The Vietnamese private aerospace firm VinSpace has signed a launch service agreement with the US space exploration company SpaceX to deploy its home-grown satellites into orbit.
SpaceX will provide launch services for VinSpace's satellites via its Transporter rideshare mission in 2027. This timeline follows an initial announcement by VinSpace in April 2026 that it would launch its first satellites by 2027.
VinSpace secured the SpaceX contract four months after its initial announcement in April 2026. The Hanoi-based firm will oversee the complete satellite lifecycle, including research, development, manufacturing, and on-orbit operation.
VinSpace's first satellite missions will allow its local engineering team to test domestically developed satellite modules under actual orbital conditions. Vu Trong Thu, CEO of VinSpace, stated that this in-orbit testing is important for turning research and engineering capabilities into real-world missions.
Vu Trong Thu, CEO of VinSpace, said the SpaceX contract is an important milestone in VinSpace's long-term strategy to help build Vietnam's space ecosystem and strengthen the country's position within the global space economy. However, another source suggests the launch will occur 'next year,' creating a discrepancy with the specified 2027 date.
National Space Ambitions
VinSpace is identified as Vietnam's first private space company. Its parent conglomerate, Vingroup, has expanded into technology sectors including electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, robotics, and aerospace. VinSpace aims to become a full-service aerospace company with capabilities in satellite design and manufacturing, launch management, satellite operations, and space-based data services.
This private sector development aligns with broader national objectives. The Vietnamese government has set a goal of becoming a mid-level space power in Southeast Asia by 2030. Vietnam previously launched its first telecommunications satellite in 2008 and a second in 2012.
Infrastructure and regulatory steps have also advanced recently. In March, Vietnam opened a major space science and technology center at Hoa Lac High-Tech Park in Hanoi. In April, the country licensed SpaceX's Starlink for its first large-scale trial of satellite internet.
