The Philippine government is aiming to launch its first liquid-fueled rocket from local soil by early next year, marking a key milestone in efforts to establish a domestic spaceport and expand the country’s participation in the global space industry.
The target was approved during the 9th meeting of the Philippine Space Council (PSC) chaired by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as part of a broader push to strengthen the country’s space capabilities.
According to the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the planned launch will take place from Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan. The mission is intended to demonstrate a domestic propellant supply chain, validate safety procedures, and establish a framework for authorizing rocket launches within the country.
PhilSA said the initiative represents an early step toward the creation of a Philippine spaceport, a facility that could eventually support commercial and government launch activities.
The agency noted that the Philippines has geographic advantages for launch operations, including direct access to the Pacific Ocean to the east and proximity to the equator. These conditions can help improve launch efficiency, lower operational costs, and provide safer rocket launch and recovery corridors.
The rocket launch initiative comes as the government advances other major space projects, including the planned 2027 launch of the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite and the proposed development of a Philippine geostationary telecommunications satellite.
However, the rocket and spaceport program could represent the country’s most significant move yet toward building indigenous launch capabilities rather than relying entirely on foreign launch providers.
The Philippine Space Council, established under the Philippine Space Act, is responsible for approving major national space policies and strategic initiatives.
