Vietnam’s VinSpace announces deal with SpaceX to launch first satellite

What the report says

Vietnamese aerospace company VinSpace has announced an agreement with SpaceX to launch its first satellites, with deployment planned for the second quarter of 2027. According to the Al Jazeera report, the Hanoi-based firm said it will use SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare programme to place the satellites into orbit next year, marking a significant step in its move into commercial space activity.

VinSpace said the missions are intended to help test its technology in real-world conditions, expand international cooperation and support the gradual commercialization of space technology. Under the deal, the company said it will handle the research, development, manufacturing and operation of the satellites after launch. VinSpace chief executive Vu Trong Thu said orbit testing is important for turning the engineering team’s research and development work into operational missions.

The announcement follows VinSpace’s earlier plan, reported in April, to manufacture and launch its first satellites in 2027. The company is owned by Vietnam’s richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong, and is a unit of Vingroup, the country’s largest private conglomerate. Al Jazeera also noted that Vietnam has launched satellites before, including VINASAT-1 in 2008, and that the government in 2024 designated space technology as a national strategic field for the first time.