for using different engines isn't clear and I wonder if Blue Origin would have been better off with fewer than the 4 engines they have, namely BE-3U, BE-3PM, BE-4, and BE-7. Replies to this parenthetical comment probably belong in other threads.)
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1759528129368871031
🚀📷We are proud to announce that today we have signed a Boost! contract with
@esa
for the development of a customizable payload accommodation system for MIURA 5.
The goal of this modular payload adapter, in partnership with OCCAM Space, is to offer our customers as much flexibility as possible.
Read more here 📷https://bit.ly/42Kjlu4
-
https://twitter.com/AschbacherJosef/status/1759534550240084031
.
@ESA will support 🇪🇸 @PLD_Space's Miura 5 launch service development by co-funding to the value of €1.3 million. Designed to release all types of satellites with as much flexibility as possible, the payload system will increase market competitiveness and ensure that many different types of satellites and customers can fly 👏
-
https://twitter.com/PLD_Space/status/1760701673322733726
👥🚀This week we have met with industry colleagues in one of the most relevant small satellite event in Europe, #SSSIF2024 where we are the Digital Sponsor.
We had the opportunity to unveil the latest details of MIURA 5 and to participate in different panels talking about relevant topics such as investment in space or new technologies.
A pleasure to have shared with you these profitable days 👏
-
https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1641583678928166912
Thanks to
@PLD_Space
for hosting our media at their launch site in El Arenosillo today. It was great to see Miura 1 close up and talk about the rocket and support equipment with @ingverdu, @PabloPLD_Space, @ezequielsanchez, and their talented engineers.
Vamos Miura!
-
I've done my yearly update and I would have to agree with Rik here that this funding round is not really good news. To me it seems more like a symbol of the failing European market and the lack of alternatives in Spain. But let me explain.
I looked at the company's numbers and projections from their funding round where they targeted private individuals as well as their most recent annual report for the year 2022. What I see is a pattern of either gross misrepresentation, negligence and/or incompetence, specifically looking at the last 10-15 years of how this company and the management has operated.
There have been a few business plans in older pitch decks, however none of those have come anywhere close to being true. Let’s go through them, one by one. Here are the slides and projections from 2018 - remember how old this company is and what these guys have been selling everyone for over 10 years now:
(https://moontomars.space/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PLD-Space-Business-Plan-from-2018.png)
Here are now their projections from their most recent published annual report. We’ve contrasted the numbers with their public information in their SEGO Finance crowdfunding offer, both published less than 8 weeks apart! On this chart, the orange numbers indicate the retail investor offering, whereas the red indicates the numbers according to their annual report. As you can see, though published at almost the same time, the numbers differ quite a bit. The commercialization of MIURA 5 starts with 4 launches in 2025, whereas internal numbers project just a single launch in 2025.
Even more striking: In their timeline on SEGO venture, they announced the “Lanzamiento MIURA 5” – meaning the first launch of the MIURA 5 in 2024.
(https://moontomars.space/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PLD-Launch-Cadence-Projection-1-1024x597.png)
OK, we thought, so this must have been just a test launch, right? While this seems like a valid explanation, what is not so clear is why PLD has projected full revenue of 9,6 million Euros for their MIURA 5 launch in their financial projection in the SEGO offer in 2024. As you can also tell, their revenue projections where a lot more optimistic in what they were selling retail investors – “successfully” for the full sum of over 4.000.000 Euros. Talk about grift.
(https://moontomars.space/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PLD-Revenue-Projections-1.png)
To bring it home, their most recent PR announcement states the following: “During 2025, the focus will be on the qualification process and the maiden flight of the first MIURA 5 unit. The company expects to begin commercial operations in 2026 with the goal of exceeding 30 launches annually by 2030.”
None of the projections either make sense or are realistic, unfortunately, with a lot more uncovered, such as labor costs. For the annual report data, labor costs are actually decreasing (!!) in their launch ramp-up between 2026 to 2028, while the crowdfunding offer says labor-costs will go from 8,5 million to 15 million between 2023 and 2025, a time in which PLD supposedly more than doubles the number of employees yet decreases the average salary by…20%?
Compare this with their other numbers which project a maximum of 14 or 18 launches by 2030 respectively, starting with launches in 2024 and 2025 – both of which are already unrealistic.
In my opinion, talking about the issues with the engine or technical setup is almost pointless, as the issues here are much more profound.
If you're interested in the full update, the article is here https://moontomars.space/space-companies/pld-space/
-
Remember PLD sells stocks to "amateurs" investors, fot 1 or 2 millions of euros, the last years, something not very normal, IF you can raise money with VC or banks...