Has any Filipino gone to space?

Has Any Filipino Been to Space?

While no Filipino has officially traveled to space as part of a government-backed mission, one name stands out in the country’s journey toward space exploration: Chino Roque, whose real name is Daniel Angelo Roque.

Born in 1991, Roque made headlines in 2013 when he was selected as one of 23 space cadets from over 28,000 applicants worldwide for the Axe Apollo Space Academy—a commercial initiative backed by the grooming brand Axe and spaceflight company XCOR Aerospace. The program aimed to send its winners on suborbital flights aboard the XCOR Lynx, a small reusable spaceplane designed for space tourism.

Roque, a scientist and entrepreneur with a background in biotechnology, represented the Philippines with pride, becoming the first Southeast Asian to be part of such a select group. His selection sparked excitement and national pride, with many Filipinos seeing him as a symbol of the country's potential in science and space.

Although the XCOR Lynx project was ultimately shelved due to financial and technical challenges—and Roque never made the actual flight—he remains a pioneering figure in Philippine space advocacy. His experience brought attention to the possibilities of space travel beyond traditional astronaut programs, especially through private ventures.

Today, Roque continues to inspire young Filipinos through science outreach and education, proving that even without reaching orbit, the dream of space is alive and well in the Philippines. While the country may not yet have an official astronaut, Chino Roque’s journey shows that the stars are not out of reach.