This is Miura NEXT, Spain’s next big reusable rocket

2024-10-07 15:34:03

PLD spaceTHE Spanish company behind the rockets Miura 1 Yes Miura 5has revealed its ambitious plans for the future with large reusable launchers Measure FORWARD with which he plans to reach the Moon and Mars. Likewise, the company announced LineEurope’s first private crew capsule.

With the help of Miura NEXT, PLD Space aspires to gain space in a segment where today the great reference is SpaceX’s Starship. The Elche-based aerospace company intends to present three models of its most powerful launchers: Measure FORWARD, Miura AVANTI Heavy Yes Miura NEXT super heavy.

According to PLD Space, the Miura NEXT family rockets will be capable of putting up to 53 tons of cargo into orbit. But the story doesn’t end here. The Spanish company has set itself the goal of reaching the Moon and Mars with reusable and non-reusable versions of the Miura NEXT Super Heavy, which promises to be one of the most powerful rockets in the world.

Photo: PLD Space.

As part of an event that took place at its new manufacturing facility in Elche, PLD Space explained that the Miura NEXT Super Heavy rocket will be able to send 3.6 tons of cargo to the Moon and 2.6 tons to Mars in its recoverable version. The non-recoverable variant, however, will be able to transport 16 and 13 tons respectively.

Of course we are still several years away from seeing the great Miura launchers in action. The first test flight of the Miura NEXT will take place in 2030and the intention is that the technology developed for said model will then be transferred to the Heavy and Super Heavy variants. There are currently no timelines set for the launch of the larger variants.

PLD Space has big plans for its Miura rockets and puts chips in the Lince capsule

While PLD Space has a very ambitious roadmap for Miura NEXT rockets, it is also investing heavily Linethe first European manned capsule developed by a private company. It has a capacity of 8 cubic meters and, although the company did not specify this in its announcement, the first makes Officials show it could have capacity for up to 5 crew members.

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The Spanish company indicates that trials with Lince will begin next year. The first unmanned test flight is scheduled for 2028, with the capsule powered by the Miura 5 rocket, departing from the spaceport located in French Guiana, in northeastern South America. If all goes according to plan, the first orbital flight could take place in 2030.

As it advances the development of the Miura NEXT launchers and the Lince manned capsule, PLD Space continues to evolve the development of Miura 5, which now features an improved reentry and recovery system. Recall that the Spanish company successfully launched the Miura 1 rocket exactly one year ago, on October 7, 2023, and that weeks later it publicly announced its plans with its successor.

The company has a state-of-the-art factory in Elche, which by 2025 will have the capacity to produce 6 complete Miura 5 rockets and 60 TEPREL-C engines. With progress made in its 12,500 square meter facilities, the company aims to start commercial flights of the Miura 5 in 2026. According to those responsible, they have already attracted commercial interest of almost 600 million euros.