posted 10-06-2023 10:43 AM               

Spain's MIURA 1 launch campaign kicks off

MIURA 1 launch campaign kicks off. PLD Space has successfully concluded the two pre-launch tests of the first flight unit of the Spanish launcher, specifically the umbilical cable tests and the Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR). The positive results obtained during these tests effectively give the green light to the flight mission of the suborbital microlauncher.

The launch will take place this October at the El Arenosillo Experimentation Centre (CEDEA) of the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) in one of the different launch windows that PLD Space has reserved in October and November. The company will announce this date approximately 24 hours in advance.

PLD Space is gearing up for the third launch attempt of MIURA 1. On 31 May, the company postponed the flight of its microlauncher due to the winds at altitude, and on June 17, it tried again, but an automatic abort occurred just 0.2 seconds prior to lift-off. Since then, PLD Space has not been able to schedule a new flight attempt over due to mandatory compliance with current fire prevention regulations, the high temperatures at this time of year and its commitment in conjunction with the Guardia Civil to ensure safety in the area.

Consequently, the team has spent recent months meticulously analysing the events of the initial launch and conducting comprehensive checks to ensure a successful outcome for the upcoming flight.

The main conclusion of the analysis conducted confirms that the automatic abort resulted from the release timing of the umbilicals (the cables connecting the rocket to the launchpad). Further insight revealed a mere one-tenth of a second delay in the release of one of the umbilicals.

The ground software interpreted that one of these cables had not been released and automatically sent a command to abort the launch. The reality is that this release had indeed been executed, but with a delay of 0.1 seconds. Data obtained by PLD Space shows that this delay was caused by a one-degree deviation in inclination measured by a strongback sensor.

"If the cable is less taut than expected, the pull time is longer because the system only has to pull the connector but first it has to tension the cable and so the margin of error was very small," explains PLD Space Launch Director and Co-founder Raúl Torres. "The rocket engines function until they're told not to and in this case, it was the ground software that sent the command to not continue with the launch because it understood that the umbilicals were still connected".

With these conclusions, the Spanish space company has made the necessary adjustments to the inclinometer and, over the last few weeks, has undergone a comprehensive series of tests to ensure the repeatability of the system. Likewise, the response times of the software have been adjusted according to the results obtained during these tests. Simultaneously, PLD Space has conducted maintenance on every integrated subsystem of the rocket.

Ready for the next launch

Following thorough technical inspections, and now with the warmer months behind it, the MIURA 1 flight unit has recently been transported back to PLD Space's launch base in Huelva from its main office in Elche. There, it underwent the two recent pre-launch tests.

The first corresponds to the umbilical cable connections. The team has replicated the release of these cables with the rocket in a vertical position on the launchpad and the result has been as expected.

The second test is known as Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR). This is a full propellant loading test, which includes all aspects of the launch sequence prior to the ignition of the rocket's engines. The success of this test means that MIURA 1 is ready to fly in the next launch window scheduled for October.

What remains pending is for INTA and PLD Space to formalize the flight readiness review (FRR) and, following the integration of the payload from the German Center for Applied Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), affiliated with the University of Bremen, to proceed with the flight authorization, known as the Launch Readiness Review (LRR).

From that moment on, the Spanish company has a series of launch windows during October and November to proceed with new flight attempts, which will be communicated publicly 24 hours in advance.

This complex operation is exposed to a number of internal and external variables that PLD Space has defined within its risk mitigation plan. During pre-launch, the Spanish company considers changing weather forecast (especially upper winds), safety range violations or technical issues associated with, for example, propellant loading. During autosequence, the Launch team also considers possible abort situations resulting from technical anomalies such as onboard sensor readings. Finally, PLD Space anticipates possible scenarios during the flight related to the deviation of the trajectory or the behavior of some of the subsystems.

This analysis of possible risks highlights the difficulty of the mission, for which the Spanish company is ready to carry out. "The success rate of a first launch in the industry is about 45%," says PLD Space Executive President, Ezequiel Sánchez. "We are aware that we have taken on a challenge in the European industry at the highest level, but we face it with the confidence and leadership that comes from our track record and the know-how we have been accumulating."

posted 10-06-2023 10:47 AM               

We are pleased to inform you that this Saturday, Oct. 7 at 02:00 hours (7:00 p.m. EDT or 1100 GMT), a highly exciting event that will mark a milestone in the history of Spanish space exploration will take place: the launch of MIURA 1. The attempt will occur from its base at the INTA facilities, at the "El Arenosillo" Experimentation Center (Huelva).

