Located at the heart of one of the world’s most geopolitically significant regions, the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have constructed a unique political and economic union, featuring an unusual tapestry of monarchies, republics, and single party states. Placing their differences aside to focus on shared economic development objectives, the block has attracted the interest of great powers. On the backdrop of territorial conflicts in the South China Sea, the concept of a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, and U.S.-China competition, the space programs of ASEAN states are a careful act of combined technological progress and diplomatic balancing.

For these states, space stands at the confluence between geopolitical and developmental forces. The space programs of ASEAN states entail military and intelligence gathering implications. They are also crucial to provide telecommunication services to the unconnected and monitor the progress of agriculture, land use, and the many natural disasters affecting the region. 

For this reason, every ASEAN member – with the exception of Brunei – has acknowledged the benefits of space presence and have begun pursuing space technology, particulalrly satellites. In contrast to other powers, ASEAN states do not view the potential of space as one of achieving human spaceflight to faraway destinations, but instead conceive their space programs around the short and medium run development benefits they can provide to their populations. Public money spent on space faces high scrutiny and a valid question of opportunity cost. ASEAN states therefore have unique expectations from their space programs, that this pair of articles will outline in an alphabetical order. Part 1 will cover Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and Malaysia, while Part 2 will focus on Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. 

Brunei

The small petrostate has no space program and, as of 2022, has not acknowledged any need for one. Nor does Brunei operate any satellites. It has, however, entertained scientific diplomacy with both India and Japan. In February 2018, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kano triggered rumours that space cooperation could be on the bilateral agenda. In July of that year, India and Brunei signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing India to construct a telemetry and tracking station in Brunei. The station will allow New Delhi to communicate with its satellites. In return, India will share knowledge and training with Bruneian scientists, forging the country’s first act of space diplomacy. There have been few moves on space from Brunei since then. 

Cambodia

Like Brunei, Cambodia does not have a space program or a definite space policy. Unlike Brunei, Cambodia acknowledged the benefit of some space participation over 12 years ago. With a larger land area, Cambodia chiefly perceives a satellite as an investment in telecommunications infrastructure. In 2011, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications authorized the Royal Group to launch a telecommunications satellite by early 2013. The nation’s leading holdings conglomerate announced a potential second satellite by 2015. Those deadlines were never met. 

In 2018, Cambodia partnered with China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) to launch a satellite dubbed Techo 1 by 2021. The deal provided for China to help Cambodia develop, launch, and track the satellite. Cambodia also missed this deadline, leaving its space initiative in a limbo. Without a space agency, Cambodia’s space a;bitions remain stagnant. 

Indonesia

Indonesia’s space program has emerged as a leading force in the region. Marked by a rich history and a promising future, it is arguably ASEAN’s leading space initiative. As such, it should come as no surprise that most calls for an ASEAN space agency originate from Indonesia.

Since its establishment in 1963 with the founding of LAPAN, Indonesia’s space agency, the country has made significant strides. In 1976, Indonesia became the first developing nation to operate its own satellite, showcasing its early commitment to space exploration. This commitment was reinforced after the enactment of the Indonesian Space Law in 201. The bill demonstrated the nation’s dedication to fostering a comprehensive space program. 

Indonesia is also an ambitious space actor, as embodied in the words of Robertus Triharjanto, then a senior engineer at LAPAN, who announced as early as 2014 that Indonesia would become “Asia’s next big space player” within the following 10 years. The country aims to achieve self-sufficiency in space capabilities by 2040, and has already begun developing indigenous launch technology . Building strong international partnerships, including collaborations with ISRO, JAXA, France, and the U.S., has further bolstered Indonesia’s standing in the global space community. 

However, recent changes have brought about uncertainty after the 2021 decision to dissolve LAPAN. The National Research and Innovation Agency (Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, or BRIN) assumed LAPAN’s research functions. Meanwhile, space policy and international cooperation became the domain of the Indonesian Space Agency (INSA). Whether centralizing Indonesia’s space activities behind a Cabinet level merger agency will compound or dilute effectiveness remains to be seen.

Ambition remains a constant for the Indonesian space sector. President Widodo’s proposal to build a space launchpad in Papua and attract SpaceX demonstrates the country’s determination to push boundaries and explore new opportunities. The future of Indonesia’s space initiatives is poised for potential, with a vibrant private sector and an ambitious program that can pave the way for exciting developments in the years to come.

