PLD Space

Payload Aerospace S.L.
PLD Space
Company typePrivate
IndustryLaunch service provider
Founded2011 (2011)
FounderRaúl Torres, Raúl Verdú and José Enrique Martínez
FateActive
Headquarters
Key people
Raúl Torres (co-founder & CEO); Raúl Verdú (co-founder & COO)
ProductsTEPREL rocket engine
Miura 1 rocket
Miura 5 rocket
ServicesSuborbital & orbital rocket launch; Rocket engine testing
Number of employees
300+ (February 2025)
Websitepldspace.com

Payload Aerospace S.L. (PLD Space) is a Spanish company developing two partially-reusable launch vehicles called Miura 1 and Miura 5.

Miura 1 is designed as a sounding rocket for sub-orbital flights to perform research or technology development in microgravity environment and/or in the upper atmosphere. Furthermore, Miura 1 is also serving as the technological demonstrator of the orbital launcher Miura 5. Miura 5 will provide orbital launch capabilities for small payloads such as CubeSats, that need a flexible and dedicated launch vehicle and therefore can not fly with traditional launch vehicles. It is being designed to deliver a total payload mass up to 900 kg (2,000 lb) into low Earth orbit.

Recovery of the first stage would be by the use of parachutes and splashdown for re-use.