We would like to invite you to be part of this historic moment and witness it via live streaming starting at 01:00 hours.

posted 10-06-2023 09:21 PM               

PLD Space successfully completes first private space rocket launch in Europe

The Spanish company PLD Space has made history after successfully completing the launch of the first private European rocket, MIURA 1. The maiden flight of its suborbital launcher showcases the advanced level of technology and know-how that has been developed by the company since 2011. This milestone achievement furthermore reinforces PLD Space's leading position in the global space race, while building national and European strategic capabilities.

The first launch of MIURA 1 took place at 02:19 CET (00:19 UTC) in the early hours of Saturday 7th October at the facilities of the El Arenosillo Experimentation Centre (CEDEA), belonging to the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA). PLD Space has fulfilled the primary mission objectives related to engine thrust, trajectory tracking and launcher behaviour.

The flight lasted 306 seconds in which MIURA 1 reached apogee at an altitude of 46 kilometres. The mission concluded with the rocket landing in the Atlantic Ocean and the company will proceed with the work of recovering the rocket during the next few hours.

The launch also tested a technological device from the German Centre for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) under microgravity conditions. The data gathered during the flight will inform future experiments.

Following an in-depth analysis of the mission, PLD Space will publicly release the data collected during the inaugural MIURA 1 flight test.

After this historic milestone for Spain and Europe, PLD Space's Launch Director and co-founder, Raúl Torres, emphasizes, "This launch culminates over 12 years of relentless effort, yet it marks just the start of our journey." He adds, "This test flight has yielded valuable data, enabling us to validate crucial design elements and technologies that will underpin the development of our MIURA 5 orbital launcher."

Mission accomplished: PLD Space leads in sub-500kg launchers.

Miura 1 is the first rocket created by a private company in Europe. PLD Space has achieved something which only three companies in Europe has achieved which is to develop the technology of a rocket which is recoverable and reusable.

The launch of the MIURA 1 suborbital rocket comes 12 years after the creation of PLD Space by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú. With this maiden flight, the Spanish company marks a turning point in the European space race, where small satellites are revolutionising access to information to accelerate innovation in multiple sectors on Earth. With this launch, Spain becomes the tenth country in the world to have direct space capability. With this launch, Spain has become the tenth country in the world with the capacity to reach space.

"This launch establishes PLD Space as the frontrunner in the European space race. We ventured into space fuelled more by determination than resources, yet we triumphed," states the company's CEO, Ezequiel Sánchez. "The team's elation is visible. Indeed, the mission's success is a collective accomplishment, encompassing our investors, partners, and suppliers."

A key mission for the development of MIURA 5

PLD Space's Business Development Manager and co-founder, Raúl Verdú, concludes, " Looking to the immediate future, the success of a test flight like this is gauged by the insights we gain, insights that enhance our future reliability and success rate." He adds, "We developed MIURA 1 as a stepping stone to accelerate the technological advancement of MIURA 5. With this mission's success, our team is poised to rapidly progress towards the inaugural flight of MIURA 5 – our ultimate goal."

The inaugural suborbital flight of MIURA 1 marks a pivotal moment for the MIURA 5 orbital launcher's development. The data gathered will enable validation of nearly 70% of the design and technology set to be incorporated into MIURA 5.

At present, over 90% of the PLD Space team is dedicated to developing MIURA 5. Its maiden launch is scheduled for 2025 at the European spaceport CSG in Kourou, French Guiana, with commercial operations set to begin in 2026.

posted 10-08-2023 03:14 AM               

Even if it was a suborbital rocket, even if it doesn't put a satellite in space, even if Spain becomes now the 10th country with its own launcher, it is a GREAT RESULT.

It is the first European private company in launching from Europe territory and it is first position to develop a giant rocket (called MIURA 5, and scheduled to be ready in 2025, operational from 2026) to launch from Kourou satellites for space industries.

Congratulations to all members of PLD Space who made the drems come truth to design, built and launch a rocket to space.