PLD Space Increases Investment in Its Launch Complex at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) to €35 Million
- Karan Bhatia
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
PLD Space, unlocking rapid, reliable, and sustainable access to space, led by Ezequiel Sánchez, Raúl Torres, Raúl Verdú, and the team, has announced a €35 million investment in the development and deployment of its Launch Complex at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in Kourou (French Guiana) over the 2025-2026 period.
Strengthening Europe’s Spaceport Ecosystem
The investment makes PLD Space the first private company to deploy capital expenditure at this scale at the ELM-Diamant launch site, supporting the diversification of Europe’s historic spaceport. Of the total amount, €22 million will be spent within the French industrial ecosystem, including €13 million allocated to more than 20 companies in French Guiana, many of them SMEs.
Based on official economic impact estimates, the project is expected to generate approximately €21 million in local value added, support 250–275 indirect and induced jobs during construction, and create 35 direct jobs tied to future launch operations.
Advancing Europe’s Sovereign Launch Capabilities
The new infrastructure will enable European institutional and commercial payloads to be launched from European territory aboard a European launcher, strengthening the continent’s strategic autonomy and independent access to space.
According to PLD Space, the investment marks an important step in building scalable and competitive launch capabilities in Europe while supporting the continued diversification of the Guiana Space Centre and the region’s growing commercial space ecosystem.
Advancing Europe’s Launch Capabilities
Construction of the MIURA 5 orbital launch complex is entering its final phase, with completion expected by summer 2026. At the same time, launch infrastructure being integrated in Spain is beginning to be shipped to Kourou as PLD Space works with CNES to establish a fully operational launch site.
The company remains on schedule for the first MIURA 5 launch from the Guiana Space Centre in 2026, a milestone expected to strengthen Europe’s commercial launch sector and support broader efforts to expand the continent’s independent access to space.
