MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is officially moving forward with plans to host experimental rocket launches in the country, partnering with South Korean firms and government agencies to evaluate the feasibility of building a domestic spaceport.
The partnership was solidified during the Philippines-Korea Business Forum on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between PhilSA and several key players:
- Government Partners: Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).
- Private Partners: South Korea’s Perigee Aerospace, Inc. and Ascend International Gateway, Inc.
- Objective: To conduct experimental launches that will assess the Philippines’ capacity for rocket launch and recovery operations.
PhilSA emphasizes that the Philippines is uniquely positioned to become a regional “gateway to space” due to its geography:
- Equatorial Proximity: Launching near the equator allows rockets to take advantage of the Earth’s rotational speed, reducing fuel costs and increasing efficiency.
- Open Waters: Proximity to the Pacific Ocean provides safer launch trajectories and designated recovery zones for rocket stages.
- Economic Impact: Success could lead to localized rocket assembly, testing, and commercial space activities.
This bid follows a 2025 program where PhilSA engineers underwent specialized training in South Korea with Perigee Aerospace. The training covered launch vehicle systems, assembly, and testing. Furthermore, in July 2025, PhilSA submitted a proposal to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center to seek developers for the country’s space infrastructure.
If successful, this initiative would not only advance the country’s scientific capabilities but also position the Philippines as a sustainable and competitive hub for global space missions.
