SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.03
PLD Space logo PLD Space Develops reusable launch vehicles for dedicated and rideshare small satellite missions, with in-house liquid propulsion and vertically integrated manufacturing vs Southern Launch Operates two spaceports in South Australia providing orbital launch, suborbital testing, orbital re-entry, and range services for domestic and international customers Southern Launch logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD2 shared sectors
PLD Space Southern Launch
Founded 2011 2017
Headquarters Elche, Spain Adelaide, South Australia
Type private private
Status operating operating
Employees 335 30
Total funding $90.2M $12M
Latest round Debt Financing Venture
Sectors Launch Services, Space Propulsion, Suborbital & High-Altitude Spaceports & Range Services, Launch Services, Suborbital & High-Altitude
Products listed 4 8
Federal contracts
Launches 3 (33%)
Leaders listed Ezequiel Sanchez, Raul Torres, Raul Verdu Lloyd Damp, Rebecca Darcey, Tori Murray
News mentions 0 6
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do PLD Space and Southern Launch compare?

Both companies work in Launch Services, Suborbital & High-Altitude. PLD Space was founded in 2011 and Southern Launch in 2017.

Which is larger, PLD Space or Southern Launch?

PLD Space reports the larger workforce, with 335 employees versus 30.

Which has more launches, PLD Space or Southern Launch?

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.