The Miura 9, previously known as Miura 5 Block 1.2, has been renamed to reflect its evolution. Standing 42 meters tall with a 3-meter diameter, it offers a payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms, aimed at medium-sized satellites and the deployment of sovereign European constellations. The company emphasizes its design for full reusability through propulsive landing, seeking to increase flight frequency and competitiveness.
The unveiling took place during a visit by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, to the company's facilities at the Elche Business Park. CEO Ezequiel Sánchez detailed the launcher's features, adding it to PLD Space's rocket family, which includes the Miura 1 technology demonstrator (launched in 2023), the Miura 5 (scheduled for 2027), and the future Next, Next Heavy, and Superheavy models for larger payloads.
This new model is crucial for a recent €158.9 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) under the European Launcher Challenge (ELC) program. The agreement aims to enhance orbital capacity and foster the development of the next generation of European private launchers, positioning PLD Space as a key player in ensuring European access to space with indigenous technology.
PLD Space, founded on September 12, 2011, by Raúl Torres, José Enrique Martínez, and Raúl Verdú, has grown to employ 550 highly specialized workers. The company has expanded its facilities, relocating to a more ambitious project in the Porta d’Elx industrial estate, where it has acquired 500,000 square meters to build a new factory and advanced center for the design, production, and integration of its future rockets.
