One Giant Leap for Mankind: Singapore’s National Space Agency (Part 1)

Harry Lee and T Malini
2 days ago
9 min read

In this Explainer, find out…

Why was the National Space Agency established?
What is the National Space Agency of Singapore, and what are its key functions?
How does the National Space Agency address existing gaps in Singapore’s space sector?

Introduction

When we think of space, Singapore is rarely the first country that comes to mind. As of writing, Singapore has not sent an astronaut into orbit, and we certainly lack the land to launch rockets. The venture into space, while a noble aspiration for all of mankind, is often perceived as a luxury reserved solely for superpowers. For a pragmatic and resource-constrained state like Singapore, it is often viewed as an unrealistic ambition.

Nevertheless, Singapore can still reap the benefits of this next phase of human development. Space presents vast possibilities, far beyond symbolic milestones like the Apollo 11 Moon landing. In this regard, the recent establishment of the National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) marks a significant development. It reflects a move towards a more coordinated national strategy for space.

In Part 1 of this two-part Policy Explainer, we outline the context behind the establishment of the NSAS. This includes its mandate, key functions, and its role in shaping Singapore’s long-term position within the global space economy. In Part 2, we will examine the strengths and limitations of the NSAS, alongside a comparison with space agencies in other jurisdictions.

Why was the National Space Agency established?

To understand why the NSAS was established, we must first examine the context of Singapore’s space sector. This will help to explain the opportunities that the NSAS can offer.

Developing Singapore’s Space Capabilities

Singapore has long relied on space-adjacent technologies for its national needs. “Space-adjacent” refers to areas of technology that were not originally developed for space use but can still be applied effectively within the space industry. As early as 1998, Singapore launched its first communications satellite, ST-1. The satellite was part of a joint venture between telecommunications giant SingTel and Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom. The ST-1 provided internet and broadcasting services across Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan and India. Since then, more than 30 Singapore-made satellites have been launched into orbit. These satellites serve a variety of functions, including communication, Earth observation and disaster monitoring.

To support nascent space-related technologies, Singapore has actively developed its domestic space capabilities. While the ST-1 satellite was largely manufactured overseas, this has since changed. Home-grown technological companies such as ST Engineering and DSO National Laboratories have since expanded into increasingly sophisticated areas. They are now developing local manufacturing capabilities for advanced satellite systems. This marks a shift up in the value chain, from primarily designing satellites to building them locally. In doing so, this shift strengthens Singapore’s ability to support space-related activities by developing our domestic capabilities.

Singapore’s space sector continued to grow over the years. In response to this growth, the Office for Space Technology and Industry (OSTin) was established in 2013 under the Economic Development Board. It served as the predecessor to NSAS and was tasked with driving the development of small satellite capabilities and sensor technologies. Under OSTin, the Space Technology Development Programme (STDP) was launched in 2022 with S$210 million in funding. The programme supports the testing of innovative space technology and the development of local talent. One such example of innovative space technology involves designing and manufacturing radiation-hardened chips. These chips can withstand high levels of radiation in space, reducing the risk of damage to satellite electronics and data corruption during transmission from space to Earth.

With multiple existing initiatives and agencies, the NSAS consolidates and expands on OSTin’s functions. It strives to achieve Singapore’s national space ambitions by positioning the country as:

A leader in space technologies and services;

A credible contributor to the global space ecosystem; and

A key participant in the growing global space economy.

Developing a Talent Pipeline for Space Talent

Today, Singapore is home to over 2,000 professionals and researchers across some 70 companies relating to the space sector. They operate across different parts of the value chain, from design and manufacturing to data processing for satellites.

Despite its small land size, Singapore possesses numerous advantages, including a strong finance and logistics sector. Furthermore, Singapore has a highly-skilled workforce. It also has strong foundations in space-adjacent sectors, including aerospace engineering, microelectronics and artificial intelligence (AI). Singapore is thus well-placed to capitalise on these competitive advantages and capture the economic value of the space sector.

NSAS aims to build on these existing strengths and develop local expertise in engineering, research and satellite technology through various initiatives. These initiatives will be elaborated on in the next section.

