VinSpace signs with SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027

Vietnam's only private space company has struck a deal with SpaceX to send its first satellites into orbit next year, via the Transporter space rideshare program.

VinSpace, founded in November 2025 by the Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, signed a contract with SpaceX on Tuesday to launch its satellites on a mission planned for 2027. The launch will take place as part of the Transporter program, which allows several customers to share the same Falcon 9 launcher and divide the costs.

The company intends to develop and operate these satellites itself, using these missions to test technologies in orbit before offering commercial services. "Reliable access to space is fundamental to transforming satellite innovation into operational missions," said Thu Vu, CEO of VinSpace. The number of satellites involved, their technical specifications, and the contract amount have not been disclosed.

Vingroup, of which VinSpace is a subsidiary, is Vietnam's largest private conglomerate. Its founder, Pham Nhat Vuong, is the country's richest man. The group, active in real estate, retail, tourism, healthcare, and education, has accelerated its diversification in recent years into cutting-edge technologies: electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, robotics, and aerospace. VinSpace aims to become a comprehensive player in the sector, from the design and manufacture of satellites to the management of space data.

Vietnam has been developing its space capabilities for several decades, but remains a modest player on a global scale. The country launched its first telecommunications satellite in 2008, followed by a second in 2012. The government has set itself the goal of becoming a mid-tier space power in Southeast Asia by 2030, as part of a broader strategy to develop high-tech industries.

In March, Hanoi inaugurated a major space science and technology center at the Hoa Lac Technology Park, aimed at strengthening national satellite development and the exploitation of space-based data. In April, Vietnam granted Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet constellation, a license for its first large-scale trial within the country.