The Thai Space Expo, held from October 16-18, 2025, in a bustling Bangkok shopping mall, showcased the region’s burgeoning interest in the space sector. Amidst high-tech exhibits, a surprising display caught the eye: a vacuum-sealed package of Thai basil chicken, recently sent to the International Space Station by Charoen Pokphand Foods, Thailand’s largest food producer. This unique promotion highlights the innovative spirit driving Southeast Asia’s space initiatives.
Attendees from various emerging space nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, gathered to discuss the potential of the region’s nascent space industry. Candace Johnson, a partner at Seraphim Space, expressed optimism about Southeast Asia’s role in global space activities, noting, “There are a lot of opportunities.” Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency announced plans to construct a spaceport, leveraging the country’s advantageous equatorial location to enhance rocket launches. Companies like VegaCosmos and Spacemap are tapping into satellite data for urban planning and satellite tracking, respectively, indicating a diverse range of applications for space technology in the region.
As Southeast Asia positions itself as a future space hub, it remains to be seen how these initiatives will unfold. The combination of traditional culture and modern innovation, exemplified by the space chicken phenomenon, reflects the potential for unique contributions to the global space economy. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and technological development, Southeast Asia is poised to carve out its niche in the cosmos.
Source: Southeast Asia seeks its place in space via MIT Technology Review