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PLD Space and D-Orbit Collaborate for Upcoming Launches
PLD Space has formalized a launch partnership with D-Orbit. The Spanish aerospace company made the announcement this week, aligning with the Italian space logistics firm to deploy D-Orbit’s ION orbital transfer vehicle aboard the Miura 5 rocket, which is still under development. While the financial and logistical specifics of the agreement have not been disclosed, PLD Space mentioned that it has successfully secured “over 80 percent” of its planned launch slots through 2027, indicating strong demand for its upcoming services.
The anticipation builds … The ION vehicle is known for its capability to deploy multiple CubeSats and has an established history of successful operations. However, the pivotal concern remains the progress of the Miura 5 rocket. PLD Space is currently scaling up production based on a prototype, with aspirations to commence test flights by the end of 2025. If all goes as planned, commercial operations could kick off in 2026, with a vision to ramp up to 30 launches annually by 2030. The actual execution of these plans will be closely watched in the coming years.
China’s Space Ambitions on the Rise
China is setting its sights on achieving a record number of rocket launches this year. A Long March 2D rocket successfully took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert early Tuesday morning, as reported by Space News. The launch was executed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a government-owned organization, and it featured a satellite designed for Internet technology testing. This mission marks China’s 17th orbital launch of 2025, following the classified TJS-16 satellite launch on March 29, conducted using a Long March 7A rocket.
Aiming for the stars … With this latest launch, China is on track for a total of 68 orbital launches by year-end, mirroring its output over the previous three years with a tally of 64, 67, and 68 launches. However, observers like Andrew Jones suggest that the nation’s ambitions could push them toward an unprecedented target of 100 launches this year. This projection stems from an uptick in commercial space activity, the advancement of megaconstellation projects, and the introduction of new launch vehicles. Several medium-lift and potentially reusable rockets are expected to make their debut this year, further fueling this ambitious goal.
Source
arstechnica.com