Spain launches an assault on space

It is a small rocket but a great symbol of Spain's ambition to become a space nation. Miura-1, Spain's first reusable minilauncher, developed by the start-up PLD Space, is scheduled to take off this Wednesday from the launch base of Huelva, in southwestern Andalusia, at 5:30 am CET (7:30 am in France) to make its first flight. A moment of truth for the start-up, founded in 2011. And for Spain.

Because Madrid no longer only wants to be a partner in programmes developed in cooperation, via the European Space Agency (ESA) to whose budget it contributes 5.5%, for 939 million euros from 2023 to 2025. The country also wants to pilot its own programs. The sector represents 1.2% of Spanish GDP and 150,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to estimates by the Spanish State. Its industrialists include the telecom operator Hispasat and satellite manufacturers such as Alén Space, DHV Technology, Elecnor...

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