Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid 

 

Thailand and China have advanced their joint satellite development programme, confirming full readiness to launch three hyperspectral remote-sensing satellites designed to monitor carbon emissions. The satellites aim to strengthen Thailand’s capabilities in agriculture, environmental management and disaster warning systems. Officials say the project will support national conservation policies with integrated, high-precision environmental data.

 

The initiative stems from a cooperation agreement between the Thai-Chinese Trade, Investment and Cultural Promotion Association, GISTDA (the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency) and Tianxieli (Shandong) Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. The collaboration focuses on producing three low-cost, high-efficiency satellites equipped for carbon detection and multisector monitoring. The partners have worked together since last year to establish the satellite specifications and ground-system requirements.

 

On 26 November, the Thai delegation, led by Navy Captain Dr Phon Tapphinthakorn, President of the Thai-Chinese Trade, Investment and Cultural Promotion Association, and Peer Choosri, Deputy Director of GISTDA, hosted representatives from Tianxieli at GISTDA headquarters. The Chinese team was headed by Liu Zhijun, Deputy Commander of the Thai-Chinese Satellite Project. The teams reviewed project progress and assessed system readiness ahead of the next development phase.

 

Dr Phon stated that the mission’s core requirements include verification of the satellite platform, design of greenhouse-gas detection payloads, development of application systems and satellite imagery services and delivery of hyperspectral data for agriculture, water resources and environmental conservation. The end-to-end engineering scope covers satellite construction, launch services, frequency coordination, LEOP operations, ground-station delivery and development of satellite data applications. He noted that progress across all areas has been highly satisfactory.

 

Since forming a dedicated project task force last year, Tianxieli and GISTDA have finalised the official technical specifications for both the satellite system and the ground-application system. Four key application subsystems were confirmed: a greenhouse-gas tracking system for monitoring emissions and supporting environmental policy; an agriculture surveillance system for key crops including rice, rubber, sugarcane and cassava; a natural-resource management system for monitoring surface water and forests; and a disaster detection and early-warning system capable of identifying initial signs of events such as floods, earthquakes and wildfires.

 

Thaitabloid reported that once the initial funding instalment is received, the project will begin system-design review, procurement of components, construction of ground stations and development of data-application platforms. This marks the transition into the formal engineering and implementation stage of the Thai-Chinese space-technology partnership. The three carbon-monitoring satellites are expected to play a central role in improving Thailand’s long-term environmental governance, agricultural planning and disaster preparedness.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thailand and China are progressing with a joint project to develop and launch three hyperspectral satellites.

• The systems will support carbon monitoring, agriculture, natural-resource management and disaster-warning functions.

• Technical specifications and application subsystems have been finalised, with implementation to proceed after the first funding instalment.

 

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 Adapted by Asean Now from Thaitabloid 2025-12-01

 

 

China-controlled spy satellites?

3 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

China-controlled spy satellites?

 

Some China fans on this board will get high blood pressure reading this... 😆 

On 12/1/2025 at 4:35 AM, Georgealbert said:

The satellites aim to strengthen Thailand’s capabilities in agriculture, environmental management and disaster warning systems.

More warning systems... better to spend the money on improving infrastructure to deal with impacts.

Will the carbon detecting satellites be able to identify EV fires from earth orbit?

Thailand are supplying the "Touch Paper" and the smoke.

Floods, deaths, property, damage  property loss, etc, but they have money for satellites, which they can already purchase the data they need....must keep masters from China happy.