PLD Space has announced plans to invest €35 million ($40.8 million) in the development of its launch complex at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in Kourou, French Guiana.
The investment will be carried out between 2025 and 2026 and is intended to support the company’s upcoming Miura 5 launch vehicle program.
First Private Operator at ELM-Diamant
PLD Space said it has become the first private company to make an investment of this scale at the ELM-Diamant launch site within the Guiana Space Centre.
The company said the project will contribute to the diversification of Europe’s historic spaceport while strengthening commercial launch capabilities on the continent.
Supporting French Industry
Of the total investment, approximately €22 million ($25.7 million) will be directed toward companies within the French industrial ecosystem.
PLD Space said around €13 million ($15.2 million) will be allocated to more than 20 businesses based in French Guiana, including a significant number of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The company said the investment is expected to support local industrial development while helping establish the infrastructure required for future launch operations.
Miura 5 Launch Plans
PLD Space remains on schedule to conduct the first launch of its Miura 5 orbital rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in 2026.
The mission is expected to represent a significant milestone for the company and for Europe’s growing commercial launch sector.
Miura 5 is designed to provide satellite launch services for commercial and institutional customers and forms part of broader European efforts to strengthen independent access to space.
Expanding Europe’s Launch Capabilities
The company said dedicated launch infrastructure is an important component of its long-term strategy to build scalable launch services.
“This investment represents a major milestone for PLD Space and for Europe’s emerging commercial launch ecosystem,” said Ezequiel Sánchez, 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. It also reflects our long-term commitment to building scalable, competitive and sovereign launch capabilities from Europe.”
The investment comes as European launch providers seek to expand launch capacity and reduce reliance on non-European launch systems amid growing demand for satellite deployment and space transportation services.
