View source for Organization:Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency


{{Short description|Thai space agency}}
{{Infobox Space agency
| name          = Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency
| native_name   = {{lang|th|สำนักงานพัฒนาเทคโนโลยีอวกาศและภูมิสารสนเทศ}}
| acronym       = GISTDA
| image         = File:GISTDA LOGO.png
| size          = 
| owner         = Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation
| motto         = Delivering Values From Space
| caption       = 
| URL           = [http://www.gistda.or.th www.gistda.or.th]
| established   = 3 November 2000
| headquarters  = Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, <br /> Lak Si, [[Place:Bangkok|Bangkok]]
| spaceport     = GISTDA THEOS Control & Receiving Station (Si Racha) 
| budget        = 
}}
The '''Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization)''' ({{langx|th|สำนักงานพัฒนาเทคโนโลยีอวกาศและภูมิสารสนเทศ|Samnakngan Phatna Theknoloyi Awakat Lae Phumi Sansonthet
}}) or, in brief, '''GISTDA''' ({{langx|th|สทอภ}}), is a Thai space agency and space research organisation. It is responsible for [[Earth:Remote sensing|remote sensing]] and technology development satellites.

It has its offices in Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, [[Place:Bangkok|Bangkok]].<ref name="board">{{cite web|url=https://www.gistda.or.th/news_view.php?n_id=1438&lang=EN&lang=EN |title=GISTDA Administration – Executive Board|access-date=December 1, 2022|publisher=GISTDA}}</ref><ref name="Exec">{{cite web|url=https://www.gistda.or.th/news_view.php?n_id=1439&lang=EN&lang=EN |title=GISTDA Administration – Executive Team|access-date=December 1, 2022|publisher=GISTDA}}</ref>

== History ==
In 1971, Thailand had a satellite natural resource survey project by joining the NASA [[Engineering:Landsat 1|ERTS-1]], which is a project of the [[Organization:National Aeronautics and Space Administration|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA) under the operation of the National Research Council of Thailand at that time. Due to the success of the project, the status of the project has changed is the division level name to "[[Astronomy:Satellite imagery|Satellite Natural Resources Survey]] Division" in 1979.<ref>{{cite report|author=Suwit Ongsomwang|date=2000|title=Remote Sensing and GIS Activities in Thailand |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242269757_REMOTE_SENSING_AND_GIS_ACTIVITIES_IN_THAILAND|access-date=March 18, 2023|website=researchgate.net}}</ref>

In 2000, the Ministry of Science Technology and Environment has set up a new space technology unit by combining the Satellite Natural Resources Survey Division of Office of the National Research Council and the Department of Coordination and Promotion of [[Geographic information system]] Development Information Center of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Science Technology and Environment, into the name of Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization).<ref>{{cite web|title=Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization) (GISTDA)|date=25 November 2012
|url=http://oldweb.most.go.th/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90:geo-informatics-and-space-technology-development-agency-public-organization-gistda&catid=82&Itemid=485|publisher=Ministry of Science and Technology of Thailand
|access-date=March 18, 2023}}</ref>

==Satellite programs==

===THEOS===

GISTDA owns the [[Engineering:THEOS (satellite)|THEOS]] (Thaichote) satellite, which was launched by a Dnepr rocket from the Dombarovskiy Cosmodrome in Russia on 1 October 2008.<ref name="isstracker">{{cite web|title=THEOS (Thailand Earth Observation System)|date=June 14, 2012|url=https://isstracker.pl/en/satelity/33396|website=isstracker.pl|access-date=April 26, 2023}}</ref>

