S'pore Home Team to launch 100kg satellite in 2029 to detect hazardous gases

Singapore's Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) will be developing and launching its first satellite into space in 2029.

Announced during the opening ceremony speech of Milipol Tech X (MTX) Summit 2026 on Apr. 28, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said the satellite would be codenamed Xplorer.

Xplorer satellite

Xplorer will target hazardous gas plumes to give the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) earlier warnings.

It aims to provide first responders sufficient lead time to react and mitigate incidents, enabling them to be better positioned to save lives.

The satellite will weigh about 100kg and will be launched into near equatorial orbit, HTX said.

Xplorer will be able to detect hazardous gases such as ammonia, methanol and formaldehyde on land and at sea.

Satellite imagery can be used to provide clues to detect whether harmful gases will be blown into Singapore, giving authorities time to respond.

Other uses, such as mapping emergency routes across and imaging to support the planning of operations for major security events, were also considered in the development of Xplorer.

Shanmuggam also added that HTX is also partnering with the National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) to try and explore how space technology can further strengthen public safety.

NSAS was launched on Apr. 1, 2026.

Partnerships

HTX and ST Engineering also announced a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) at MTX 2026 to establish a new space technology programme.

They will co-develop space-based science and technology capabilities to strengthen Singapore’s public safety operations.

Xplorer is part of the programme.

HTX and NCS also announced the signing of an MOU at the event.

The partnership brings together HTX’s operational expertise and NCS’s strengths in AI, data, cybersecurity & quantum-safe technologies, and robotics.

It aims to deliver intelligent, mission-ready systems for Singapore’s public safety agencies.

HTX has also partnered with Google, NVIDIA and Nutanix in 2025 to develop sovereign Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

MTX 2026

The satellite is on display at MTX 2026 from Apr. 28 to 30 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

The event is expected to see over 20,000 visitors, including 3,000 high-profile delegates from 89 countries such as Brunei, France and Qatar.