N A S A Pulls Out Of Project To Study Climate Conditions In Thailand

[webfact]

NASA pulls out of project
Jutharat Tipnampa,
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has decided not to continue its cooperation with Thai authorities in a research project to study climate conditions in Thailand, the US ambassador to Thailand said.

Ambassador Kristie Kenney confirmed yesterday that Nasa had decided to move the "Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study" to another Southeast Asian nation.

"We have no plans for Nasa to work in Thailand at this time. This project was moved to another country and is already completed," she said.

"We can't say which country, but this year we have no plan for Nasa to work in Thailand," she said, adding that the US would be happy to collaborate with Thailand in the future.

Previously, Nasa had proposed that the U-t apao naval airbase be used as its research headquarters to study weather conditions in Thailand, but the Cabinet was unable to endorse its request by June last year and it ran out of time to make logistical preparations.

It was believed the project would help Thailand improve the knowledge and understanding of climate conditions in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Science Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said the government would comply with Nasa's decision to end its cooperation over climate research.

Worawat will also lead senior officials to the US later this month to sign a cooperation pact. He is scheduled to meet scientist Hal Maring and Matthew Koeppe from Nasa's Office of International and Inter-agency Relations on March 12.

He said he would wait and see if the US space agency wanted to change its decision. "I cannot say right now whether we will allow the US space agency to use our skies to conduct its research after it decided to set up base in another country,"


-- The Nation 2013-03-06

[dcutman]

"We have no plans for Nasa to work in Thailand at this time. This
project was moved to another country and is already completed,"

He said he would wait and see if the US space agency wanted to change
its decision. "I cannot say right now whether we will allow the US space
agency to use our skies to conduct its research after it decided to set
up base in another country,"

Lets cut off our nose to spite our own face. How childish!

[Buchholz]

"We have no plans for Nasa to work in Thailand at this time. This

project was moved to another country and is already completed,"

He said he would wait and see if the US space agency wanted to change

its decision. "I cannot say right now whether we will allow the US space

agency to use our skies to conduct its research after it decided to set

up base in another country,"

Lets cut off our nose to spite our own face. How childish!

.

Woravat didn't fare much better when he was the Computer Tablet Minister before replacing the Boat Propeller Minister.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/622650-thai-govt-seeks-revival-of-nasa-project/page-4#entry6176079

.

Edited March 6, 2013 by Buchholz

[Locationthailand]

Big Brother simply moved across a local border, offered some compensation and handouts and got what they wanted, the ability to monitor the Chinese. Weather monitoring?

[Tywais]

said the government would comply with Nasa's decision

As if they have a choice in the matter.

[lemoncake]

said the government would comply with Nasa's decision

As if they have a choice in the matter.

They might still lodge a protest with the embassy and demand for NASA to return or be compensated for the money they could have made

[dcutman]

said the government would comply with Nasa's decision

As if they have a choice in the matter.

They might still lodge a protest with the embassy and demand for NASA to return or be compensated for the money they could have made

Now that would not surprise me a bit.

[maidu]

Big Brother simply moved across a local border, offered some compensation and handouts and got what they wanted, the ability to monitor the Chinese. Weather monitoring?

Quite possibly, but China needs monitoring. They have tensions at nearly every country they border (and beyond). Their military budget is expanding exponentially (in 2011 it grew 15%, and they aren't going to release the numbers for 2012). No wonder Thai gov't officials dropped the ball with hosting NASA. Nearly all large businesses and most Thai politicians are Chinese-Thai (Shinawatres included).

On the other side of the coin, a NASA facility in Thailand would enable exposure by Thais to science and cutting edge technology - but Thais care much more about whitening creams and TV soaps. In reality, Thai politicians simply forgot about the pending issue with NASA - they're too busy servicing their mia noi, playing golf, and planning their next shmooze session with Thaksin.

[dcutman]

Big Brother simply moved across a local border, offered some compensation and handouts and got what they wanted, the ability to monitor the Chinese. Weather monitoring?

Its funny all the other SE Asian countries dont see it that way. In fact they where all fighting over the opportunity to host the biggest science research project NASA has ever planned.

