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Elche (Spain), 1 October 2026. PLD Space, an international space transportation company, has signed an agreement with the French Space Agency, Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), to support the continued development of European launch capabilities of the Guiana Space Centre (CSG).
The agreement reinforces a shared ambition to strengthen Europe’s historic spaceport as a more competitive, attractive and multi-user gateway to space, capable of serving both institutional missions and a new generation of European commercial launch providers.
It brings PLD Space’s launch vehicle roadmap with a common goal with CNES: to advance the infrastructure and operational capabilities required for the next phase of Europe’s launch ecosystem. The cooperation supports PLD Space’s launch needs, reinforcing French Guiana as a key platform for Europe’s autonomous, competitive and resilient access to space.
“This agreement with CNES reinforces PLD Space’s long-term commitment to the Guiana Space Centre and to Europe’s autonomous access to space,” said Ezequiel Sánchez, Executive President of PLD Space. “By advancing the MIURA launch vehicle family together with the infrastructure and operations required to scale from French Guiana, PLD Space is contributing to the CSG’s evolution as the world’s leading spaceport for the next generation of launch services. This strategic advance reinforces a roadmap designed to provide Europe with real, competitive and resilient launch capacity.”
Expanding launch capacity at Europe’s historic spaceport
In this context, both parties will jointly explore the feasibility of accommodating a second launch pad at the ELM-Diamant site to support operations of MIURA 5 and MIURA 9, included in PLD Space’s contract with European Space Agency (ESA) under the European Launcher Challenge (ELC).
The agreement supports the progressive integration of new European private launch capabilities into Europe’s historic spaceport. It also contributes to a more open and dynamic launch environment, increasing operational capacity, launch cadence and Europe’s overall access-to-space capabilities.
The agreement further consolidates PLD Space’s position as one of the European private launch operators advancing most actively at the Guiana Space Centre, and reinforces its role in building sovereign, resilient and competitive launch capabilities for Europe.
About PLD Space
PLD Space is a global pioneering aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider, on a mission to unlock rapid, reliable, sustainable access to space for innovative space organizations, research institutes, commercial and institutional customers from all over the world. The company is vertically integrating the engineering, testing, manufacturing, and operations of its reusable and sustainable rockets. Headquartered in Elche (Spain) and founded in 2011 by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú, PLD Space has established itself as a global benchmark in the small satellite launch sector. Its family of MIURA launchers and LINCE crewed capsule position the company as a leader in European technological sovereignty for space transportation, covering the full spectrum of space missions.
With a team of more than 550 employees, PLD Space operates over 188,000 m² of facilities in Elche, Teruel (Spain), Kourou (French Guiana), and Duqm (Oman), enabling the company to provide comprehensive satellite and payload launch services into space.