Laos

Laos is under the governance of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. It therefore unsurprisingly turned to its powerful Chinese neighbor for assistance in the space sector. As early as 2008, the Lao and Chinese governments signed a Framework Agreement on Space Science and Technical Cooperation. This was followed by a contract to build Laos’ first telecommunications satellite, LAOSAT-1. China played a key role in the project, as the Export-Import Bank of China financed LAOSAT-1 to the height of $259 million.  The satellite was also built on a Chinese model, and was eventually launched with a Chinese Long March rocket in November 2015. 

After successfully launching its first satellite, and perhaps in response to a series of natural disasters in 2015, Laos started showing interest in the earth observation and disaster prevention applications of space technology. Laos has been collaborating with Japan’s JAXA and the Asian Development Bank on crop monitoring since 2018. It has also participated in UN-led disaster management and institutional strengthening incentives with the United Nations platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in 2015, 2016, and 2019. Laos has also looked towards other immediate neighbors, pleading to undertake science collaboration with Vietnam in April of 2023. 

Whereas Laos’ prime space partner is the People’s Republic of China, it has collaborated with other agencies. There is, to this day, no formal Laotian Space Agency.

Malaysia

The Malaysian space program has a notable history and holds great potential for the future. It began to take shape in the 1980s with the establishment of the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES). Repeatesd policy mentions indicated a growing interest in space initiatives. Malaysia’s first significant presence in space came in 1996 with the successful launch of the MEASAT communication satellites (MEASAT 1 and 2) aboard French Ariane rockets.

Malaysia has actively participated in the international space scene, with individuals like astrophysicist Mazlan Othman. Othman made notable contributions as the Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) from 1999 to 2002, and again from 2007 to 2014. Her tenure illustrates that Malaysia can participate in both the scientific and governance aspects of space exploration. Additionally, the Malaysian space program achieved a significant milestone with the participation of Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor in a mission to the International Space Station, making him Malaysia’s first astronaut. He flew to the ISS on a Russian Soyuz rocket after Malaysia purchased 18 Russian fighter jets.  

In addition to Russia, the Malaysian space program has also established an extensive network of collaborations. Noteworthy examples include the MEASAT 3 series of satellites, with models designed by Boeing and Airbus, launched from Baikonur and Kourou respectively. Malaysia’s joint efforts with the UK resulted in the development of the TiungSAT-1 microsatellite in 2000. The RazakSAT satellite was designed in partnership with South Korea and launched by SpaceX in 2009.

Satellite collaboration has however brought challenges to Malaysia: RazakSAT failed halfway into its predicted lifespan, capturing thousands of unusable images. In another instance of technical failure, MEASAT had to be decommissioned early after it prematurely ran out of fuel and started drifting out of its assigned position, triggering an unresolved $45 million insurance claim. Malaysia also fostered collaboration with Japan and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). JAXA’s IR director Yoshikazu Shozi declared thatJapan was ready to “assist Malaysia to develop its indigenous rockets to launch satellites for weather, pollution, law enforcement, communication, radio-television applications and the like.”

In February 2017, Malaysia unveiled its National Space Policy for 2030. The Policy outlines the southeast asian state’s strategic objectives for the space sector. It emphasizes that it “will not bind Malaysia to high-risk, expensive, and unreasonable space exploration.” Instead, the Policy focuses on integrating a space element to its manufacturing sector through public-private partnerships. In particular, the policy focuses on boosting domestic satellite production and remote sensing equipment development. 

In February 2019, the merger of the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA) and National Space Agency (ANGKASA) led to the formation of the Malaysian Space Agency. The merger will consolidate the nation’s efforts and pave the way for future advancements. Looking ahead, Malaysia aspires to build a vibrant spacetech ecosystem. Kuala Lumpur seeks to combine goals in communications and remote sensing to make it ASEAN’s first. With a strong foundation, robust international ties, and a clear roadmap, the Malaysian space program has a promising future. Meanwhile, the sector contributing to the country’s technological advancement and presence in the global space arena.

To read more about the space programs of other ASEAN countries, check out Part 2.