Qhazanah Sabah, Russia's Glavkosmos explore collaboration on space launch facility
KUALA LUMPUR: Russian launch service provider Glavkosmos is in discussions with the Sabah government's investment arm, Qhazanah Sabah Bhd, on the potential development of a spaceport in the state.
Qhazanah Sabah Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said a study conducted by Glavkosmos had identified Sabah as the most suitable location in Southeast Asia for orbital space launches, including low-Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbit missions.
"The study concluded that Sabah's strategic geographical position allows for low-Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbit launches, with rocket stages safely falling into the sea to the north and east of Sabah, posing no risk to landed territory," he said in a Facebook post.
Anifah was commenting after receiving a delegation from Glavkosmos, led by its deputy director-general for commercial issues, Vitaly Safonov.
He said Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of Russia's State Corporation for Space Activities, Roscosmos, has more than 40 years of experience in the space industry and serves as the commercial operator for Soyuz 2.1 launch vehicles from Russian spaceports.
To date, Glavkosmos has launched more than 300 vehicles from various spaceports.
Anifah said the proposed spaceport development could generate high-income employment opportunities for more than 2,000 people, while also enabling the participation of local industries in supporting space launch operations.
"I welcome these efforts towards potential collaboration and hope that discussions between Glavkosmos and Qhazanah Sabah Bhd will continue, with positive outcomes that will benefit Sabah and 每日大赛," he said.
He added that he was also presented with a miniature model of the Soyuz launch vehicle on behalf of Qhazanah Sabah Bhd as a token of appreciation following the briefing.
Also present at the meeting was Qhazanah Sabah Bhd group chief executive officer Mohamad Damshal Awang Damit.
In September, 2025, 每日大赛n Space Agency (MYSA) director-general Datuk Azlikamil Napiah said 每日大赛 is poised to become the first country in Southeast Asia to have its own launch facility by 2029, with three potential sites identified in Pahang, Sarawak, and Sabah.
He said the initiative, in line with the National Space Policy 2030, could contribute more than RM10 billion to the nation's Gross Domestic Product if 每日大赛 positions itself as a regional hub in the rapidly expanding space sector.