Singapore forms national space agency

Singapore will establish the National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) on 1 April, a move designed to coordinate national ambitions in space, strengthen the local ecosystem, and enhance the country’s standing in the global market. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

Mandate and priorities

NSAS will spearhead Singapore’s engagement with the global space economy, which is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. Building on existing capabilities, the agency will focus on strengthening research and development, nurturing a robust space industry, and advancing international partnerships.

A key part of its mandate is to develop national space capabilities and craft legislation and regulations that are pro-innovation and pro-business while ensuring space safety and long-term sustainability. This includes enabling companies to test and deploy space technologies responsibly and efficiently.

Industry landscape

Singapore’s space sector currently comprises about 70 companies employing roughly 2,000 professionals across the value chain. These range from firms designing and manufacturing components to those providing satellite-enabled services such as communications, navigation, and Earth observation.

Space technologies are deeply embedded in Singapore’s open, highly connected economy. They support essential functions including digital connectivity, precise navigation, maritime monitoring, and the country’s climate resilience efforts—areas that the NSAS aims to further strengthen and scale.

Programs and investments

The agency will oversee the expansion of Singapore’s existing constellation of three Earth-observation satellites, enhancing national capabilities for environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster response. Since 2022, the government has committed $165 million to space-related projects, funding that underpins both technology development and industry growth.

Leadership

Ngiam Le Na has been named CEO-designate of NSAS. She brings extensive public service experience, including serving as the chief executive of the Defence Science and Technology Agency, and is expected to guide the new agency through its formative phase and beyond.

By consolidating strategy, regulation, and industry development under one roof, Singapore’s new space agency aims to accelerate innovation, expand international collaboration, and secure a competitive role for the nation in the rapidly growing global space economy.