The Spanish company PLD Space announced, that the Etlaq Spaceport in Oman will be its second global launch base for the MIURA family of rockets. This infrastructure will complement the Launch Complex in Kuru (French Guiana), owned by CNES and ESA, and will expand the company's capabilities in the commercial launch market, especially for the Middle East.
PLD Space plans to open a third spaceport in 2026 year, which will allow the company to maintain a regular schedule of MIURA flights 5, which must be carried out 30 launches to 2030 year. Thanks to the use of three launch sites in different regions of the world, the company will provide higher launch availability and geographic flexibility for customers.
- Build the Launch Complex covers market of America and Europe.
- Etlaq in Oman oriented to The Middle East and the Asian region.
- The third cosmodrome will be located in a new region (location not yet determined).
Why Oman??
Etlaq Spaceport is located in the city of Duqm in the southeast of Oman. Its strategic location near the equator provides efficient access to various orbits, in particular:
- Geostationary (GEO) – for telecommunication satellites,
- Solar synchronous (SSO) and polar - for observing the Earth,
- Medium inclination orbit, including that one, on which it is located ISS.
The spaceport has stable weather conditions, large space for the safe removal of rocket stages over the ocean and well-developed logistics with PLD Space's head office in Elche (PildoLabs).
This launch base will be able to be used not only for MIURA missiles, and for manned missions aboard the LINCE capsule, which makes it a key asset both in the short term, and in the long term.
Official announcement and prospects.
The partnership between PLD Space and Etlaq was announced at the first annual Etlaq Launch Conference (ELC 2025), which took place in Muscat (Oman).
President and CEO Etlaq His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said emphasized, that this cooperation will strengthen Oman's role in the global space industry, providing flexible, efficient and well-located launch pads.
PLD Space has already started designing, engineering works and preparation for the construction of a new launch complex, and the first launch of MIURA 5 from Oman is scheduled for 2027 year. This strategic agreement makes PLD Space the first operator, which will operate from the Etlaq spaceport, and allows the company to implement its principle “Any orbit, anytime, any satellite”, opening up new opportunities for customers around the world.