Thailand is set to launch it second Earth observation satellite, THEOS-2, on October 7 at 8.36am (GMT +7) from the Guiana space centre in South America, marking a significant milestone in the country’s space technology development.

 

The launch was announced on Wednesday at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovations by representatives of Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GITSDA), Airbus and the French embassy.

 

GITSDA director Dr Pakorn Apaphant said that the satellite will take 5-6 days to enter its normal orbit and will undergo testing for about six months before becoming fully operational.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-09-28

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

So what is it going to observe once it is up there, weather, traffic, ganja plantations?

4 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

So what is it going to observe once it is up there, weather, traffic, ganja plantations?

BMW smartcars!

Now with satellite link to locate pesky foreigners!

I wonder if the first one, launched 15 years ago, is still trundling around this great big globe. And giving any useful information. Why did they only announce the launch this week?

What did this new one cost? 

6 hours ago, KannikaP said:

So what is it going to observe once it is up there, weather, traffic, ganja plantations?

Read the full story.

 

"Operated by GISTDA, THEOS-2, will be capable of capturing detailed colour images of Earth with a resolution of up to 50cm. The satellite will transmit data to a ground station, covering about 74,000 square kilometres per day, providing current, but not real time, accurate information for various sectors in Thailand.

The data will have significant applications in emergency response, agriculture, water management, disaster management, urban planning and natural resource management."

Will it recognise number plates of speeding drivers? 555

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Will it recognise number plates of speeding drivers? 555

From my quote from the article, the resolution is up to 50cm, which means any object smaller than 50cm will not be recognised.

10 hours ago, VincentRJ said:

From my quote from the article, the resolution is up to 50cm, which means any object smaller than 50cm will not be recognised.

Thank God I can carry on flashing then!

meanwhile pensioners get about 600 baht a month to live on

Maybe they could put the sub in orbit...

This is absurd. A satellite, from Thailand? You sure not a perpetual energy machine? Or how about the solution to world hunger? Those things might as well be as much as a fairy tale as a Thai satellite in orbit making any difference whatsoever, other than for keeping up appearances and being able to pretend they're a big boy country with modern infrastructure 

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is set to launch it second Earth observation satellite

What Galaxy is Second  Earth in ? 

Ah, that will be most delightful news for all the grannies, uncles and aunties without running tap water and inconsistent power supply in the sticks of Northeastern Thailand. They were equally delighted, when the news on the three engineless submarines broke - well done, keep up the good work! The families trying to make ends meet so the kids can purchase the overpriced shoes and funny uniforms at the only authorized outlet in/near the school will also be happy about the fact, that Thailand is approaching the interstellar stage with huge steps ???? 

Hope its navigation system doesn't crash into electric poles, lots of other satellites to miss

Will the satellite suffer air brake failure and fall to Earth??

5 hours ago, brianthainess said:

What Galaxy is Second  Earth in ? 

"A galaxy far, far away......"

47 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Will the satellite suffer air brake failure and fall to Earth??

Maybe ground control will fall asleep.

8 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Ah, that will be most delightful news for all the grannies, uncles and aunties without running tap water and inconsistent power supply in the sticks of Northeastern Thailand. They were equally delighted, when the news on the three engineless submarines broke - well done, keep up the good work! The families trying to make ends meet so the kids can purchase the overpriced shoes and funny uniforms at the only authorized outlet in/near the school will also be happy about the fact, that Thailand is approaching the interstellar stage with huge steps ???? 

A very thought provoking post, thank you.

3 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Maybe ground control will fall asleep.

Ground Control to Major Som. Take your Pak Kapow and put your flip flops on.

8 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Ah, that will be most delightful news for all the grannies, uncles and aunties without running tap water and inconsistent power supply in the sticks of Northeastern Thailand. They were equally delighted, when the news on the three engineless submarines broke - well done, keep up the good work! The families trying to make ends meet so the kids can purchase the overpriced shoes and funny uniforms at the only authorized outlet in/near the school will also be happy about the fact, that Thailand is approaching the interstellar stage with huge steps ???? 

It obviously hasn't occurred to you @Sydebolle that the very people you are talking about could well benefit from the information that this project can provide such as:

 

22 hours ago, VincentRJ said:

The data will have significant applications in emergency response, agriculture, water management, disaster management, urban planning and natural resource management."

It is not just a 'rich man's toy'.

 

3 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

It obviously hasn't occurred to you that the very people you are talking about could well benefit from the information that this project can provide such as:

 

It is not just a 'rich man's toy'.

Oh yes it is. All that information could be got from other more affluent countries who really can afford it.

I don't know where it was built, but wonder if it is earthed!

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Ground Control to Major Som. Take your Pak Kapow and put your flip flops on.

I'm sitting in a foam box,

and floating in most peculiar way

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

3 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

It obviously hasn't occurred to you that the very people you are talking about could well benefit from the information that this project can provide such as:

 

It is not just a 'rich man's toy'.

 

4 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Oh yes it is. All that information could be got from other more affluent countries who really can afford it.

If you wish to respond to my posts, please quote the whole post, not just the bits that favour your argument.

 

An argument that is, in fact wrong. Having their own satellite greatly enhances their ability to gather the information that they want, when they want and need it. Not just when some other countries satellite happens to be passing over. Information, by the way they would have to pay for. and might not actually meet their requirements.

1 minute ago, Moonlover said:

 

If you wish to respond to my posts, please quote the whole post, not just the bits that favour your argument.

 

An argument that is, in fact wrong. Having their own satellite greatly enhances their ability to gather the information that they want, when they want and need it. Not just when some other countries satellite happens to be passing over. Information, by the way they would have to pay for. and might not actually meet their requirements.

OK, over and out.

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

It obviously hasn't occurred to you @Sydebolle that the very people you are talking about could well benefit from the information that this project can provide such as:

 

It is not just a 'rich man's toy'.

 

Well, they've used third party satellites for this; Thaksin sent another satellite into space during his tenure. Result is floods everywhere as the "mishaps" due to total incompetence happens on the ground. 
It is not a rich man's toy but I am pretty sure it made a few people "un-poor" to stay in line with political correctness. And, as said, there are possibly more urgent issues for for millions of Thais hovering over poverty and very bleak existence - my irrelevant thoughts to the subject.