07/04/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 7 April, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced that it had granted a €30 million loan to PLD Space, based in Elche, Spain, to complete the development of its MIURA 5 small satellite launcher. This is the EIB’s first direct investment in a European space launcher. The funding will support both the development of the launcher and the expansion of PLD Space’s industrial and launch capabilities. MIURA 5, a two-stage rocket, is due to make its first test flight in 2026 and will be able to carry out up to thirty missions a year from several space bases. The launcher will be fully reusable, offering a more sustainable solution for the deployment of small satellites. Guaranteed by the InvestEU programme, the operation supplements the EIB’s ‘New Space’ portfolio, aimed at strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy in space. (LC)