Palau Could Become World’s 13th Rocket Launch Nation, Entrepreneur Tells Students

By:  Laurel Marewibuel

KOROR, Palau — A New York-born engineer and four-time founder is urging Palau to pursue an unprecedented economic transformation: becoming the world’s 13th country capable of launching rockets into space.

Eric Adolphe, founder of Forward Edge-AI, said the proposal is advancing through the Palau Senate, with a public hearing expected in October. He outlined the vision to students and educators during Pacific 100, an Island Life Systems Forum convened by APAC 2 IMPACT as an official side event of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror.

Geography and stability make Palau unique

Adolphe said only 12 countries currently possess the ability to launch rockets. He argued Palau’s location near the equator and its stable government make it uniquely suited to join that group.

“Palau is in a unique position. You’re close to the equator. The closer you are to the equator, the more efficient it is to launch. You can reduce the cost,” Adolphe said.

He noted that rockets typically launch west to east to take advantage of the Earth’s rotation, and east of Palau lies only the open ocean. “It’s going over the open ocean. There’s nothing on the ground that requires protection, for insurance and that kind of thing,” he said.

Adolphe also pointed to political stability as a key advantage. “If you look across the equator, a lot of the countries that could potentially launch rockets, their governments are unstable, so nobody will launch there. You’ve got a stable government. Palau is very unique,” he said.

Economic impact could exceed tourism

Adolphe estimated a spaceport could generate about $1.7 billion annually for Palau, surpassing the nation’s current gross domestic product of roughly $240 million to $300 million. He said even two or three launches per year could earn more than the entire tourism sector.

“Right now you’re basically importing everything. Getting your beef from the U.S., getting this from there. You’re a consumer,” Adolphe said. “But when you’re an exporter, when countries are paying you, ‘I want to buy ten slots to launch these satellites,’ now Palau is a world exporter. You wouldn’t have to rely on tourism. You wouldn’t have to rely on having something else.”

He said the project would create high-paying jobs across many fields, from engineering and architecture to software development and skilled trades. “You’ll need accountants. You’re going to need engineers. Architects. Software people. Electrical engineers. Air conditioning people. You need every possible trade for a spaceport,” Adolphe said. “Not only will it provide high-paying jobs for Palauans, they will never want to leave. And the ones who left will come back. That’s all we need.”

International partners express interest

Adolphe said he is in discussions with partners in four countries who have expressed interest in launching rockets from Palau. “We have partners from Taiwan who said they want to do this. Japan. Saudi Arabia. Israel. Some of those countries would likely want to launch their rockets from here,” he said.

He emphasized that the spaceport remains a proposal at this stage, with no site or schedule confirmed. “I don’t know where it is yet,” Adolphe said. He said the Senate is working through the bill and expects to hold a public hearing in October. “People get to provide their voices. It would be great for everybody to know when it is, so they can come out and let the Senate know how they feel,” he said.

‘Our dreams were even small’

During a morning session with Palau Community College and high school students, Adolphe asked what careers they envisioned for themselves. He said many answered “accountant,” then shared a personal reflection. “Not saying that’s a bad profession. But we have a saying in my old community: our dreams were even small,” Adolphe said.

He described growing up in Brooklyn and wanting to be an astronaut, only to be told it was impossible. “The kids used to make fun of me, because that was impossible. That was for somebody else. Why is it for somebody else? Why can’t I do it? Why not?” he said.

Adolphe went on to become an engineer, designing air traffic control systems for the Federal Aviation Administration and building a safety and security company valued at $100 million. He served under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

He said the spaceport represents the closest he intends to get to space. “Other people sit there and dream. I want to be an astronaut. I want to be a doctor. They’re thinking big. Where I grew up, we didn’t even have big dreams. Gas station attendant. We can’t dream big because of what we’re exposed to,” Adolphe said.

Students respond with enthusiasm Adolphe said the students’ reaction to the spaceport idea was immediate and enthusiastic. “When I mentioned to the students that this is what we’re trying to do, you should have seen their faces. They all were like, ‘I want to be first. I want to be first. I want to be first,’” he said. “Chokes me up.”

He described the venture as a calculated risk, not a reckless one. “It’s not a stupid risk. It’s not like bungee jumping. You think about it, and you go forward and do it,” Adolphe said.

He noted a generational divide in responses. “I’ve spoken to a few Palauans. There’s a group that’s like, ‘My God, we have to do this.’ And I’ve spoken to other groups: ‘We can’t do this.’ They tend to be a little bit older. But the young people? ‘When could we make this happen?’ You see it in their face. You don’t have to listen to me. Just talk to them,” he said.

‘Could you imagine the pride?’

For Adolphe, the ultimate argument is not economic but national. “Could you imagine the pride that the young people will have, to understand that they are a world power? You’re not just some island. It changes the way other countries see Palau,” he said.

He envisioned the moment of the first launch. “We’re going to cut the ribbon and see that first launch, and have all the nations come and see the newest spacefaring nation,” Adolphe said.

Romona Guan of Pacific 100, who arranged the interview, said the initiative matches island problems with technology and expertise from around the world. Pacific 100 organizes its work around six island life systems, including energy and water resilience, ocean and fisheries, waste and circular economy, health, digital sovereignty, and education.

Adolphe said the spaceport would draw on engineers, energy, digital infrastructure and, above all, people. “They are excited,” he said of the students. “Me first. Man, that’s amazing.”

Anyone in Palau who wishes to contribute ideas or feedback on the spaceport or other initiatives can do so through Pacific 100 at apac2impact.com/en/pacific-100. Island Times will publish the date of the Senate hearing once it is confirmed.