Vietnam’s VinSpace signs deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch its
first satellites in 2027
[August 11, 2026] By
ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnamese aerospace company VinSpace said Tuesday
it has signed a contract with SpaceX to send its first satellites into
orbit aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission in 2027, as the Southeast Asian
nation moves to develop its nascent space industry.
VinSpace will launch its satellites on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare
mission run by Elon Musk’s company, which carries satellites from
multiple customers on a single rocket to share launch costs, it said in
a statement.
The satellites, which VinSpace said it will develop and operate, will
test the company’s technology in orbit and support future commercial
applications.
VinSpace is part of Vietnam’s Vingroup conglomerate and was established
in November 2025. The company said in April that it planned to develop
and launch its first satellites in 2027.
Founded by tycoon Pham Nhat Vuong, Vingroup is Vietnam’s largest
privately owned company. It has a sprawling business empire that touches
many aspects of daily life, from real estate and retail to healthcare,
education and tourism.
It is going global as it invests heavily in high-tech industries such as
electric vehicles, space, artificial intelligence and robotics, sectors
central to Vietnam’s ambition to become Asia’s next tiger economy.
Vietnam has sought to build its aerospace capabilities for several
decades but remains a relatively small player in the global space
industry. It launched its first telecommunications satellite in 2008,
followed by another in 2012, according to official documents.
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The SpaceX logo is displayed on a building, May 26, 2020, at the
Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/David J.
Phillip, File)
 In March, it inaugurated a major
space science and technology center in Hanoi’s Hoa Lac High-Tech
Park, aimed at expanding the country’s satellite development and use
of space-based data. Vietnam aims to become a mid-level space power
in Southeast Asia by 2030.
In February, Vietnam allowed SpaceX to launch its Starlink satellite
internet service in the country. This was seen by some analysts as
an effort by Vietnam to avoid U.S. tariffs. Starlink has since begun
accepting orders in Vietnam.
VinSpace said the agreement with SpaceX is part of its plan to
become a full-service aerospace company, developing capabilities
ranging from satellite design and manufacturing to launch
management, satellite operations and space-based data services.
“Reliable access to space is fundamental to turning satellite
innovation into operational missions,” VinSpace CEO Thu Vu said in a
statement.
VinSpace did not disclose the value of the contract or the number or
specifications of the satellites.
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