Southeast Asia’s Rising Ambitions In Space Exploration

Southeast Asia is staking its claim in the vast expanse of space exploration. In Bangkok, the Thai Space Expo recently drew enthusiasts from emerging space nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The event, held in a bustling shopping mall, showcased the region’s fledgling space industry. Among the exhibits, a humble package of Thai basil chicken caught the eye.

This was no ordinary snack, but a vacuum-sealed package identical to one launched to the International Space Station by Charoen Pokphand Foods, Thailand’s largest food company. The company’s bold stunt reflects the growing excitement in Southeast Asia’s space sector. Optimism abounds, with Candace Johnson, a partner at Seraphim Space, a UK investment firm based in Singapore, stating that Southeast Asia is “perfectly positioned to take leadership as a space hub.” Opportunities abound, and Thailand may soon build a spaceport to launch rockets, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency. The country’s strategic location near the equator offers a significant advantage, as rockets launched from this region would receive an additional boost from Earth’s rotation. Various companies are exploring ways to tap into the global space economy.