PLD Space, an international space transportation company, has successfully completed the Liquid Propulsion Stage Recovery 2 (LPSR2) project, developed under the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP). This strategic study has enabled an in-depth exploration of the technologies and solutions required to enable the recovery of the MIURA 5 orbital launcher’s first stage.
The project, awarded by ESA in 2021 as a continuation of the LPSR1 work, aimed to analyse different booster re-entry and recovery configurations following stage separation, with the goal of significantly reducing the distance travelled and facilitating safe recovery. Throughout the study, the PLD Space team evaluated various technical scenarios, including propulsive braking during re-entry, trajectory modifications to favor landings closer to the launch site, and different technological solutions applicable to critical subsystems such as structures, propulsion, avionics, and fuel management.
The work also incorporated lessons learned from previous stage recovery projects, including the 2019 drop test with the MIURA 5 first stage demonstrator, which validated descent dynamics under real conditions. The successful completion of LPSR2 marks a significant milestone in PLD Space’s technological development and strengthens the company’s capabilities in reusable launchers. The study’s results will contribute to future development phases in which recovery technologies can be progressively integrated into operational versions of MIURA 5.
This announcement coincides with the ESA Future Space Transportation Spring Session in Paris, a gathering of leading industry players, investors, and member state representatives to review progress in European space transportation. In its fourth edition, PLD Space was represented by Aníbal Villalba, Chief Strategy & Public Affairs Officer.
