Spain's PLD Space raises US$ 195M to scale satellite launch infrastructure: The Spanish space tech company secured the funding to expand its launch capabilities, positioning Europe as a stronger player in the satellite launch market. https://tech.eu/2026/03/04/spains-pld-space-raises-eur180m-to-scale-satellite-launch-infrastructure/ #Tech #Startup #News #SpaceTech #PLDSpace
Spain’s PLD Space raises €180M to scale satellite launch infrastructure

International space transportation company, PLD Space, has closed a €180 million Series C equity funding round led by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The round included the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, through the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI) and its INNVIERTE fund, and the Spanish public funds management company COFIDES, through its FOCO investment fund, and Nazca Capital, via Nazca Aeroespacial y Defensa INNIVERTE I FCR Fund. With…

Tech.eu
Rocket Report: SpaceX launch prices are going up; Russia fixes broken launch pad https://arstechni.ca/3TrF #spacelaunchsystem #rocketreport #roscosmos #pldspace #sentinel #starship #launch #spacex #Space #soyuz #ICBM
Rocket Report: SpaceX launch prices are going up; Russia fixes broken launch pad

It looks like United Launch Alliance will build more upper stages for NASA's SLS rocket.

Ars Technica
Spanish launch startup PLD Space raises $209 million to scale its rocket production – Spaceflight Now

#PLDSpace:
"
Sateliot and PLD Space sign first commercial contract for a dedicated launch of two Tritó satellites with MIURA 5
"
"Tritó, Sateliot’s next-generation 5G D2D satellites, will be launched in a flight scheduled for 2027"

https://www.pldspace.com/en/news/sateliot-pld-space-sign-first-commercial-contract-dedicated-launch-two-trito-satellites-miura5.html

17.2.2026

#D2D #IOT #MIURA5 #Rakete #Raumfahrt #rocketry #Sateliot #Satelliten #SpaceFlight #Spain #Spanien #Tritó

It’s unclear which of the launch startups can make it over the #technical hurdles to host regular and reliable launches from #European 🇪🇺 launch sites. Given the demand for their services, long-term success for launchers will depend almost entirely on their internal #economics as opposed to external market forces https://payloadspace.com/european-launchers-are-racking-up-bookings/

#IsarAerospace #PLDSpace #Orbex #Skyrora #MaiaSpace

European Launchers are Racking Up Bookings

European launch startups are attempting to break past the Kármán line for the first time—and customers are already lining up to fly.

Payload
#IsarAerospace, #MaiaSpace, #PLDSpace and #RFA each received at least 169 million 💰 euros, while #Orbex received just 34.9 million 💶 euros. The #UK 🇬🇧 provided most of Orbex’s funding at 21.7 million euros, with #Denmark 🇩🇰 adding 8 million euros. The #Czech Republic, #Germany and #Portugal made smaller contributions https://spacenews.com/orbex-trails-other-european-launcher-challenge-companies-as-u-k-delays-funding-decision/
Orbex trails other European Launcher Challenge companies as U.K. delays funding decision

Orbex received far less funding than the other four ESA European Launcher Challenge companies after the U.K. deferred a decision on funding allocations.

SpaceNews

Orbex trails other European Launcher Challenge companies as U.K. delays funding decision

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/orbex-trails-other-european-launcher-challenge-companies-as-u-k-delays-funding-decision/

Orbex trails other European Launcher Challenge companies as U.K. delays funding decision

Orbex received far less funding than the other four ESA European Launcher Challenge companies after the U.K. deferred a decision on funding allocations.

SpaceNews

🚀 #ESA 🇪🇺 Launcher Challenge Component A/B : launch services, upgrades

🇩🇪 #RocketFactory Augsburg €15.3, €165.21 mn
#IsarAerospace €23.05, €153.80 mn
#MaiaSpace €4.20 mn, €100,000
#Orbex €100,000, €1.7 mn
🇪🇸 #PLDSpace €36.77, €132.23 mn
🇫🇷 #MaiaSpace €179 mn
🇬🇧 #Orbex €10, €11.7 mn
#RocketFactory Augsburg €10 mn
🇳🇴 #IsarAerospace €5, €20 mn
🇨🇿 #Orbex €100,000
🇦🇹 #IsarAerospace €3.80 mn
🇩🇰 #Orbex €1.00, €7,00 mn
🇵🇹 #Orbex €3.30 mn
🇨🇭 #MaiaSpace €1.00 mn
🇳🇱 0

amount €902.16 million 💰https://europeanspaceflight.com/over-e900-million-committed-to-european-launcher-challenge/

Over €900 Million Committed to European Launcher Challenge - European Spaceflight

Over €900 million has been committed to ESA’s European Launcher Challenge, with the bulk of funding coming from Germany, France, the UK, and Spain.

European Spaceflight