2026-10-22 (~12:20 AM ET): the PLD clock slips out of 2026 — SpaceNews reports PLD Space now plans the first orbital launch of Miura 5 in the first half of 2027, formally abandoning the end-of-2026 debut target held since June 2026 and reiterated at the August 27 ELC awards (spacenews.com). It follows the October 19 system-level-testing report with three vehicles in manufacturing. The end-2027 ELC Component A orbit gate now carries less margin. Watch: early Miura 5 bookings, the ESA December ministerial.
2026-10-19 (~9:35 AM ET): the PLD layer advances — NSF reports PLD Space has begun system-level testing of Miura 5, with the first three vehicles taking shape in manufacturing (nasaspaceflight.com/2026 ; x.com/NASASpaceflight). Development of this thread's PLD record (ELC award totals; the Block 1.2 evolution rebranded Miura 9). Watch: Miura 5's first demonstration flight, the three-vehicle build-out.