SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.04
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 SpaceX SpaceX logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD1 shared sector
PLD Space SpaceX
Founded 2011 2002
Headquarters Elche, Spain Hawthorne, California
Type private private
Status operating operating
Employees 335 10,493
Total funding $90.2M $1.3B
Latest round Debt Secondary
Sectors Launch Services, Space Propulsion, Suborbital & High-Altitude Launch Services, Satellite Communications, Satellite Manufacturing
Products listed 4 9
Federal contracts 20 ($4.90B)
Launches 3 (33%) 810 (83%)
Leaders listed Ezequiel Sanchez, Raul Torres, Raul Verdu Elon Musk, Gwynne Shotwell, Bret Johnsen
News mentions 0 28
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do PLD Space and SpaceX compare?

Both companies work in Launch Services. PLD Space was founded in 2011 and SpaceX in 2002.

Which is larger, PLD Space or SpaceX?

SpaceX reports the larger workforce, with 10,493 employees versus 335.

Which has more US federal contracts, PLD Space or SpaceX?

SpaceX has been awarded more, with $4.90B across 20 awards.

Which has more launches, PLD Space or SpaceX?

SpaceX leads with 810 tracked launches (83% success rate).

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