BTW the US has several other agencies to monitor the Chinese.They really dont need the help of NASA.

[tomross46]

The USA is a debtor nation, it does not have the money.

[Fortunate1]

Not like Thailand to lose the opportunity of becoming another Hub.

The Thai government, and particularly Science Minister Woravat, have an inflated sense of their own importance. It appears to me that they didn't have enough time to work out how to "administer" NASA's money.

I expect land prices around U-Tapau will drop back to previous levels now.

[reiltin]

In January '42 Thailand declared war on the United States,In July'69 NASA put the first man on the moon.In 2012 NASA asked Thailand to partner in meteorological research.In 2013 Thailand refused NASAs request.Those who can't learn from history.....

[givenall]

"We have no plans for Nasa to work in Thailand at this time. This

project was moved to another country and is already completed,"

He said he would wait and see if the US space agency wanted to change

its decision. "I cannot say right now whether we will allow the US space

agency to use our skies to conduct its research after it decided to set

up base in another country,"

Lets cut off our nose to spite our own face. How childish!

It is about time for US to releases that Thai are playing both US and China and of course China is spending shxt load of money over here

And Thai care about money more than loyalty

[noitom]

Big Brother simply moved across a local border, offered some compensation and handouts and got what they wanted, the ability to monitor the Chinese. Weather monitoring?

The US has been set up monitoring from Alice Springs Australia for many decades.

[chainarong]

US officials a very well versed with doublespeak, as are other western nations,they pull the pin on projects generally when the topic of money comes up and hints start to drop into conversations, unfortunately the US and some other nations have to answer for every cent spent, some other nations don't, that's my view, am I right Ambassador

[MaxLee]

"We have no plans for Nasa to work in Thailand at this time. This

project was moved to another country and is already completed,"

He said he would wait and see if the US space agency wanted to change

its decision. "I cannot say right now whether we will allow the US space

agency to use our skies to conduct its research after it decided to set

up base in another country,"

Lets cut off our nose to spite our own face. How childish!

It is about time for US to releases that Thai are playing both US and China and of course China is spending shxt load of money over here

And Thai care about money more than loyalty

They care about FACE more than common sense. Accepting help from an experienced nation in weather reporting is another risk of "losing face"

"Money and Face" sums it up, "Common sense" is something that the Thai-Chinese elite is trying to brainwash out of the nation's minds...

[dcutman]

"We have no plans for Nasa to work in Thailand at this time. This

project was moved to another country and is already completed,"

He said he would wait and see if the US space agency wanted to change

its decision. "I cannot say right now whether we will allow the US space

agency to use our skies to conduct its research after it decided to set

up base in another country,"

Lets cut off our nose to spite our own face. How childish!

It is about time for US to releases that Thai are playing both US and China and of course China is spending shxt load of money over here

And Thai care about money more than loyalty

I think the US has realized this for a long time IMO, but the US is not gonna hold a grudge and punish, like the Chinese would do.

[h90]

"We have no plans for Nasa to work in Thailand at this time. This

project was moved to another country and is already completed,"

He said he would wait and see if the US space agency wanted to change

its decision. "I cannot say right now whether we will allow the US space

agency to use our skies to conduct its research after it decided to set

up base in another country,"

Lets cut off our nose to spite our own face. How childish!

It is about time for US to releases that Thai are playing both US and China and of course China is spending shxt load of money over here

And Thai care about money more than loyalty

They care about FACE more than common sense. Accepting help from an experienced nation in weather reporting is another risk of "losing face"

"Money and Face" sums it up, "Common sense" is something that the Thai-Chinese elite is trying to brainwash out of the nation's minds...

No one care about face....all is about money. And it has nothing to do with the weather as well.

[Payboy]

NASA pulls out of project

Pulling out - always highly recommended in Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

The USA really must be looking at these muppets and scratching their heads when they hear this rhetoric.

All to gain and nothing to lose and they come back with this flag waving crap. The usa saved Thailand ass from being a japanese colony, and drew a line in the sand in the vietnam war.

There is already a permenant usa presence at u tapao, and they turn a weather research project into a tub thumping issue. Absolute muppets.