===THEOS-2 and 2A===

In June 2018, GISTDA selected [[Company:Airbus|Airbus]] to build the THEOS-2 satellite, an observation satellite that will replace THEOS satellite.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacetechasia.com/thailand-selects-airbus-for-theos-2-satellite-total-budget-238-million/|title=Thailand selects Airbus for Theos-2 satellite, total budget $238 million|date=2018-06-19 |publisher=spacetechasia}}</ref> The satellite was launched by the [[Engineering:Vega (rocket)|Vega]] rocket from [[Organization:Guiana Space Centre|Guiana Space Centre]] in French Guiana on 9 October 2023.<ref>[https://www.thairath.co.th/news/society/2731469 เปิดนาทีประวัติศาสตร์ ปล่อยดาวเทียมสัญชาติไทย "THEOS-2" ขึ้นสู่อวกาศแล้ว]</ref><ref>[https://www.komchadluek.net/news/society/560544 ปล่อยแล้ว 'ดาวเทียมธีออส 2' ขึ้นสู่วงโคจร ชมสด ภารกิจครั้งประวัติศาสตร์]</ref>

In October 2023, GISTDA made plans to launch an accompanying smallsat, THEOS-2A, on a PSLV. The satellite was launched on 12 January 2025 with flight PSLV-C62 from [[Astronomy:Satish Dhawan Space Centre|Satish Dhawan Space Centre]] in [[Place:India|India]].<ref>[https://www.posttoday.com/smart-city/736291 GISTDA ไฟเขียว ส่ง "ดาวเทียม THEOS-2A" สู่อวกาศ 12 ม.ค. 69]</ref> However, the satellite launch failed because the PSLV-C62 rocket malfunctioned during the final phase of the third stage. An anomaly in the stability control system caused the flight path to deviate from the planned trajectory, preventing the THEOS-2A satellite from entering orbit.<ref>[https://today.line.me/th/v3/article/rmveoYP ไม่สำเร็จ! ปฏิบัติการส่งดาวเทียม 'THEOS-2A' ขึ้นวงโคจร พบสิ่งผิดปกติ]</ref><ref>[https://www.springnews.co.th/news/hot-issue/861526 ถอดบทเรียน THEOS-2A ล้มเหลว ส่งดาวเทียมไม่ถึงวงโคจร แต่ได้องค์ความรู้มากมาย]</ref><ref>[https://www.msn.com/th-th/news/other/gistda-%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B8-theos-2a-%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%A3-%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5/ar-AA1U5YEy GISTDA แจงเหตุ THEOS-2A พลาดวงโคจร พร้อมแผนสร้างดวงใหม่ทันที]</ref>

===THEOS-3===

In September 2023, GISTDA announced their intention to build the third THEOS-3 satellite, an observation micro satellite in a [[Astronomy:Sun-synchronous orbit|Sun-synchronous orbit]]. Its design is based on the THEOS-2A satellite.<ref>[https://www.mhesi.go.th/index.php/news/9460-gistda-theos-3.html GISTDA เตรียมสร้าง THEOS-3 พร้อมจับมือผู้ประกอบการไทยผลิตชิ้นส่วนสร้างดาวเทียม]</ref><ref>[https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/tech/innovation/1087867 แผนสร้างดาวเทียม THEOS-3 ตามมาติดๆ หลัง THEOS-2 สู่อวกาศ ต.ค.นี้]</ref>

== Human spaceflight program ==
Although Thailand does not currently have its own astronauts, Pirada Techavijit, a satellite control team leader of the GISTDA, was previously selected to train for sub-orbital spaceflight with the Axe Apollo sub-orbital spaceflights aboard the [[Astronomy:XCOR Lynx|XCOR Lynx]] spaceplane in 2014.<ref>[https://mgronline.com/science/detail/9570000083941 นักบินอวกาศไทยคนแรกชวนเด็กไทยไปแตะอวกาศ]</ref> However, Unilever's plan to send people to space did not proceed because [[Company:XCOR Aerospace|XCOR Aerospace]], the developer of the Lynx spacecraft, went bankrupt in 2017. Had the mission succeeded, Pirada would have been the first Thai astronaut to reach outer space.<ref>[https://www.voicetv.co.th/read/96512 'พิรดา เตชะวิจิตร์' นักบินอวกาศคนแรกของไทย]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Astronomy:List of government space agencies|List of government space agencies]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110810211729/http://www.gistda.or.th/gistda_n/en/ New GISTDA English language website]

{{Public sector space agencies}}

[[Category:Space agencies]]



{{Sourceattribution|Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency}}