| National Points of Contact |
| Thailand |
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| Pathara Limsira |
Ravit Sachasiri |
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SGAC Thailand
Welcome to the page of SGAC Thailand, the land of thousand smiles! We use the word “Sawasdee / สวัสดี” for greeting and “Awagrad / อวกาศ” for space. You have found the right spot if you are interested in Space-related subjects in Thailand, and we hope that you will join our network. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact any of the NPoCs of Thailand!
At the moment, Thailand does not have a single national space agency, but multiple space-related agencies. Thailand also lacks of space national legislation to implement obligations under space treaties signed by Thailand. However, the awareness for space is still high, and people are beginning to see beyond the image of “being an astronaut.” The importance of space is widely recognised among the young generations and terms like NASA, space shuttle or GPS are normal topics of discussion among them. Young Thai students aspire to emulate heroes they see on television and among them – doctors, engineers and astronauts lead the pack. Thailand has been in Space for almost 20 years, with the launch of the first Thai Communication Satellite – THAICOM I. Four more THAICOM satellites followed, and in 2008, Thailand launched its first Earth Observation Satellite called Thailand Earth Observation System (THEOS), which is the first Earth Observation Satellite in South-East Asia. THEOS satellite has been used for natural resource management and natural disaster planning and mitigation. Yearly, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), the operator of THEOS, visits schools and universities, as well as invite student to visit the THEOS ground station to interact with students on topics of remote sensing and satellite technology. The establishment of SGAC is still at the beginning stage, but we are very confident that Thailand can progress brightly into the future!
Young Space Activities Overview in Thailand
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Two SGAC members at "Career day and Space Camp"
at PSU, Phuket |
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Currently, space activities in Thailand are limited mainly to Government Agencies. However, students groups and universities are now emerging in this field. Recently, the “Thailand Near Space Research Group” launched the first high altitude balloon with sensors and tracking devices in order to study the higher atmosphere. The project was self-funded and the students basically used their own funding and capabilities without external help. This shows the interests that Thai youth have on the final frontier - space.
Kasetsart University, one of the leading universities in Thailand is now offering courses in Aeronautical Engineering in both English and Thai. The King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) and its students are quite active in robotics competitions throughout the world and all these factors are favorable for a better future for the space industry in Thailand. The Asian Institute of Technology also holds an annual robotics competition which forms a base for robots that will be used for space exploration
Country-Specific Events in 2012
- GISTDA Youth Ambassador – The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) will be introducing their newest youth outreach project, the GISTDA Youth Ambassador. GISTDA Youth Ambassadors will be selected based on space-related scientific competitions whereby students will have the opportunity to visit the satellite ground station and the two selected ambassadors will be awarded with a fully-funded International educational trip.
- Cassini Scientist for a day essay writing competition: The 2012 edition of the Cassini Scientist for a day is also part of the GISTDA Youth Ambassador program. It will contribute points towards the final selection of the GISTDA Youth Ambassador. The Cassini Scientist for a day essay writing competition will now be in its third year.
- Asian Conference on Remote Sensing: This is the fifth time that the conference is coming back to Thailand. The ACRS has special sessions for students and we hope to have lots of students from around Asia and pacific region in Thailand this year for the ACRS.
- APAN workshop in Chiang Mai. The APAN workshop includes an earth monitoring workshop with special attention to satellite based earth monitoring system.
- GISTDA Youth Space: The camp will make its rounds around Thailand. The Youth Space Camp is an educational project initiated by GISTDA. During the Youth Space Camp, scientist and engineers from GISTDA will visit and stay at the school for 3 to 5 days and educate the students about all space related subjects in a fun and informational way. Field work including using a GPS receiver, studying maps, star watching and learning about Satellite Remote Sensing Technologies are all part of the day’s work. The space camp is conducted at least twice per year and more, if demanded.
- The Ground Station of THEOS Satellite also hosts a public day annually and in 2012, public day will coincide with the grand opening of the second phase of the ground station and the museum. On this day, the ground station is open to all visitors. Engineers and Scientists will have several educational centers discussing the different work required in operating an Earth Observation Satellite. The day will be full of activities aimed at schoolchildren and teachers.
Interesting Web Links for the Young Generation in Thailand
Groups and Institutions
Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) – www.gistda.or.th
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