PLD Space, an international space services company with in-house engineering and manufacturing, has closed a successful 2024 marked by exponential growth and a strengthening of its position in the industry, which translates into more than 170 million euros in funding to date.

In this sense, throughout the year, PLD Space has obtained funding from different sources, including the second phase of the development project of a Spanish small satellite launcher framed in the PERTE Aerospace with a bid of 40.5 million euros; a syndicated loan of 31.2 million euros with Banco Santander, EBN and the Official Credit Institute; and a loan of 11 million euros from COFIDES to accelerate the development of the MIURA 5 launch complex at the CSG spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

PLD Space’s Strategic Plan: A Game-Changer for Brand Strengthening

In 2024, PLD Space also announced its new strategic plan with the unveiled of MIURA Next, its new family of large reusable launchers, and LINCE, the first private crewed capsule in Europe. This strategic vision consolidates the company as a global industry benchmark and positions the company as a leader of European technological sovereignty in space transportation, covering the full range of space missions.

In 2024, PLD Space also inaugurated its new headquarters with an advanced manufacturing plant of 12,500 square meters in Elche (Alicante). This state-of-the-art factory, which is unique in Europe, combines the most advanced production technologies with the most mature industrial techniques on the market. This plant ensures the reliability of its developments and has the capacity to manufacture six complete MIURA 5 launchers and 60 TEPREL-C engines per year. In this location, the company has made progress this year in the manufacture of the different subsystems of its launcher, following its philosophy of fast and efficient iteration in the development process.

PLD Space has also selected Deimos to co-lead the development of the MIURA 5 Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) system, a technology that will provide dedicated and rideshare options for small payloads reliably and with reduced operational complexity.

Also, related to their infrastructures, PLD Space has adapted its MIURA 1 test benches in Teruel to adapt them to the different MIURA 5 subsystems and has built new test benches to cover the specific qualification needs of MIURA 5. In these 154,000 square meters of its own facilities, the company has advanced in MIURA 5 qualification campaigns this year 2024.

In addition, as part of its strategic plan, PLD Space has presented its new corporate brand identity under the positioning ‘The Launcher Company’ which reflects the maturity that the company has achieved, as well as the exponential growth it intends to reach.

2024: The Year PLD Space Solidified Its Aerospace Dominance

On the other hand, PLD Space has reinforced its leadership in the European aerospace sector since the company was selected as one of the 10 Spanish companies in the ‘Scaling Club’ of the European Innovation Council (EIC), manager of the European Union funds dedicated to promoting innovative advances. Raúl Torres, Raúl Verdú, and Ezequiel Sánchez have been selected by Endeavor, the prestigious global network that promotes entrepreneurs with high social impact.

This 2024, PLD Space has also been selected for the Flight Ticket Initiative program of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission, which promotes access to space through institutional missions, and has been awarded an ESA Boost! contract to develop a modular satellite accommodation system. In fact, during his visit to its headquarters in Elche in July, Josef Aschbacher – ESA Director General – recognized PLD Space as an ‘exceptional’ company, highlighting its impact on European space autonomy and its ability to meet strategic objectives.

PLD Space's Social Impact: Shaping the Future Beyond the Stars

PLD Space is particularly committed to generating a positive social impact. In this regard, the company introduced the SPARK Program in 2024, which provides free access for students, researchers, and commercial entities to the first two flights of MIURA 5. This reflects the commitment to raising young people's interest in science, technology, and space through inspiring initiatives. All these milestones have been made possible by a diverse team that, at the end of 2024, reached 276 employees from 19 countries. 

“2024 has witnessed very significant achievements for PLD Space and for the European and global space industry,” says Ezequiel Sanchez, PLD Space Executive President. “We are proud of all the milestones achieved this year and we face 2025 with the commitment and enthusiasm that characterize us. We’ll keep the goal of maintaining PLD Space's leadership in the global space industry, ensuring Europe's independence and sovereignty of access to space,” he continues. “As we say, we will continue to have our head in the stars, but our feet on the ground.”

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