President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has confirmed that the Philippines is preparing for its first liquid-fueled sounding rocket launch from Philippine soil, marking a significant step toward building a local space industry and eventually operating the country’s first commercial spaceport.
During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos said Cagayan has been identified as the country’s future gateway to space because of its location and existing infrastructure.
“Cagayan is both geographically and economically primed to serve as our gateway to space and host the country’s first spaceport. A sounding rocket launch test is slated for next year,” President Marcos said.
The test flight, scheduled for 2027, will send a liquid-fueled sounding rocket carrying a locally developed payload weighing up to two kilograms to an altitude of at least five kilometers. Unlike rockets that place satellites into orbit, sounding rockets are used to test technologies and conduct scientific experiments before they fall back to Earth.
The project is led by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). It is being implemented with Ascend International Gateway Inc., a Philippine airport operator, and South Korean aerospace company Perigee Aerospace Inc., which develops launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and spacecraft components.
The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed during the Philippines-Korea Business Forum in March 2026.
“Yes, we are going to launch a rocket into space,” President Marcos said.
Beyond the rocket itself, the larger goal is to establish the rules, infrastructure, and technical expertise needed to support future commercial launches from the Philippines.
“As global launch rates continue to accelerate, existing spaceports cannot serve this increasing demand,” said Gay Jane Perez, director general, PhilSA. “With the Pacific Ocean to its east and its proximity to the equator, the Philippines is well positioned for safe and secure rocket launch and recovery operations, helping reduce costs, improve launch efficiency, and create opportunities for future launch services.”
According to the Space Foundation’s Global Space Economy Report, the first half of 2026 recorded 153 orbital launches worldwide. The industry is on pace to exceed the 329 launches completed in 2025 as governments and private companies deploy more satellites for communications, Earth observation, navigation, and defense.
“Space-based technologies are an essential foundation of modern ICT infrastructure,” said DICT Secretary Henry Aguda. “Sovereign launch capability will allow the Philippines to independently deploy communications satellites, Earth Observation systems, and navigation assets. This advances the country’s long-term vision of building a secure, resilient, and inclusive digital ecosystem, ensuring that the Philippines remains competitive in the digital age.”
The project also aims to develop Filipino aerospace talent. Under the Know-How Transfer and Training Program Phase 2, selected Filipino engineers will receive advanced training using Perigee’s Blue Whale-class sounding rocket platform. PhilSA said it is also supporting university rocketry programs to help build a local workforce for the country’s emerging space sector.