HANOI, Vietnam — VinSpace, a member of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup’s ecosystem, has signed a launch contract with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to send its satellites into orbit in 2027, as the company seeks to build an end-to-end aerospace business in Vietnam.
The satellites will be launched aboard one of SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare missions, which carry spacecraft from multiple customers on a single launch, VinSpace said. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
VinSpace will handle the research, development, manufacturing and operation of the satellites. The missions will be used to test technologies developed internally and build the company’s satellite engineering capabilities ahead of potential commercial applications.
The agreement follows VinSpace’s announcement in April that it planned to develop and launch its first satellites in 2027.
“Reliable access to space is fundamental to turning satellite innovation into operational missions,” VinSpace CEO Thu Vu said. He described the SpaceX agreement as part of the company’s strategy to help develop Vietnam’s space ecosystem and strengthen the country’s position in the global space economy.
VinSpace is seeking to develop capabilities spanning satellite design and manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing, launch management and satellite operations, as well as space data products and services.
The company said its planned satellite missions would also be used for in-orbit technology validation and could help develop Vietnam’s aerospace workforce and deepen international collaboration.
VinSpace is targeting customers not only in Vietnam but also across Southeast Asia and other international markets.
Its broader business plans include satellite systems and ground infrastructure, geospatial intelligence, satellite connectivity and downstream applications.
VinSpace said it is developing space-based solutions targeting industries including infrastructure, energy, environmental management, logistics and smart cities.
Business News Asia
