- PLD Space's first contract with ESA in GNC to create the HALCÓN software
- Project co-financed 50% by ESA and PLD Space, with a budget of 995.705 euros
- HAWK will merge IMU and GNSS for precise navigation and controlled landings
- COTS technology with centimeter accuracy and the basis for a future European AFTS
PLD Space has taken a significant step in its roadmap by signing its first Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) contract with the European Space Agency. The Elche-based company will develop HALCÓN, a hybrid navigation system designed for reusable rockets and aimed at improving accuracy during flight and controlled landings.
The agreement, managed through ESA's ESTEC center , has a budget of €995.705, co-financed 50/50 by the agency and the company, which will retain ownership of the development. The goal is to improve the accuracy of maneuvers in launchers like MIURA 5 and MIURA Next, a key factor in advancing reusability.
HAWK: What it is and why it matters
HALCÓN will combine inertial data (IMU) with satellite navigation signals (GNSS) — such as Galileo or GPS — to achieve high-precision navigation during ascent, re-entry and the final stages of descent, where a large part of the operational safety is at stake.
Approaches that rely solely on pure inertial systems tend to increase costs and degrade accuracy during extended operations. By hybridizing with GNSS, the company seeks a balance between cost, reliability , and performance, tailored to a demanding mission profile and with room for scalability.
The HALCÓN design relies on COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) components to reduce lead times and costs, while aiming for centimeter-level accuracy . This combination seeks to improve flight safety and operational efficiency without exceeding the budget.
In addition to optimizing descent maneuvers, the solution is conceived as an enabler for reuse in MIURA 5 and MIURA Next , a basic requirement to increase launch cadence and strengthen competitiveness in the small satellite segment.
An agreement framed in NAVISP / Element 2
The contract falls under NAVISP/Element 2 , a program through which ESA promotes European innovation in Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT). PLD Space's proposal was selected in the Spanish call for proposals launched in November 2024 by the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) and the European Space Agency itself.
Following a technical and commercial evaluation, the plan received a positive assessment for its alignment with market demand, technical competitiveness, and business strategy. Raúl Verdú , from the company, emphasized that this step will help refine landing maneuvers, reduce external dependencies, and advance toward autonomous flight completion capabilities in Europe.
The development will be carried out entirely by PLD Space's engineering team with technical support from the ESA, fitting into the firm's planning towards 2030. The company, founded by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú, already has more than 300 employees and more than 12.500 m² in facilities spread between Elche, Teruel, Kourou and Duqm.
Impact for Europe and for the Spanish industry
HALCÓN contributes to European autonomy in accessing space by facilitating controlled landings and stage reuse, two elements that reduce costs and increase service flexibility. The technology also lays the groundwork for a European Autonomous Flight Termination System (AFTS), which is not yet authorized on the continent.
The use of standard components and a scalability-oriented design opens the door to a substantial reduction in development costs , while simultaneously increasing safety and reliability. For Spain, the project reinforces the role of its industrial sector in next-generation launchers.
Next steps and scope of the project
In the next phase, the company plans to advance in the integration and progressive validation of algorithms and components, with a focus on the robustness of guidance and control during critical flight and landing scenarios.
The technology will be incrementally incorporated into the company's testing and qualification plans, aligned with its technology roadmap toward reuse and higher levels of operational autonomy throughout this decade.
With the support of the ESA and the selection of ESTEC, PLD Space is undertaking a project that combines hybrid IMU+GNSS navigation, centimeter-level accuracy, and the use of COTS (Cross- Operated Space Launchers) to facilitate the reuse of its launchers. The budget of €995.705 and its integration into NAVISP/Element 2 reinforce the strategic importance of HALCÓN as a foundation for future European systems, including those for autonomous flight termination, and solidify the Spanish company's position at the forefront of next-generation space transportation.
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