The Opportunities and Challenges of an Emerging Space Economy

The rapidly growing global space economy is expected to triple in size and reach US$1.8 trillion by 2035, up from US$630 billion in 2023. For Singapore, this presents significant economic opportunities, and drives innovation in various sectors.

Beyond space exploration, space technologies have a multitude of applications benefitting Singapore directly too. In the maritime sector, satellite systems enable real-time vessel tracking and monitoring of oceanic conditions. With regard to climate regulation, satellites enable large-scale, reliable monitoring of carbon emissions to verify carbon credits.

However, this expansion also introduces new challenges. Today, there are more than 12,000 satellites in orbit, with many more to be launched in the future. At the same time, there are around 100 million fragments of space junk in outer space. As a result, space is becoming increasingly hazardous to navigate. On average, each Singaporean satellite faces collision alerts once a year as opposed to once every few years in the past.

NSAS was established to better reap the benefits and address the risks of a global space economy. By positioning Singapore as a regional hub for space activities, NSAS supports Singapore’s economic development whilst strengthening space legislation.

What does the National Space Agency do?

NSAS was established on 1 April 2026 under the purview of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, taking over and expanding on the scope of OSTin’s work. Unlike larger nations, NSAS’s mandate does not cover building rocket launchpads or training astronauts. Instead, it focuses on various key objectives relevant to Singapore’s needs, including:

Building a thriving space ecosystem;

Coordinating multi-agency space operations; and

Developing national legislation to govern space activities.

NSAS’s mandate consists of five key functions, namely to:

Develop and operate national space capabilities;

Strengthen Singapore's research and development (R&D) ecosystem;

Develop Singapore's space industry;

Advance international partnerships; and

Enact national space legislation.

Let us now consider these five functions in-depth.

Develop and Operate National Space Capabilities

NSAS oversees the development and operation of Singapore’s national space assets to meet Government and commercial needs. Currently, the Government, along with ST Engineering, co-owns three Earth Observation satellites. Building on this, NSAS will examine other satellite constellations to support future national needs. These satellite constellations are likely to operate in equatorial Low Earth Orbit. This allows the satellites to have more frequent coverage of Singapore and surrounding regions. To date, ST Engineering has already announced plans for a four-satellite constellation slated for launch in 2027.

NSAS is also slated to establish a multi-agency operations centre. This centre will coordinate satellite tasking and deliver geospatial data analytics across Government agencies. Furthermore, it will develop space situational awareness capabilities to address space debris issues.

Beyond the public sector, NSAS expands on OSTin’s work by collaborating with partners, through initiatives like the Earth Observation Initiative (EOI). The EOI brings together Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), research institutions and other stakeholders to utilise valuable satellite data. This initiative aims to address humanitarian challenges, including food and water security.

Strengthen Our R&D Ecosystem

The space sector faces low investor appetite for long-term projects. Investors often find it difficult to justify injecting large amounts of capital to develop space technologies. This is because such technologies can take a decade (or even longer) to test. As a result, investment returns may take a long time to materialise.

NSAS grants are critical to addressing this gap. By assuming capital risk, local start-ups are more willing to pursue ambitious projects and accelerate technology development. Beyond the S$210 million set aside by OSTin for space projects under the STDP in 2022, NSAS plans to continue heavy investment to develop space technologies.

Notably, Singapore’s R&D approach under NSAS is focused on real-world applications. NSAS targets research toward space-adjacent technologies, such as AI, robotics and quantum technologies. This strategy achieves the goal of enhancing space capabilities. It also generates applicable downstream benefits for Singapore, such as climate monitoring and connectivity. By reinforcing the idea that space provides opportunities to address Earth’s problems, Singapore views space development as more than just something for show. This shift in framing helps justify the high costs of space investment.

Develop Our Space Industry

The Space Access Programme (SAP), operating under NSAS’s STDP, supports the development of Singapore’s space industry. NSAS builds on and coordinates these efforts by attracting space companies to establish their operations in Singapore. This allows Singapore to serve as a launchpad for these companies to scale regionally and globally.

