Space Science

Spain is poised to Launch a Reusable Rocket in its Quest to Space

Pakyong, 14 March: Later this year, two Spanish engineers plan to launch what may be the first privately owned reusable rocket from Western Europe, with the goal of elevating their nation to the forefront of the space transportation sector. Working with the Spanish launch business PLD Space, Raul Torres and Raul Verdu called their suborbital micro launcher “Miura 1” after a famed breed of bull used in the country’s bullfighting history.
No specific date has been specified, but PLD Space intends to launch the rocket in southern Spain’s Huelva to pave the way for future commercial launches.

Spain’s “technical leadership in Europe,” according to PLD Space’s executive president Ezequiel Sanchez, who unveiled the rocket at the launch site at a military base on Saturday. In attendance on Saturday was Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who praised the creation of the micro launcher as a critical step in achieving the nation’s space goals.
This should be shared by the entire Spanish population, he argued, as it would position Spain at the forefront of this young but powerful business.
On March 7, Spain established its own national space agency as part of an effort by other European nations to stay up with competitors worldwide. The first year’s budget for the Seville, southern Spain-based Spanish Space Agency is 700 million euros ($745 million), with 75 employees.
In order to keep up with the United States and China, European nations decided in November to increase their space spending by 17%.
Together with increased government funding, Pablo Alvarez and Sara Garcia, the first two Spanish astronauts in 30 years, were hired by the European Space Agency, strengthening Spain’s standing in the aerospace industry internationally.

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