The Philippines is set to take a major step toward strengthening its space capabilities, with the country preparing to launch a liquid-fueled rocket in 2027—an initiative expected to expand Filipino expertise in rocket development and advance the nation’s capacity to conduct launches from its own territory.
The planned launch was highlighted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
As preparations move forward, a 10-member team from the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is undergoing training from August to October 2026 focused on the development, assembly, and testing of a liquid-fueled rocket. The training is being conducted in partnership with South Korean space mobility company Perigee Aerospace, Inc., in preparation for the planned launch in Lal-lo, Cagayan, in 2027.
The program forms part of PhilSA’s “SIKLAB: Building Industrial Space Launch Systems Project” and builds on the cooperation between PhilSA and Perigee that began in 2022.
Building Filipino Expertise in Rocket Technology
The ongoing training is giving PhilSA personnel hands-on experience in rocket assembly and systems integration, testing, operational procedures, and preparations for the planned test launch.
Through the transfer of technical knowledge and practical experience, PhilSA is developing Filipino expertise in rocket systems, launch operations, safety procedures, and other launch-support activities.
Rockets are considered “enablers” because they provide access to space. They transport satellites and scientific payloads that allow space-based technologies to deliver services and benefits back to Earth.
“Progressively developing our domestic launch capabilities will allow greater flexibility and independence in sending satellites into space, which serves the country’s key sectors such as security, telecommunications, and agriculture,” explained PhilSA Acting Director General Gay Jane P. Perez, Ph.D.
From Training to a Test Launch in Cagayan
The current training builds on the first phase conducted in 2025, expanding the program across a broader range of activities involved in the operational cycle of a liquid-fueled rocket.
The latest phase covers the full system assembly, integration, and testing of the sounding rocket in the Republic of Korea, along with preparations for and operations during its planned test launch in Cagayan.
The rocket being used is the Blue Whale 0.1 (BW0.1), a liquid-propellant sounding rocket platform developed by Perigee.
In parallel with the training, PhilSA and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) will undertake local site preparations and conduct dialogues with the local government unit and communities in Cagayan. A safety exclusion zone plan is also being developed to help ensure the safety of nearby areas throughout all stages of the activity.
The liquid-fueled sounding rocket that the PhilSA team builds during the training will be shipped to the Philippines and undergo additional testing in preparation for its 2027 launch. During the launch, the rocket is expected to carry a locally developed payload weighing around two kilograms to an altitude of at least five kilometers.
Testing a Locally Developed Space Payload
The payload, developed by PhilSA, will serve as a technology demonstration for a future suborbital or satellite-based platform designed to detect and monitor radio signals from ground-based sources.
In practical terms, the payload will measure and record the strength of signals, including those transmitted by 4G LTE cell towers. The technology could eventually help identify areas with low cellular signal coverage.
Deploying the payload aboard the sounding rocket will allow PhilSA to test its functionality in an actual flight environment while supporting the advancement of its technology readiness level.
“A successful liquid-fueled sounding rocket test launch in 2027 will demonstrate that we have the technical, operational, safety, and regulatory foundations for future launches from the Philippines; and potentially attract foreign investments from private aerospace companies,” emphasized DG Perez.
Cagayan as the Philippines’ Potential Gateway to Space
During his 2026 SONA, President Marcos identified Cagayan as “geographically and economically primed” to serve as the country’s gateway to space.
For the planned sounding rocket launch, the Cagayan North International Airport (CNIA) offers existing infrastructure that can support the activity. This is complemented by the institutional and economic zone framework administered by CEZA.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Ascend International Gateway, a Philippine corporation engaged in airport operations and management, are also providing connectivity and logistical support.
Investing in the Next Generation of Filipino Space Professionals
Beyond the planned test launch, PhilSA sees SIKLAB as a longer-term investment in Filipino talent, technical expertise, and innovation.
“Beyond the test launch, SIKLAB is a long-term investment in Filipino talent and innovation. Through collaboration among government, industry, and international partners, PhilSA is building technical competencies and operational experience while contributing to a broader vision: a Philippine space ecosystem where the next generation of Filipino scientists, engineers, business, and support professionals don’t have to leave, because they can develop their expertise and pursue high-value careers as part of the country’s growing space sector,” said DG Perez.
PhilSA and its partners will continue generating technical and operational insights that can contribute to future spaceport development, industrial partnerships, and regional cooperation.
Through SIKLAB, the government is pursuing a capability-building initiative focused on launch vehicle technology, strengthening the Philippines’ foundation for future launch activities while opening new opportunities for innovation, investment, and employment in the country’s emerging space sector.
