The Spanish company PLD Space launched its recoverable Miura-1 rocket from a location in southwest Spain early on Saturday.
This is the first entirely private rocket launch in Europe, offering some optimism for the region’s stalled space initiatives.
After two failed efforts, the startup finally succeeded with its test night launch from Huelva. The Miura-1 rocket, named after a type of fighting bull, is three stories tall and can carry 100 kilogrammes (220 pounds) of payload.
The launch includes a payload for testing, but the payload won’t be made public, the company stated.
As the rocket soared into the night sky, engineers could be seen clapping and applauding one another on mission control video.
“My voice is shot after so much shouting,” declared a jubilant winner. Founder and CEO of PLD Space, shortly after the launch. Early on Saturday, the Spanish company PLD Space launched its recoverable Miura-1 rocket from a location in southwest Spain.
This is the first entirely private rocket launch in Europe, offering some optimism for the region’s stalled space initiatives.
All rocket systems “perfectly” functioned, he claimed, adding that the corporation would now concentrate on increasing its personnel. “This is just the beginning.”
“The launch of the Miura 1, the first rocket with 100% Spanish technology, has been a success. A milestone that positions Spain’s research and development at the forefront of space transportation.” Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on social media.
306 seconds passed throughout the flight. According to space.com, its maximum height of 46 miles was just about half what the mission designers had hoped for.
According to a statement from the firm, the launcher that may be partially reused fell in the Atlantic Ocean and will be recovered later on Saturday.
High-altitude winds forced the Miura-1 rocket’s maiden launch attempt to be aborted in May. A further attempt in June was unsuccessful because some of the umbilical cables in the avionics bay did not release at the same time, stopping the launch as smoke and flames were expelled from the rocket.
