Launch of rockets for rain making to start next February or March

[webfact]

Launch of rockets for rain making to start next February or March



BANGKOK: -- The Agricultural Aviation and Rain-making Department and the National Defence Technology Institute will start launching rockets into the atmosphere to make rains in next February or March.

Department director-general Mr Lersak Riewtrakulpaiboon said Thursday that development of rockets to be used in rain-making with the National Defence Technology had been satisfactory to the point that a launch of the rockets could be held next February or March.

He said that this project was in response to an initiative by His Majesty the King about 15 years about the possibility of using rockets to scatter chemicals in the air to seed clouds. A project, called Piroon 2, was launched 1982-1987 but the attempt to use rockets to make rains was not successful until cooperation was sought with the National Defence Technology Institute.

Mr Lersak said if the forthcoming test launch was successful, a report would be submitted to HM the King for acknowledgement.

The department has set up an operational base in Nakhon Sawan to coordinate rain-making efforts.

General Sompong Mukdasakul, director of National Defence Technology Institute, disclosed that earlier attempts to send a rocket to an altitude of up to 20,000 feet were a failure but recent test launch was successful.

The use of rockets instead of planes to seed clouds will save a lot of expenses. Also, rockets can be launched even during bad weather while planes have to be grounded.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/launch-of-rockets-for-rain-making-to-start-next-february-or-march


-- Thai PBS 2015-11-13

[Thailand]

Perhaps some form of dance could be done at the same time?

[JAG]

Umm, why would you fire of rain making rockets during " bad weather"?

[BuckBee]

^ A song & dance is what caused the problem.

they don't need rockets, what they need is diggers digging more reservoirs, this should of been implemented years ago & junta should of put a start on this well over a year ago but no they singing & dancing over lottery tickets, submarines & chinese railway project :-/ .

Farmers need water, tourists need water, factories need water . it needs to be dealt with & like yesterday ...

[NongKhaiKid]

Umm, why would you fire of rain making rockets during " bad weather"?

Thainess and then claim 100% success because it's raining !

[waldroj]

Using rockets (just like using aircraft) is only going to work if conditions are suitable. If the moisture is not present in the atmosphere to start with, then nothing will produce rain (either real or artificial).

If conditions are suitable, there is probably as much chance that any rain fall would have occurred without rocket power.

But, as NongKhaiKid identified, it will be attributed to the rockets!

[chainarong]

Well about time that new technology was used , I was starting to wonder about rainmaking department , of course let's make sure that the rockets are not in the flight path of P.M. Prayut - O plane, instead of rain the country would be covered in U Know what, for those that don't , it starts in " S ", happy rain making.............................

[noosard]

Who is down range from these rockets

Be the only thing coming down regular

[apetley]

A sceptic may believe this is just a cover for the development of Thailand's own missile program and all the 'rewards' that go with it. I couldn't possibly comment.

[whatawonderfulday]

The only rockets this crowd really need masquerading as a government department are the ones up their own back sides.

[skildpadden]

Well they do have their bang fai rockets - maybe put them into good use?

[waldroj]

News Flash - No rain today!

[DM07]

I would also sacrifice a goat- just for good measure!

[DrTuner]

Just have some army guys fly over with a chopper while taking a leak out the side door, claim it's rain and the silly peasant will be in awe.

[Reigntax]

Well about time that new technology was used , I was starting to wonder about rainmaking department , of course let's make sure that the rockets are not in the flight path of P.M. Prayut - O plane, instead of rain the country would be covered in U Know what, for those that don't , it starts in " S ", happy rain making.............................

Silliness?, stupidity?, smugness? or maybe shame?

[fred Kubasa]

This is way beyond ridiculous, not funny and probably will result in

shooting down a plane ot two." Cloud Seeding " done via plane, rockets,

or spitting has been abandoned by everyone. Everyone but Thailand who also

still count on holy rocks/trees/elephants etc. !

[mmh8]

I prefer it when they just do the bowing and wearing of little trinkets, leaving food around. surely someone ought to direct these buggers back to little rituals or dances instead of letting them loose on potentially dangerous toys.

Having seen an aircraft carrier sitting around, and rumours of subamarines I will be leaving the country and pity any that stay when they decide to go all nuclear.

I can just imagine the headlines- military decides its time to go nuclear, waste nuclear materials are being stored in what was previously rice storage for the infamous rice pledging scheme. One official who wishes to remain anonymous stated - we shall build a dirty bomb first using wastes we purchased on the cheap from Russia - once we have the dirty bomb sorted we shall start working on the atom bomb -

the other ASEAN states are eying these developments with interest, all except for Singapore who are putting into action the - seaworthy ship Singapore plan into action - this plan invovles cutting through the rocks at a depth of 1 km and inserting buoyancy aids and a big motor so they may navigate away from their <deleted> up neighbours in ASEAN.

[Hawk]

What next? Drones?

[fakename]

And, how much collateral damage on the ground?

[h90]

This is way beyond ridiculous, not funny and probably will result in

shooting down a plane ot two." Cloud Seeding " done via plane, rockets,

or spitting has been abandoned by everyone. Everyone but Thailand who also

still count on holy rocks/trees/elephants etc. !

Hello Iwan, Somchai from Thailand speaking: Can we buy these old Buk rockets for cloud seeding cheap cheap.......

[h90]

What next? Drones?

That would work so it is out of question....

[Srikcir]

Well about time that new technology was used , I was starting to wonder about rainmaking department , of course let's make sure that the rockets are not in the flight path of P.M. Prayut - O plane, instead of rain the country would be covered in U Know what, for those that don't , it starts in " S ", happy rain making.............................

Not really so new.

Use of 37-millimeter anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers to ‘seed’ clouds as been a favorite of China since its 2008 Weather Modification Program.

The University of Geneva has been working since 2008 on using lasers to induce rain. Initial tests show promise.

[Strangebrew]

Being quarter American Indian I could offer for a fee using Thailand's double Standard fee practice of one price for Thai's another for farang's and offer my rainmaking approved traditional rain dance. But will not accept any damage claims for flooding due poor drainage system that is here.

Edited November 13, 2015 by Strangebrew

[johnny49r]

Perhaps some form of dance could be done at the same time?

Dude, this is Thailand. Why fire off rain makers when it isn't raining?

[johnny49r]

Umm, why would you fire of rain making rockets during " bad weather"?

Stop asking silly questions. Just light the fuse, OK?

[worgeordie]

Anyone know were there are some war surplus V2 rockets,

as thats what its going to take.when all else fails turn to

Voodoo and black magic,if it fails ,then you can say the

gods are not with us,

regards worgeordie

[NoshowJones]

So a lot of us in some areas can expect to be flooded out of our homes next year?

[JAG]

Umm, why would you fire of rain making rockets during " bad weather"?

Stop asking silly questions. Just light the fuse, OK?

I can't, all this rain has made my matches wet!

[HomeinThailand]

The article makes it sound like cloud seeding is new technology. It has been around for decades. I guess it could be new for Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

The article makes it sound like cloud seeding is new technology. It has been around for decades. I guess it could be new for Thailand.

Everyone knows, it was not only researched and developed in Thailand, it was patented too.

That's why they have a drought right now.