Singapore is looking up at space to tackle threats down in our country, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam shared at the Milipol TechX Summit 2026 on Tuesday (April 28).Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Minister Shanmugam revealed plans for the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) to develop their first satellite, codenamed Xplorer.Xplorer's aim is to target hazardous gas plumes, giving the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) an earlier warning in the event of a crisis, he said. Not only would it improve situational awareness «when every minute counts», Xplorer would also enable faster decisions and response times for the SCDF.Moreover, HTX is also partnering with the National Space Agency of Singapore as part of efforts to determine how space technology can further bolster public safety.«Some technologies may not yet be central to today's operations, but they will shape tomorrow's strategic advantage,» Shanmugam stated. Read more