Spain celebrated a historic achievement in space exploration as the country's inaugural private rocket, the MIURA1, soared into the skies. The MIURA1 rocket was launched at 2:19 AM local time (5:49 AM IST) from a military base in the southern region of Andalusia, Spain. The first fully private rocket launch in Europe was made possible by PLD Space.
Introducing MIURA1
The MIURA1 named after a breed of fighting bull, stands as an engineering marvel developed entirely within Spain. This three-story-tall rocket marked a pioneering leap in the nation's space endeavours. PLD Space posted on X after the launch, stating, "Vamos MIURA1!!!!!!!!!!!!". The road to the successful launch of MIURA1 was not without difficulties, as two previous attempts had to be cancelled. The first setback occurred in May due to unfavourable high winds, while the second, in June, was attributed to technical issues with the umbilical cables.
Objectives of MIURA1
The MIURA1 launch aimed to accomplish several critical technical milestones, including:
♦ To evaluate the engine's thrust profile under actual flight conditions.
♦ To observe the rocket's aerodynamic behaviour throughout its flight trajectory.
♦ To monitor the precise tracking of the nominal trajectory.
♦ To assess the performance of all subsystems under real-space conditions and exposure.
Future Ambitions
The MIURA1, undeterred by previous setbacks, triumphantly reached space, validating Spain's capabilities in rocket technology. Although MIURA1 represents a significant achievement, PLD Space has its sights set on even higher goals. According to the reports, the larger MIURA5, a 35-meter-high, two-stage mini-launch vehicle designed to deploy satellites weighing less than 500 kilograms into orbit, is set for testing in 2025. Impressively, 70% of the components developed for MIURA1 will be incorporated into MIURA5, streamlining the development process.
Spain's successful MIURA1 launch is a significant stride towards strengthening Europe's position in space exploration. As the nation propels itself into this exciting frontier, the world watches with anticipation for future developments and the realisation of more ambitious projects.
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