Three such SAP projects are already underway at the Nanyang Technological University, targeting annual launches in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Among these projects is one involving a satellite equipped with cutting-edge AI capable of processing data directly in space. This reduces the need to transmit large volumes of data back to Earth and enables intelligent decision-making in space.

Advance International Partnerships

Currently, Singapore has established partnerships with several international space agencies. These include the European Space Agency, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), the United Arab Emirates Space Agency and the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand. These partnerships go beyond technology transfer, to also include setting international norms on peaceful and long-term sustainable use of space.

NSAS will continue to pursue collaborations in priority areas with like-minded partners by formalising bilateral and multilateral agreements. It will also deepen partnerships with established spacefaring nations. This is aimed at strengthening technological and regulatory expertise, from satellite communications to data analytics. NSAS can also leverage on pre-existing partnerships such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to enable data-sharing and coordination. Today, many Southeast Asian countries have already developed and launched observational satellites. With the region’s increasing reliance on satellite data in areas such as disaster response and climate monitoring, there are clear opportunities for collaboration.

Enact National Space Legislation

NSAS is also tasked with drafting legislation and regulating the space sector. In 2024, OSTin released guidelines for space-related activities in Singapore. These included recommendations for individuals and companies to register objects launched into outer space. These stakeholders were encouraged to notify OSTin of any significant changes, such as loss of function or the transfer of an object to another orbit.

Under NSAS, these guidelines are expected to become mandatory. In addition, NSAS is likely to introduce legislation on commercial collision avoidance. This will align with United Nations standards that recommend spacecraft be designed to release minimal debris during operations. Separately, experts have also suggested that Singapore establish clear product quality standards for locally-built space vehicles and components. These standards would be similar to existing industry standards for the aerospace or automotive sectors.

Through these regulations, NSAS aims to position Singapore as being pro-innovation and pro-business. At the same time, it seeks to uphold high standards for space safety and sustainability.

How does the National Space Agency address existing gaps and opportunities?

The establishment of the NSAS marks a concerted effort by the Government to advance Singapore's space interests. It closes regulatory and coordination gaps, while grasping emerging opportunities as Singapore expands its role in the space sector.

Closing Regulatory and Coordination Gaps

A notable aspect of NSAS’s expanded mandate is its role in developing national space legislation. Under OSTin, space regulation was largely limited to non-binding guidelines and recommendations for space-related activities. As Singapore plans to venture deeper in the space industry, it is timely that legislative frameworks catch up to better ensure safety and efficiency. Building on OSTin’s foundation, the NSAS is the first agency with an explicit mandate to do so, closing the regulatory gap.

Furthermore, the NSAS emphasises a Whole-of-Government approach to space governance, improving coordination between agencies. With plans to set up a multi-agency operations centre in the near future, NSAS is better positioned to support complex satellite missions. It will also strengthen inter-agency collaboration.

Grasping Key Opportunities

The shift from OSTin to NSAS reflects a move from a reactive to a more proactive national space strategy. As highlighted by Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Dr Tan See Leng at the inaugural Space Summit 2026, Singapore aims to become a “credible contributor to the global space ecosystem”. This involves moving beyond being mere “consumers of space services”.

With a stronger mandate, the NSAS is better positioned to pursue strategic opportunities. These opportunities include international partnerships, capacity-building and the development of national space infrastructure. This enables Singapore to carve out competitive positions in niche, high-value segments of the space value chain despite its resource constraints.

Conclusion

As Singapore ventures into space, the NSAS represents the Government’s pivotal step to consolidate its future ambitions for humanity’s final frontier. Building on the foundations laid by OSTin with its expanded mandate, NSAS positions Singapore to carve a distinctive role in the global space ecosystem.

In Part 1 of this Policy Explainer, we have outlined the context, mandate and key functions of the NSAS. Part 2 will compare the NSAS’s functions with those of other space agencies and evaluate the pros and cons of Singapore’s approach to NSAS.

This Policy Explainer was written by members of MAJU. MAJU is a ground-up, fully youth-led organisation dedicated to empowering Singaporean youths in policy discourse and co-creation.

By promoting constructive dialogue and serving as a bridge between youths and the Government, we hope to drive the keMAJUan (progress!) of Singapore.