What we know so far about the space rocket launch Marcos mentioned in his 2026 SONA
"Yes, we are going to launch a rocket into space."
That line from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27 wasn't a joke or a premise for a science fiction movie—it was an announcement of one of the country's most ambitious science projects yet that could mark the Philippines' biggest foray into the global space industry.
The government is eyeing a sounding rocket launch test in Cagayan in 2027, the first of its kind in the country and a key milestone toward establishing a Philippine spaceport.
But what exactly is the project and what does it mean for the Philippines? Here's what we know so far.
What will happen?
The planned mission is a demonstration flight of a liquid-fueled sounding rocket that will launch from Cagayan in 2027.
The rocket will carry a locally developed payload weighing up to two kilograms and is expected to reach an altitude of at least five kilometers.
Unlike rockets that send satellites into orbit, sounding rockets, as defined by NASA, "carry scientific instruments into space along a parabolic trajectory. Their overall time in space is brief, typically 5-20 minutes, and at lower vehicle speeds for a well-placed scientific experiment."
According to Philippine Space Agency Director General Gay Jane Perez, the goal is to develop a Philippine spaceport "for the long-term sustainability of commercial rocket launches in the Philippines."
Who is behind the project?
The launch is being implemented through a public-private partnership involving government agencies and corporations: the Philippine Space Agency, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Philippine aviation corporation Ascend International Gateway Inc., and South Korean space mobility company Perigee Aerospace Inc.
The collaboration is based on a memorandum of understanding signed during the Philippines-Korea Business Forum in March 2026.
Why the Philippines and why Cagayan?
As Marcos mentioned, Cagayan is "geographically and economically primed" to become the country's gateway to space.
Perez said the Philippines is a strategic location that offers several advantages. As the country is facing the Pacific Ocean, rocket launches can take place over open waters, reducing risks to populated areas. Its proximity to the equator also allows rockets to maximize the Earth's rotational speed, making launches more efficient and potentially less expensive.
What is a spaceport and why is the Philippines pursuing one?
A spaceport is a ground-based facility where organizations can launch craft into space, according to Space.com.
Perez said PhilSA is envisioning a "commercial-driven, government-enabled spaceport, with predictable timelines for launch licensing and authorization," and a "gateway for safe, responsible, and sustainable space access for the region and the world.
He adds that the goal is for launch companies to consider the Philippines for their space operations as the country continues to meet international obligations.
PhilSA and Perigee Aerospace cited the rapidly growing global space industry as a reason for the Philippines to further venture into space exploration.
According to the Space Foundation's Global Space Economy Report, the first half of 2026 recorded 153 orbital launches—a pace expected to surpass the previous annual record of 329 launches in 2025.
With launch sites around the world becoming increasingly booked, the agencies say new spaceports are being developed to accommodate rising demand.
Ascend International Gateway said they are "building the infrastructure, partnerships, and operational capabilities necessary to position the country as a key participant in the future space economy.”
Rocket training for Filipino engineers
Part of the initiative includes a technology transfer and training program with Perigee Aerospace.
Selected Filipino engineers will undergo advanced training using Perigee's Blue Whale-class sounding rocket platform to build local expertise in rocket engineering and launch operations.
PhilSA also plans to support universities conducting rocketry research, helping cultivate the next generation of Filipino aerospace professionals.
How will the country benefit from the project?
Officials say the project goes beyond simply launching rockets.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said having sovereign launch capability could eventually allow the Philippines to independently deploy communication satellites, Earth observation systems, and navigation assets that support the country's digital infrastructure.
Meanwhile, CEZA Administrator Katrina Ponce Enrile said the project could "create opportunities in aerospace, advanced engineering, scientific research, education, innovation, and high-value investments that will benefit future generations of Filipinos."
Ultimately, the public-private partnership is dubbed "a sustained effort to develop the Philippines’ capabilities in launch, testing, and aerospace innovation."
