Pedro Sánchez emphasises that the new Miura 9 rocket "will place Elche, Alicante and Spain at the forefront of the space industry"

The head of the Executive, Pedro Sánchez, accompanied by the Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, visited the PLD Space facilities in Elche (Alicante), where he emphasised that the Spanish space sector "is enjoying a record-breaking period" with projects such as Miura 9, which heralds a "new and exciting phase that will place Elche, Alicante and Spain at the forefront of the space industry".

During his speech following a visit to the company, which presented the latest developments on the Miura 5 orbital launch vehicle and the new Miura 9, Pedro Sánchez emphasised that "Alicante has been Spain's window on the world for decades", through which "it looks out into space". "Today, our country is proving that it, too, can - especially now - be among those developing the technologies that are shaping our present and our future", he added. He also emphasised that this is achieved "when there is a spirit of innovation" and a willingness to engage in public-private collaboration, in a sector that will shape our country's economic development, autonomy and sovereignty"; "when Spain is a nation that embraces science, and makes innovation and R&D one of its key political priorities". The Government of Spain has increased its investment in R&D by 60% over the last eight years.

Promoting autonomy and strategic sovereignty

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, signs the "Miura 5" launcher | Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

"That is the Spain we are building together with the private sector, and the one we want to have completed by the end of this decade of transformation", he said. In contrast to those who "believe that investing public funds in research or cutting-edge technology projects is a waste of money, we take exactly the opposite view. The real waste would be to turn our backs on that present and that future", he added, noting that "investing in science and technology today means having better jobs, more competitive companies, greater autonomy and a less dependent country tomorrow", given that "there is technology that is far better developed and produced right here at home and in Europe".

In this regard, he pointed out that "space is no longer just about science or exploration", but rather "communications, security, economic activity and strategic autonomy", which is why "Spain has wisely decided to develop its own capabilities, which it shares with the rest of Europe, and to contribute to building Europe's space future", with companies such as PLD Space and flagship projects such as Miura 5 and the new Miura 9.

In this regard, he referred to the "ambition to develop Spanish technology that will help Europe achieve increasingly autonomous access to space". Consequently, Spain has more than doubled its contribution to the European Space Agency since 2018, and over 170 million euros have been allocated to PLD Space through investment, R&D grants and pre-commercial public procurement, whilst the recovery plan has helped to strengthen Spain's space capabilities at a time when Europe is seeking to gain strategic autonomy, thanks to the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) for Aerospace, which "has encouraged the creation of a much more competitive and robust ecosystem", he explained.

"Today, the Spanish space sector is enjoying a period of record growth and great optimism"

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, visits the facilities of the company PLD Space together with the Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant | Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

The president welcomed the results of this initiative to boost the space sector and the fact that the Spanish firm is one of only three European companies to have been selected and to have signed contracts with the European Space Agency to develop the next generation of launch vehicles. "Today, the Spanish space sector is enjoying a period of record growth and great optimism, and PLD Space is one of the best examples of this. It has grown from a 'start-up' to a company with more than 500 professionals - men and women who represent the very best of the 'made in Spain' label", he emphasised. He also highlighted that the company is driving a national value chain in the space sector, of which 500 Spanish companies are already part, 95% of which are SMEs, drawing on talent such as that trained at the University of Alicante's Higher Polytechnic School, which offers a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering.

"In 2023, Miura 1 made PLD Space the first European private company with flight experience. Now, Miura 5 is embarking on its journey, from where it will be launched in the coming months. Miura 9, for its part, marks the start of an exciting new chapter that will put Elche, Alicante and Spain where we deserve to be: at the forefront of the space industry. Long live the Spanish space industry!", he exclaimed as he concluded.

Diana Morant: "We are witnessing one of the greatest technological achievements in our country's history"

The Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, during her speech after visiting the facilities of the company PLD Space | Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

The Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, emphasised that this is "a success in terms of business, science, innovation and technology and, above all, a success for the whole country and for the Government's policies to foster entrepreneurship", as we are witnessing "one of the greatest technological achievements in our country's history". In this regard, she highlighted the 40 million euros allocated by the Government, through a pre-commercial procurement call for tenders, to help this Spanish company develop and manufacture the Miura 5 microsatellite launcher.

Morant emphasised that "the aim of PLD Space and this Government has always been to welcome shareholders, whilst ensuring that sovereignty and control remain in Spanish hands". "We will have greater capacity to anticipate extreme weather events (DANAs), detect, monitor and fight wildfires, tackle droughts - in short, to protect ourselves", she stressed.

Non official translation