PLD Space Invests $38M to Boost European Space Launch

Jan de Vries · 2026-06-01

PLD Space, a Spanish space transportation company, just dropped a major announcement during the Choose France event. They're pouring $38 million (that's about EUR 35 million) into building their Launch Complex at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, over 2025-2026. This is a big deal for Europe's push to launch its own rockets from its own soil. ### Where the Money Goes Out of that $38 million total, roughly $24 million is being spent within France's industrial ecosystem. About $14 million of that goes directly to over 20 companies based in French Guiana, many of them small and medium-sized businesses. That's a solid local economic boost. "This investment represents a major milestone for PLD Space and for Europe's emerging commercial launch ecosystem," says Ezequiel Sanchez, Executive President of PLD Space. "Developing our own launch infrastructure at the Guiana Space Centre strengthens Europe's autonomous access to space while contributing to the industrial diversification of CSG." ### The Bigger Picture for European SpaceTech PLD Space isn't acting alone. This investment fits into a broader 2026 European SpaceTech funding wave where capital is flowing into satellite connectivity, propulsion, orbital logistics, Earth observation, in-space mobility, and enabling infrastructure. Some similar Spanish companies making moves include: - Sateliot, targeting a $109 million Series C for 5G satellite connectivity - Arkadia Space, raising $15.8 million for green propulsion When you add up all the SpaceTech funding flowing through Europe in 2026, it totals close to $327 million. Though Sateliot's $109 million is a targeted round, not yet closed. Combined with PLD Space's earlier $196 million Series C and a $32.7 million loan from the European Investment Bank, they're among the best-funded European space transportation firms right now. ### Who Is PLD Space? Headquartered in Elche, Spain, PLD Space was founded in 2011 by Raul Torres and Raul Verdu. They focus on the small satellite launch sector. Their MIURA family of launchers and the LINCE crewed capsule position them as a leader in European technological sovereignty for space transportation. They cover everything from launching small satellites to future crewed missions. The company's mission is straightforward: transport satellites and people into space. They vertically integrate engineering, testing, manufacturing, and operations of reusable, sustainable rockets. With over 450 employees, they operate facilities covering more than 2 million square feet across Elche, Teruel in Spain, Kourou in French Guiana, and Duqm in Oman. ### Economic Impact and Strategic Autonomy PLD Space says this investment makes them the first private operator to deploy capital expenditure at this scale at the ELM-Diamant site. That's a big step for diversifying and strengthening Europe's spaceport. Using official INSEE multipliers for French Guiana's space sector, the investment is expected to generate about $22.9 million in local value added. It should sustain around 250-275 indirect and induced jobs during construction, plus create 35 direct jobs tied to future launch operations. ### What's Next Civil works for the MIURA 5 orbital launch complex are in their final phase, with completion expected by summer 2026. Parallel integration of launch infrastructure in Spain is wrapping up successfully, with components now being shipped to Kourou. This allows PLD Space to develop a fully operational launch complex for the MIURA 5 vehicle in collaboration with CNES, the French space agency. The company remains focused on its goal: enabling European institutional and commercial payloads to launch from European soil aboard a European launcher. That's a huge win for Europe's strategic autonomy and sovereign access to space.