- Both companies have agreed to work together to explore the possible terms and conditions that can validate PLD Space as a launch services provider.
- PLD Space is a Spanish company that develops launch technologies to provide commercial orbital and suborbital access services dedicated to small payloads and small satellites.
- HISPASAT will help to define the technical conditions that satellites must meet to be integrated and launched on board MIURA 5.
3rd of March, 2020. The Spanish companies HISPASAT, satellite telecommunications operator, and PLD Space have signed an agreement today in Madrid with the intention of working together on defining the technical features and analysing compatibility to launch services on board MIURA 5.
Signing this agreement means the companies are committed to working together to validate PLD Space as a launch services provider. PLD Space and HISPASAT will thus draft a formal framework that specifies the services and deliverables to validate MIURA 5 launches. HISPASAT has extensive work experience with large launchers on defining the technical conditions that satellites must meet to be put in orbit by a rocket, so it can provide valuable collaboration to PLD Space in order to establish the specifications (mass, volume, mechanical features, electromagnetic environment, etc.) that satellites must meet to be integrated and launched on board MIURA 5.
“For us it is immensely satisfying to be able to collaborate with a young and entrepreneurial Spanish company like PLD Space”, assured Antonio Abad, technical and operations director of HISPASAT. "The appearance of young and daring companies full of great talent and ideas is excellent news for the Spanish space sector. I think that we must all support Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú, the company's co-founders, in developing this new launcher, which will open up new opportunities to access space and who we may be able to establish a business relationship with in the future", concluded Abad.
"HISPASAT's interest in working with PLD Space means a lot to us. HISPASAT is a highly important operator, with extensive experience and well-established trajectory in the telecommunications satellite industry. The small launchers market is new for them and small satellites are a new business opportunity. Without a doubt, this agreement with HISPASAT is a step forward in our company's positioning and an opportunity for HISPASAT to explore a new market, in this highly competitive field”, the CEO and co-founder of PLD Space, Raúl Torres, noted.
About HISPASAT
HISPASAT, Red Eléctrica Group’s communications satellite operator, is a world leader in content distribution in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries and its satellite fleet is used by important direct-to-home television (DTH) and high-definition television (HDTV) digital platforms. HISPASAT also provides satellite broadband and connectivity services, which include broadband access, mobility and backhaul networks, in addition to other added value solutions for governments, companies and telecommunication operators in America, Europe and North Africa. HISPASAT –which is comprised of companies that have a presence in Spain as well as in Latin America, where its Brazilian affiliate HISPAMAR is based– is one of the world's largest companies in its sector in terms of revenue, and the main communications bridge between Europe and the Americas.
Press contact:
María Felpeto – tel. +34 91 710 25 40 – mfelpeto@hispasat.es / comunicacion@hispasat.es
About PLD Space
Founded in 2011 with headquarters in Spain, PLD Space is developing the orbital MIURA 5 launcher to provide commercial launch services to the small satellite industry. As a technological and operational demo, PLD Space will soon launch the suborbital MIURA 1 rocket, which will be able to validate the necessary technologies in flight to develop MIURA 5 in the future. Additionally, MIURA 1 will be able to carry payloads of up to 100 kg and expose them to zero gravity conditions, to later be returned to Earth, offering scientific research and technological development services. At present, PLD Space has achieved 18 million Euros of private investment and institutional support. The company has also recently obtained support from the European Commission thanks to the SME Phase II Instrument worth 2 million Euros.
Press contact:
Lorena Santos - Tel. +34 965 063 139 // media@pldspace.com
