Scenes from a hot-fire test campaign on the Teprel-C engine developed by Spain’s PLD Space.

Teprel‑C is PLD Space’s fourth version of the Teprel engine family, after the demo, A, and B version. It features a unique design developed for their Miura-5 rocket. The engine is optimised for serial production and built in‑house, from design and manufacturing to integration.

The test-firing in this video focused on throttle capabilities that will allow Miura 5’s first stage to control itself on reentry, eventually so it can fire up after liftoff and touch down softly for landing.

These test campaigns were developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency’s Future Launcher Preparatory Programme contracts and the technologies tested will be progressively implemented in upcoming Miura 5 flights.

Miura 5 is the next step in PLD Space launch services portfolio targeting customers who want to launch small satellites into orbit. Set to launch up to 540 kg of hardware to a sun-synchronous orbit, the future rocket will be 2 m in diameter and have two stages to propel payloads to orbit.

Miura 5 will be launched from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

PLD Space is also one of the European launch service providers to receive ESA support for its ramp-up phases to accelerate launch service deployment as part of the European Launcher Challenge.