MADRID, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Spanish company PLD Space expects a first orbital launch from French Guiana in the first quarter of 2026, after carrying out the first fully private European rocket launch earlier this month, it said on Friday.

The startup launched a recoverable suborbital Miura-1 rocket from a site in southwestern Spain, but analysts say the most critical test will be the development of full orbital services on the larger Miura-5. (Reporting by Emma Pinedo, editing by Inti Landauro)