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An Elche-based company is preparing what is being hailed as the first fully Spanish private space mission, with its MIURA 5 rocket set to launch cutting edge 5G satellites into orbit. If all goes to plan, 2026 and 2027 could put Alicante province firmly on the global space map.

 

PLD Space, founded in Elche, has signed a commercial agreement with satellite operator Sateliot to send two next generation 5G D2D satellites into space aboard the MIURA 5 rocket. D2D stands for Direct to Device, meaning the satellites will be capable of connecting directly to mobile devices and IoT systems without relying solely on traditional ground networks.

 

The mission, scheduled for 2027, will see two Tritó flat satellites, each weighing around 160kg, deployed into low Earth orbit. These are not small experimental cubes. They are high capacity satellites designed to deliver dual connectivity and eventually provide Europe with direct 5G connections for data, voice and video.

 

Sateliot chose the Elche based rocket company because MIURA 5 can offer a dedicated launch service tailored specifically to its needs. That means more control over timing and deployment, which is crucial when you are building a space based communications network.

 

The Tritó satellites are designed with defence, security and civil protection in mind. According to Sateliot, they will act as a strategic backup when terrestrial networks fail. In practical terms, that could mean maintaining communications during natural disasters, in remote areas or in emergency situations where traditional mobile coverage collapses.

 

Jaume Sanpera, co-founder and CEO of Sateliot, said the company is committed “to the Spain Brand and to guaranteeing D2D connectivity worldwide and in any scenario, with reinforced capabilities for defence and security, as well as civilian use, thus acting as a strategic backup when terrestrial networks do not reach or fail.”

 

Raúl Verdú, co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer of PLD Space, described the alliance as “a key milestone for the Spanish and European space ecosystem” and proof that two national companies can deliver unprecedented vertically integrated solutions.

 

Spain already made headlines in 2023 with the successful launch of the MIURA 1 rocket. That mission marked a turning point and proved that a privately developed Spanish rocket could reach space.

 

Now MIURA 5 is entering its final validation phase, including engine tests and integration checks, ahead of its inaugural launch from the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana, currently planned for the second quarter of 2026.

 

Images: PLD Space