The launch of the small Spanish Miura-1 rocket, suspended in mid-June due to a technical problem, was finally postponed until September due to the risk it represents in terms of forest fires, its manufacturer announced Tuesday. The inaugural launch of this rocket designed by the Spanish start-up PLD Space must be carried out from a military base located on the Andalusian coast, in the province of Huelva (southwest).
It was suspended for the first time on May 31 due to strong gusts of wind, then for the second time on June 17, due to a problem with one of the power supply lines connected to the launcher. After a discussion with the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), it was finally decided “to postpone the launch to September,” PLD Space said in a statement.
First step before the launch of Miura-5
According to the start-up, this postponement “is linked to the obligation to respect” the “prevention of forest fires” regulations, in a context of “high temperatures” in southern Spain. A peak of 44.4°C was recorded on Monday in the Huelva region, during the first heat wave of the summer in Spain. This heat wave is expected to continue through Thursday. These high temperatures, common at this time of year in Andalusia, increase the risk of forest fires, while Spain has suffered an exceptional drought for two years.
The maiden flight of Miura-1 will serve as the first step before the launch of Miura-5, a reusable mini launcher that is expected to place satellites weighing less than 500 kilograms into orbit starting in 2025, according to PLD Space.
According to an agreement formalized last Wednesday, this future rocket will take off from the Kourou Space Center, in French Guiana, and no longer from Huelva, according to PLD Space, the first European private company to launch reusable satellite launchers.
Source: BFM TV
