PLD Space Invests €35M To Expand European Space Launch Capacity

Of the total investment €22 million will be deployed within the French industrial ecosystem with €13 million allocated directly to more than 20 companies in French Guiana, including many SMEs.

This approach is designed to strengthen local participation in Europe’s space infrastructure and expand the regional space economy.

The project positions PLD Space as the first private operator to invest at this scale in the ELM-Diamant site, supporting the diversification of Europe’s historic spaceport. Based on INSEE methodology for the space sector in French Guiana, the investment is expected to generate around €21 million in local value added and support 250–275 indirect and induced jobs during construction, along with 35 direct jobs for future launch operations.

Read Also - Lune & Wild Raises €2.3M Series A To Scale Baby And children’s Food Brand

The development of the launch infrastructure will enable European institutional and commercial payloads to be launched from European soil on a European launcher, reinforcing Europe’s strategic autonomy and independent access to space.

Civil works for the MIURA 5 orbital launch complex are in their final phase, with completion expected by summer 2026. At the same time, integration work in Spain is progressing and components are now being shipped to Kourou in collaboration with CNES.

PLD Space remains on track for the first MIURA 5 launch from the Guiana Space Centre in 2026, marking a key milestone for Europe’s emerging commercial launch ecosystem.

Headquartered in Elche and founded in 2011 by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú, PLD Space develops reusable small satellite launchers and space transportation systems, including the MIURA family and the LINCE crewed capsule concept. The company employs more than 450 people across facilities in Spain, French Guiana and Oman.

This investment further strengthens PLD Space’s role in Europe’s space infrastructure and supports the broader goal of expanding industrial capabilities at the Guiana Space Centre.