VinSpace to launch first satellites on SpaceX Transporter rideshare in 2027

HANOI – VinSpace, the aerospace arm of Vietnam's Vingroup conglomerate, has signed a contract with Elon Musk's SpaceX to send its first satellites into orbit on a Transporter rideshare mission in 2027.

The satellites will test the company's technology in orbit and support future commercial applications, VinSpace said in a statement. The company did not disclose the value of the contract or the number or specifications of the satellites.

VinSpace was established in November 2025 and is part of Vingroup, Vietnam's largest privately owned company, founded by tycoon Pham Nhat Vuong. Vingroup's sprawling interests include real estate, retail, healthcare, education and tourism. It is also investing heavily in electric vehicles, space, artificial intelligence and robotics.

Vietnam has sought to build aerospace capabilities for decades but remains a small player in the global space industry. It launched its first telecommunications satellite in 2008 and a second in 2012, according to official documents. In March, the country inaugurated a space science and technology center in Hanoi's Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, aimed at expanding satellite development and use of space-based data. Vietnam aims to become a mid-level space power in Southeast Asia by 2030.