Miura 1
Miura 1 (previously called Arion 1)[2][3] is a suborbital recoverable launch vehicle of the Spanish company PLD Space. It is planned to be the first recoverable launch vehicle in Europe.[4]
| Function | sub-orbital reusable launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | PLD Space |
| Country of origin | Spain |
| Size | |
| Height | 12.7 m (42 ft) |
| Diameter | 0.7 m (2 ft 4 in) |
| Mass | 2,550 kg (5,620 lb) |
| Stages | 1 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to suborbital (150 km) | |
| Mass | 100 kg (220 lb) [1] |
| Launch history | |
| Status | In development[1] |
| Launch sites | El Arenosillo |
| First stage | |
| Engines | 1 TEPREL-B |
| Thrust | 30 kN (6,700 lbf) |
| Burn time | 122 seconds |
| Fuel | liquid oxygen (1,000 L) / kerosene (600 L)[1] |
Design
Miura 1 was originally proposed as a two-stage rocket capable of achieving suborbital flight. It was originally planned to be 12 m long, with a capacity of 250 kg (551 lb). The engines were to use liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants.[5]
In its final design, Miura 1 is a 12.7 m long 0.7 m diameter one-stage rocket, propelled by one TEPREL-B engine. The vehicle can fly a payload of up to 200 kg on a suborbital trajectory. The propulsion system is equipped with actuators to tilt the engine for an active thrust vector control.[6] In its first mission it will carry 100 kg of payload to an apogee of 153 km. Additionally, Miura 1 is equipped with a recovery system using its engines and parachutes that enable PLD Space to recover the vehicle from the ocean and re-use the complete launch vehicle.[7] With this, it will be the first recoverable launch vehicle in Europe.[4] Miura 1 is intended to be used for scientific research or technology development in a microgravity environment and/or in the upper atmosphere. Furthermore, about 70% of the technology developed for Miura 1 is planned to be used on the Miura 5 orbital rocket.[8]
Launch schedule
The first test flight of Miura 1 is currently planned for 2021[9] from an experimental rocket launch site in Huelva, southwestern Spain, called El Arenosillo,[10] and it will carry a payload from the German Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM).[3] Up to eight suborbital launches are targeted per year.
See also
- Miura 5 – Orbital recoverable launch vehicle of the Spanish company PLD Space
- PLD Space – A private Spanish launch services provider
- List of orbital launch systems – Wikipedia list article
- Zero 2 Infinity – Private Spanish company developing high-altitude balloons
- Capricornio (rocket)
References
- Miura 1. PLD Space. Accessed on 10 October 2020.
- Henry, Caleb (28 November 2018). "PLD Space, after ESA input, doubles lift capacity of smallsat launcher". SpaceNews. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- "Since today, MIURA is the new PLD Space rocket's commercial brand" (Press release). PLD Space. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- Marín, Daniel (16 Feb 2018). "Europa apuesta por PLD Space para alcanzar el espacio". Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- Marín, Daniel. "La primera prueba de un motor cohete de combustible líquido en España". Eureka. Naukas. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- https://pldspace.com/images/MIURA_1/MIURA1_Payload_Users_Guide.pdf
- Henry, Caleb (11 June 2018). "PLD Space raises additional $10 million for reusable smallsat launchers]". SpaceNews. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- López Sánchez, Gonzalo (22 Jan 2018). "Arion, el cohete español capaz de alcanzar la Luna". abc.es. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- "PLD Space, la ambición de lanzar satélites con cohetes reutilizables" [PLD Space, and the ambition to launch satellites with reusable rockets]. El País (in Spanish). 11 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Agreement reached between INTA and PLD Space to launch MIURA 1 from the "El Arenosillo"" (Press release). PLD Space. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
