SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.03
European Space Agency logo European Space Agency Intergovernmental agency coordinating European space programs across science, Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and human spaceflight vs PLD Space Develops reusable launch vehicles for dedicated and rideshare small satellite missions, with in-house liquid propulsion and vertically integrated manufacturing PLD Space logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD1 shared sector
European Space Agency PLD Space
Founded 1975 2011
Headquarters Paris, France Elche, Spain
Type government private
Status operating operating
Employees 3,739 335
Total funding $90.2M
Latest round Debt Financing
Sectors Planetary Exploration, Earth Observation & Remote Sensing, Launch Services, Navigation & Positioning, Satellite Communications Launch Services, Space Propulsion, Suborbital & High-Altitude
Products listed 8 4
Federal contracts
Launches 3 (33%)
Leaders listed Josef Aschbacher, Dietmar Pilz, Toni Tolker-Nielsen Ezequiel Sanchez, Raul Torres, Raul Verdu
News mentions 14 0
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do European Space Agency and PLD Space compare?

Both companies work in Launch Services. European Space Agency was founded in 1975 and PLD Space in 2011.

Which is larger, European Space Agency or PLD Space?

European Space Agency reports the larger workforce, with 3,739 employees versus 335.

Which has more launches, European Space Agency or PLD Space?

PLD Space leads with 3 tracked launches (33% success rate).

Numbers refresh on every render against the live Space Index database. Federal contract data from USAspending.gov; launches from LaunchLibrary2.