2023-05-31 10:11:57
Winds at altitude forced the Spanish start-up PLD Space on Wednesday to cancel the maiden flight of its small rocket Miura-1, the first stage in development of a space minilauncher.
“We don’t have a green light, we have gusts of wind at altitude, out of bounds. This means that we cannot launch in adequate security conditions “said the PLD Space commentator during the live broadcast of this launch, a first in Spain.
The shooting window, open from the day before until Wednesday 10 a.m., has closed. A new test will take place “in the next few days”, it was indicated without further details.
The small 12m rocket was to be fired from a Spanish military base on the Andalusian coast near Moguer and soar about 100 kilometers above the Gulf of Cadiz. Is high enough to reach space, but the rocket is still not powerful enough to orbit the Earth.
A mission for future satellites in orbit
This suborbital mission must carry a load intended for experiments in microgravity and above all make it possible to prepare the future PLD Space launcher. “The interest is to learn and derisk the first flights of Miura-5, which will be able to place satellites in orbit, had explained to AFP before the launch attempt Raul Verdu, co-founder and general manager. of small business.
About 70% of the components developed in-house for Miura-1 will be used for Miura-5, more imposing with its 35 m high and its two floors.
The market for small satellites (those less than 500 kg) that Miura-5 intends to put into orbit from 2025 is impressive: nearly 18,500, mainly for constellations, are to be launched over the next decade, according to the firm. specialist Euroconsult.
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