[jamhar]

"If Nasa does not agree with Thailand's conditions for this project, the government will not allow the space agency to use any airbase in the country to conduct any research.

"Even if Nasa uses an airbase in a neighbouring country, we will not allow them to survey or collect any data in our skies," he said."

Sounds like an ultimatum to me. TL did want NASA working in its borders? It looks like other countries were more than happy to work with NASA.

[dcutman]

The USA really must be looking at these muppets and scratching their heads when they hear this rhetoric.

All to gain and nothing to lose and they come back with this flag waving crap. The usa saved Thailand ass from being a japanese colony, and drew a line in the sand in the vietnam war.

There is already a permenant usa presence at u tapao, and they turn a weather research project into a tub thumping issue. Absolute muppets.

I dont think the US is the only one looking at Thailand and its Government, this way. This "Muppet show" is getting more and more international press everyday.

Edited March 6, 2013 by dcutman

[waza]

A big diplomatic slap in the face for the Thaksin government. I cant believe Yingluck would refuse the yanks anything............

We Thais know how to treat a rocket

Edited March 6, 2013 by waza

[tominbkk]

sour grapes from the Thai officals...Som Nam Na!

[IMA_FARANG]

This program was first proposed in 2010 and discusssions with the appropriate governments were started then.

The purpose of the program was to study a season long cycle of what is known as the Southeast Asia Monsoon Cycle.

The Southeast Asia Monsoon cycle is a corresponding cycle that ties in with the better known Indian Monsoon cycle that occurs in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

That included a year or two year long study of the beginning of the Monsoon in Indonesia and it's development and it's spread northwards up through Malaysia, into Thailand and Cambodia, and then up in Laos and eventually to it's end in Northern Laos and China.

The reason Utapao was proposed as ONE of the sites was that it was a logical central base for the modified U-2 aircraft that NASA wanted to use for high altitude flights (as they say "In excess of 50K feet") because lower altitude limited flights by other aircraft couldn't get the high altitude data they wanted to see the development of the monsoon as it moved north.

When the Thai government couldn't get their thumb out of the a-- and make a decision in 2011 to allow the use of Utapao, NASA just bybassed Thailand and ran the study from Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos.

Sorry Thailand, but you were late for the dancing and the party is now over.

That NASA U-2 is a MODIFIED U-2 aircraft with doppler weather radar on board to monitor the development of winds at high altitudes that that are crucial to the spread of the SEAM cycle as it moves northward,

That's why that modified (and declassified) U-2 was proposed to be used.

It;s been used to study high altitude winds in other countries all around the world.

But trying to explain that reason for this NASA funded project and it;s value to the monsoon and rain cycles for Thai farmers, was just too complicated for the rice farmers turned "politicians" the current Thai government is run by now.

Edited March 6, 2013 by IMA_FARANG

[Pimay1]

"I cannot say right now whether we will allow the US space agency to use our skies to conduct its research after it decided to set up base in another country,"

Be careful what you wish for big boy. NASA is not some fly by night bunch of boys experimenting with homemade rockets in Isaan. I expect after this second threat from the Thai experts Nasa will just say ok boys have it your way. No using your airspace and don't come around asking for any data after the project is finished.

Edited March 6, 2013 by Pimay1

[Fozfromoz]

To minimise the loss of face, the arrogance goes up.

Not really the Thai way to admit anything not going their way, is largely to their fiddling while Rome is burning.

[jamhar]

A big diplomatic slap in the face for the Thaksin government. I cant believe Yingluck would refuse the yanks anything............

Yingluck and Obama (1).jpg We Thais know how to treat a rocket

I choked on my coffee when i saw this !

Thanks dude, I needed a laugh this morning!

[smedly]

said the government would comply with Nasa's decision

As if they have a choice in the matter.

They might still lodge a protest with the embassy and demand for NASA to return or be compensated for the money they could have made

Get the DSI involved, they seem pretty good at making a criminal case out of nothing - then we'd have all the stupidest people in Thailand working on the same thing

[Thaddeus]

US officials a very well versed with doublespeak,

Thai officials are also very well versed with doublespeak, difference is it isn't intentional and not even noticed until pointed out, then you get quadrospeak.