Chinese Commercial Satellite Maker GalaxySpace Delivers First Spacecraft to Southeast Asia

GalaxySpace has completed the launch and on-orbit delivery of the Lingzhi-09 Thailand CubeSat (GISTDA Cube Sat 1), marking the first time a Chinese private commercial aerospace firm has exported a complete satellite system to a Southeast Asian country. Launched aboard a Long March 6C rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on August 25, the mission delivers Earth-observation data for land, agriculture, and ecology while supporting space education in Thailand.

This delivery represents a strategic shift in China's space exports from state-backed turnkey mega-satellites toward agile private manufacturers offering bundled hardware, ground control systems, and workforce training. It indicates that Chinese commercial space players are increasingly capable of competing in international commercial bids traditionally dominated by American, European, and Japanese aerospace contractors.

A Chinese commercial aerospace company has completed the export and on-orbit delivery of a complete satellite system to Southeast Asia for the first time. On August 25 at 11:21 a.m., a Long March 6C carrier rocket lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying seven satellites into predetermined orbits, including the Lingzhi-09 Thailand CubeSat (GISTDA Cube Sat 1) developed by Beijing-based GalaxySpace, according to Jiemian News. The satellite was commissioned by Thailand's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). It is designed to capture optical remote sensing imagery of land resources, agricultural output, and ecological conditions across Thailand. Under the contract, GalaxySpace delivered a full-package solution comprising the spacecraft platform, ground station telemetry and command infrastructure, and technical training programs for Thai university researchers and engineers. The delivery marks a milestone for China's commercial space sector, which is seeking to capture a share of the expanding global small-satellite market. Global satellite market revenues reached approximately $6.95 billion in 2024 and are projected to grow to $20.73 billion by 2031, driven by demand for Earth observation and low-Earth-orbit communication constellations, according to industry research cited by Jiemian News. While China has exported satellites since the 2007 launch of the state-built NigComSat-1 for Nigeria—followed by deliveries to countries including Venezuela and Pakistan—those contracts were executed by state-owned aerospace giants. Over recent years, a cohort of private satellite manufacturers, including GalaxySpace, Changguang Satellite, ADA Space, and Minispace, have developed commercial-grade manufacturing and operational capabilities. Policy initiatives have accelerated this global outreach. In late 2023, Chinese authorities established pilot export review procedures for private low-Earth-orbit space companies. The China National Space Administration’s action plan for 2025 to 2027 further outlined state support for private aerospace enterprises to participate in international partnerships and export downstream satellite applications to developing economies.