Miura 5: this will be the first large Spanish rocket, unveiled last night in El Hormiguero.

It’s been barely a month since Miura 1The first Spanish rocket successfully took off from the INTA base located in Huelva. However, since PLD Spacethe company responsible for its production wasted no time and has already set its sights on the next step: Miura 5which was presented last night by the two founders of the company, in Ormigeror.

There is no 2, no 3, no 4. After testing with Miura 1, which is about to launch another rocket, the next step will be to fine-tune the system. Miura 5. And this will be exactly the one that will be used in the future to implement private missionsfor example, launching satellites into space.

Without a doubt, the development of these rockets was a major milestone in Spanish science, since to date very few countries have built their own rockets or launched them from their territory. Space Race This is no longer just a matter between the United States and the Soviet Union.as it was in the past. Other government agencies have joined in, such as the European Space Agency, as well as many private agencies. This has opened the door to countless new vehicles that would have seemed an unattainable dream just a few decades ago. WITH Miura 1 and Miura 5Spain decided not to stand aside. But what else do we know about the rocket that flew off last night? Anthill And his little cousin?

Almost complete success of Miura 1

Before the launch of the Spanish rocket Miura 5PLD Space wanted to conduct tests with Miura 1. The launch took place on October 7, after two Previous missions have been interrupted.

In this case, almost everything went according to plan. There was only one problem: although it was designed as a re-entry rocket, after the load was released it changed its re-entry trajectory during testing and He was lost in the Atlantic.

In case something similar happens, PLD Space has another Miura 1, so it is possible that they will conduct a new test before the launch of the Miura 5. There are no dates at the moment and last night in Anthill They didn’t make much reference to it.

Incredible qualities of the Spanish Miura 5 rocket

The Miura 5 will be a privately contracted rocket. orbital flights and place charges in space.

It consists of two stages, which can be expanded to 3. With their help you will achieve almost 30 meters high and 1.8 meters in diameter. As the company’s founders explained last night in El Hormigero, Raul Torres and Raul Verdutogether with its executive president, Ezequiel Sanchez, the rocket will be able to easily transport cargo the size of a car. It could even transport masses 500 kg.

Three representatives of PLD Space brought to the program the shell of the work known as Cope with. It is he who will protect the cargo of the Spanish rocket, opening in half already in space and releasing its contents.

Pending the addition of a third phase, the first two stages of the Miura 5, like other rockets, have different functions. The first stage is responsible for completing the first part of the flight, launching the rocket into space at high speed and following the designated trajectory. It consists of five engines. On the other hand, the second stage, separated from the first, completes the transportation of the cargo by moving it. in the voidin this case with one engine.

Initially, the test launch of Miura 5 was planned for the end of 2022. However, in the end it was planned for 2024. It is curious that this time it will be launched not from Spain, but from the Kourou cosmodrome, owned by European Space Agency and is located in French Guiana. With the signing of the agreement, the Spanish rocket became one of the few private operators that will be able to launch from this site.

Spain is keeping up with the space race

The Miura 1 and Miura 5 were designed and manufactured by PLD Space, based in Alicante. Miura 1 launched from Huelva. Therefore, this first rocket was developed and launched in Spain. This joins our country to a very select list of countries with the potential make and launch rockets.

Until now, the only countries capable of launching rockets and putting them into orbit from their territory were USA, Russia, India, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, China, Iran and French Guiana.. As for those who built rockets for their own space program, they include USA, France, Japan, China, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and India.

Thanks to PLD Space, Spain is fully included in both lists. Minister of Science of Spain, Diana Morant, wanted to emphasize that this was an important milestone in Spanish science and technology. And so it is. The truth is that this was not a small step, but a big step forward. But, without a doubt, this will be a big step for humanity. Because the space race, finally, is not intended to be an exercise for the elite. We are all part of this.