Thailand to select first citizen astronaut via reality TV

Banijay Asia has unveiled a space tourism reality show format that will send Thailand’s first citizen astronaut into orbit aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft. The production company announced “Race to Space Thailand” on September 15, marking a new chapter in commercial space entertainment programming across Asia.

The show, produced by Deepak Dhar’s CreAsia Studio for TrueVisions NOW, represents the first time Thailand will select and send a citizen to space through a television competition. Applications opened September 15 and remain open until October 10 for Thai citizens aged 18 and older, with the winner set to travel on Blue Origin’s suborbital vehicle.deadline

Format Expands Across Asia

“Race to Space Thailand” launches as part of a broader format expansion by Banijay Asia, with an Indian version already in development. Deepak Dhar, founder and Group CEO of Banijay Asia, emphasized the show’s significance as “not just a show – it is a movement that democratises space travel and inspires millions to dream big”. He confirmed that “Thailand is just the beginning; the format will soon resonate in India as well as other parts of South East Asia”.contentasia

The format was conceptualized through a partnership between Banijay Asia and the Space Exploration & Research Agency (SERA), a U.S.-based organization specializing in spaceflight programs. Joshua Skurla, Co-Founder of SERA, described the collaboration as building “a cultural phenomenon that unites the country in a shared endeavor”.prnewswire

Commercial Space Tourism Integration

The winner will journey aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft, which has completed 34 missions to date and flown 75 people into space. The suborbital vehicle crosses the Kármán line at 100 kilometers altitude, providing passengers with several minutes of weightlessness during an 11-minute flight.blueorigin

Blue Origin has maintained regular commercial operations throughout 2025, with its most recent crewed mission NS-34 completed on August 3. The company’s space tourism program has generated more than $100 million in revenue through June 2022.wikipedia

Thai Media Landscape Impact

TrueVisions NOW, operated by True Corporation, positions the show as part of its strategy to become Thailand’s “Home of Entertainment in the digital era”. The streaming platform launched a refreshed brand identity in July 2025 under the concept “NOWtainment – All You Need in One,” combining sports and entertainment content.prnewswire

According to Content Asia, TrueVisions faced a 12% decline in pay-TV subscribers to 1.1 million by June 2025, making the space reality show part of efforts to regain market leadership. The platform lost Premier League rights for the next six seasons to competitor Jasmine International.contentasia

“Race to Space Thailand” will premiere exclusively on TrueVisions NOW in November 2025, joining a growing trend of space-themed reality programming that includes Discovery Channel’s “Who Wants to Be an Astronaut” and the planned “Space Hero” series.cnn