---
title: Happy birthday, Meatball!
description: PLD Space raises €31.2M. Airbus and Thales are reportedly exploring a tie-up of some space activities. NASA launches a test balloon from Sweden. And more.
---

[T-Minus, the Only Daily Space Intelligence Podcast | N2K Space ](https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus)

# [Happy birthday, Meatball!](https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus/317)

 Written by [Maria Varmazis](https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus/author/maria-varmazis) | Jul 15, 2024 8:26:12 PM

Summary

Spanish launcher company PLD Space has signed a €31.2 million euros syndicated loan with Banco Santander, EBN Banco and the Instituto de Crédito Oficial. European aerospace groups Airbus and Thales are reportedly exploring a tie-up of some space activities as new competition disrupts the sector. NASA launched a large stratospheric balloon from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden to study X-rays in the polar atmosphere, and more.

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[View full post](https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus/317)

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