VinSpace taps SpaceX for 2027 mission

HANOI, Vietnam — VinSpace has signed a contract with SpaceX to send its first satellites into orbit in 2027, an agreement that supports the Vietnamese company’s plan to develop capabilities across the space industry.

The satellites will travel aboard one of SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare missions, which carry payloads from several customers on the same launch. VinSpace did not disclose the number of satellites covered by the contract or the financial terms of the agreement.

VinSpace will handle the research, development and manufacturing of the satellites, along with their operation once they reach orbit. The missions will test technologies developed by the company and help build its experience in satellite engineering.

The agreement follows VinSpace’s announcement in April that it planned to develop and launch its first satellites in 2027. The company views the initial missions as a foundation for future commercial services based on satellite technology and data.

VinSpace CEO Thu Vu said reliable access to orbit was necessary to turn satellite research into working missions.

“This contract with SpaceX 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,” Vu said.

The company expects the satellite program to support technology testing in orbit, the training of Vietnamese aerospace professionals and cooperation with international partners. It also plans to use the missions to prepare technologies for commercial applications in Vietnam, Southeast Asia and other markets.

VinSpace aims to operate across the space industry instead of concentrating on a single part of the business. Its plans cover satellite design and manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing, launch management, satellite operations and services based on space data.

The company is also developing capabilities in ground infrastructure, satellite connectivity and geospatial intelligence. Potential applications include infrastructure monitoring, energy, environmental management, logistics and smart-city services.

VinSpace is part of the Vingroup ecosystem, which also includes Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast. The SpaceX agreement gives the aerospace company a launch provider as it works toward its first missions and builds a broader commercial space business.