From Satellites to Spaceports, Thailand Reaches for the Stars

Thailand wants a bigger role in the global space industry. The country is making plans to build its own spaceport and to manufacture satellites at home. Scientists, government officials, and small companies are all working together to make that happen. But experts say attracting money and customers will be among the biggest challenges ahead.

One Thai scientist knows firsthand what it feels like to be part of that effort. Nattaporn Chattam is a physicist at Kasetsart University in Bangkok. She and her team spent years preparing a 27-kilogram science experiment to send up to the International Space Station, about 400 kilometers above Earth. It was the first Thai national research experiment ever sent to the station under a special agreement with NASA.

The experiment studied how liquid crystals — the materials used in TV and phone screens — behave in microgravity, where gravity is much weaker than on Earth's surface. Astronauts began running the experiment in December of last year. But when it was time to bring the equipment back to Earth, something went wrong — it was accidentally left behind on the station.

"We thought it was lost in space. All we got back was some hard drives. I was very stressed," Nattaporn said. The experiment was eventually found still aboard the ISS. It landed in June and was returned to the researchers shortly after, several months behind schedule.

"We know our science is good. As good as anyone. So why not us? We proved we can do it," Nattaporn said. Her experiment is part of a wider push by countries across Southeast Asia to get a foothold in the growing space economy. Nations in the region want new business opportunities and more control over their own technology.

Thailand showed off its space ambitions at a large international space expo held in Bangkok from October 28 to October 31. Companies displayed everything from satellite parts to software that tracks conditions on Earth. The event highlighted just how serious Thailand is about its space goals.

The head of Thailand's space agency — called GISTDA — said space technology could make Thailand's economy stronger. "Today, space is no longer just about sending people into space," said Pakorn Apaphant. Thailand already has experience using satellite data and testing spacecraft, but building a lasting industry will require more investment and customers.

Thailand is also studying where to build a spaceport — a launch facility for rockets. The goal is to have suborbital rocket launches within five years, but a fully working spaceport could take at least seven years to build once approved. "So this doesn't mean that we will be launching rockets from Thailand tomorrow," Pakorn said.

Thailand has long been a strong manufacturer of cars, electronics, and other products. The government hopes to use those same skills in the space industry. Thai companies are already making parts for the country's THEOS-3 satellite, including solar panels, aluminum structures, and software. The long-term goal is to sell space equipment to customers in other countries.

Some Thai businesses are already proving what they can do. EOS Orbit, a small company with about 30 employees, launched its own satellite in January 2025. It started with CubeSats — small satellites about the size of a shoebox — as a way into an industry long controlled by wealthier nations. The company is also building software that can spot illegal deforestation using images taken from space.

"You can experiment with it. You can fail and you can try again," said Passawish Kulchol, the company's chief operating officer. But he said the biggest problem is not a shortage of skilled workers — it is a lack of customers. "We need to create more of a market for the talent because right now we create talent and they go elsewhere," he said.

Raising money is a challenge across the whole region. Private space investment in the Asia-Pacific totaled US$5.9 billion between 2016 and 2026, but most went to companies in China, India, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Ron Chiong of Singapore-based Perpetual Space Ventures said investors are often worried about high costs and uncertain returns. Southeast Asian startups are hoping to get a bigger share of that funding.

Governments are stepping up to help fill the gap. Singapore has invested US$164 million in space technology since 2022, and Vietnam opened a new space center this year backed by more than US$260 million. Chiong said Thailand's spaceport could only succeed if more companies, investors, and customers come together. "If you are the only one dancing, there's no party," he said.

Countries across Southeast Asia are not acting alone — they are working together and with global partners. The global space economy could grow to US$1.8 trillion by 2035. A 2025 study found that better use of satellite data could add US$100 billion to Southeast Asia's economy by 2030. "Space is very much an international team sport," said Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency.

Thailand is building research ties with both the United States and China. It has signed the US-led Artemis Accords, a set of rules for peaceful space exploration. At the same time, Thai researchers are studying Thai rice that was sent into orbit on China's Shijian-19 satellite, looking for varieties that survive space conditions better. That research could one day help grow food on the Moon.

Researcher Tatpong Tulyananda at Mahidol University in Bangkok believes Thailand's strengths in farming, food, and healthcare could make it a great space partner. "It's possible that one day we could see Thai varieties such as Sangyod rice or Riceberry being grown on the Moon," he said. He also reminded people that space is about more than just rockets. "Space is a place," he said — and Thailand is working hard to have a role there.