PLD Space Makes History with Europe's First Private Rocket Launch

Spanish company PLD Space successfully launched its first suborbital rocket, the Miura 1, from a test site in southwestern Spain. Despite reaching a lower altitude than planned, the company considered the flight a success, stating that all technical objectives related to its performance were achieved. The rocket flew on a suborbital trajectory for 306 seconds before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. PLD Space aims to use Miura 1 as a steppingstone to accelerate the technological advancement of its Miura 5 small launch vehicle, with a projected first launch in 2025.