VinSpace, a Vietnamese space startup that did not exist a year ago, has signed a contract with SpaceX to send its first home-built satellites into orbit in 2027.
The company, a subsidiary of the sprawling Vingroup conglomerate, will hitch a ride on one of SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare missions, the orbital equivalent of a shared taxi in which dozens of customers split the cost of a single Falcon 9.
Neither the value of the contract nor the number and specifications of the satellites have been disclosed, and VinSpace has said only that the mission is meant to test its technology in orbit and lay the groundwork for future commercial applications.
The company will both develop and operate the spacecraft itself, which is the part that matters, since it signals an ambition to build capability rather than simply rent a service from abroad.
“Reliable access to space is fundamental to turning satellite innovation into operational missions,” said VinSpace chief executive Thu Vu, a line that neatly captures why a young firm would want a launch slot locked in years ahead of time.
