Spanish Miura 5 rocket approaches integration milestone ahead of planned launch

PLD Space is pushing ahead with final assembly of its Miura 5 rocket as the company prepares for a first launch scheduled before mid-2027.

CEO Raúl Torres said in an October 19 program update that the rocket is nearing final integration. The vehicle is one of three Miura 5 rockets the company has manufactured, with the other two built to qualify key system elements. A second stage for one of the vehicles has been fully integrated, and that stage has been sent to the company's test facility in Teruel for a qualification campaign. The campaign includes a wet dress rehearsal and a static hot-fire test, and system-level testing is being carried out under representative operating conditions.

Manufacturing the three vehicles has allowed teams to work continuously across different stages of production and integration, applying lessons learned from each qualification campaign directly to the launch vehicle, Torres said. PLD Space is targeting a first flight of the small-lift vehicle before mid-2027.

Reaction Dynamics, one of three prominent Canadian launch startups, is seeking to raise $350 million to expand its workforce from 68 people to more than 350. The company is developing the small-lift Aurora rocket, which it hopes will reach orbit in 2028. Reaction Dynamics has also announced plans to build a medium-lift rocket called Borealis, with a debut targeted by 2031.

The Miura 5 is a small-lift rocket from PLD Space, a Spain-based launch company. The vehicle has been in development for several years, and the company has been manufacturing multiple units to support qualification work on various systems. PLD Space has been preparing the rocket for its inaugural launch, which is planned for 2027.

The rocket industry continues to see new entrants and established players alike pushing toward upcoming launch milestones. PLD Space is working through the final stages of integration and qualification testing on its vehicle, while Reaction Dynamics is raising capital to scale up its operations and advance development of its rockets. Both companies are targeting specific dates for their respective first flights, with PLD Space aiming for a launch before mid-2027 and Reaction Dynamics working toward an orbital flight of Aurora in 2028.