majorcontract2026-08-25

GalaxySpace delivers China's first turnkey satellite export to Southeast Asia

GalaxySpace · GISTDA

GalaxySpace built, launched, and delivered a full satellite package to Thailand's GISTDA, a first for a Chinese commercial space firm.

// sources · 2 attached

what happened

GalaxySpace's GISTDA CubeSat-1 (Lingzhi-09 Thailand), built for Thailand's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, launched aboard a Long March 6C from Taiyuan on August 25 alongside six other satellites, including two SAR spacecraft for China Science and Technology Satellite, per China in Space and the South China Morning Post. GalaxySpace supplied the satellite, a ground tracking station, and a training program for Thai engineers and university students; China in Space and SCMP both describe it as the first time a Chinese commercial satellite maker has sold and deployed a complete satellite package to a Southeast Asian customer.

why it matters

The deal shows a Chinese commercial EO manufacturer moving beyond satellite sales into full turnkey packages, spacecraft, ground segment, and training, for a sovereign customer, a model that competes with Western EO and manufacturing firms for governments building first-time space capability in Southeast Asia and other non-aligned markets.