Two Spanish engineers from the Spanish launch company PLD Space, Raul Torres and Raul Verdu, are hoping to put their country at the forefront of the space transport industry with the launch of The rocket they are developing has the potential to become the inaugural privately-owned reusable rocket in Western Europe.
They chose to call their suborbital micro launcher ‘Miura 1,’ in honor of a famous type of bull in Spain’s bullfighting heritage. The micro-launcher is as tall as a building with three floors and can carry up to 100 kg (220 lb) of cargo. It can also transport experiments that can be conducted in zero gravity. PLD Space wants to launch the rocket in Huelva, located in southern Spain.
This launch will pave the way for future commercial launches, but the company has not yet set a date. The rocket was revealed by PLD Space’s executive president, Ezequiel Sanchez, at a military base launch site on a Saturday. Sanchez mentioned that the rocket displays Spain’s technological leadership in Europe. This is a significant development for Spain as it is the country’s first step towards fulfilling its space ambitions.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who was present at the unveiling, hailed the micro launcher’s development as an important step towards Spain’s growth in the emerging and potent industry.
“He said that we should share this with all of Spanish society, which will place Spain at the forefront of this industry.”
Spain has recently launched its own state space agency on March 7 amid a push by European countries to keep pace with global rivals. The Spanish Space Agency will start with 75 staff and a budget of 700 million euros ($745 million) in the first year. This will help Spain’s position in the aerospace industry.
The European Space Agency also hired two Spanish astronauts, Pablo Alvarez and Sara Garcia. The Spanish space industry is not alone in its ambition to grow in this sector. A company named Orbex, based in London, is trying to launch small satellites into space from Scotland, but they haven’t decided on a date yet. In November, European nations agreed to boost spending on space by 17% to keep on the heels of the United States and China.
Spain’s new initiative will open doors to new opportunities in the space industry, not only in terms of advancing technology but also in creating new job opportunities. The Spanish government hopes that the new space agency will create high-tech jobs and foster innovation in the country. finally, the launch of Spain’s first private reusable rocket, the Miura 1, is a significant step towards Spain’s growth in the space industry.
It is an accomplishment for the two Spanish engineers, Raul Torres and Raul Verdu, and their company PLD Space, who have successfully designed and created the micro-launcher. Spain’s new state space agency and its increased public spending will allow the country to compete globally with its rivals in the aerospace sector, opening doors to new job opportunities and fostering innovation.
