Thailand To Launch Environment Satellite In November

The Thailand Earth Observation Systems (Theos) satellite.

by Staff Writers
Bangkok (AFP) Aug 06, 2007
Thailand plans to launch its first environmental satellite in November to help officials survey natural resources, cope with disasters and even fight drug trafficking, an official said Monday. The Theos satellite, whose name stands for Thailand Earth Observation Systems, has been under study and construction for two years, according to Thai space official Charnchai Peanvijarnpong. "The satellite will help us predict the chances of droughts or floods," said Charnchai, who is deputy director of Geo-Informatics at the government's Space Technology Development Agency.

The satellite will be able to monitor food crops but will also help counter-narcotics officials keep an eye on production of opium poppies and other illicit crops, he said.

"It will help state officials in suppressing illegal logging and drugs trafficking, while estimating the size of a number of other crops," Charnchai told AFP.

Several state agencies have already signed contracts to use the satellite's service, including the Royal Irrigation Department, the Office of Narcotics Control Board, the Natural Parks Department and the Defence Ministry, he said.

The project cost about six billion baht (179 million dollars). Work on Theos was done in cooperation with European space company EADS Astrium, he said.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application

EARTH OBSERVATION

Mapping Mountains From Space With GOCE

Paris (ESA) Aug 02, 2007
How high is Mount Everest exactly? Recent surveys have come up with heights that differ by more than five metres. An expedition called the Geodetic Journey is making its way through China and Tibet to highlight the importance of geodesy and how an accurate model of the geoid from ESA's GOCE mission will lead to a unified system for measuring heights. Geodesy is concerned with measuring and mapping the shape of the Earth's surface, to the benefit of all branches of Earth sciences and has many practical applications. Although surveying techniques go back thousands of years, it traditionally involves taking very precise three-dimensional positioning of points. It is the means by which the surface of the Earth is mapped and is also essential in the field of engineering and construction.

ENERGY TECH Russian Oil-Fuelled Boom Continues Energy Future For Yemen Remains Unclear Putin Calls For Clear Foreign Investment Rules In Energy Sector Berkeley Lab Offers Ultraclean Combustion Technology For Electricity Generation	CIVIL NUCLEAR Areva Buys Canadian Uranium Producer And Sees Production Boost US Congress Targets Iranian Energy Investment EBRD Gives Ukraine 368 M Euros For New Chernobyl Sarcophagus IAEA Inspects Quake-Hit Nuclear Plant In Japan
BLUE SKY Invisible Gases Form Most Organic Haze In Both Urban And Rural Areas BAE Systems Completes Major New Facility For Ionospheric Physics Research NASA Satellite Captures First View Of Night-Shining Clouds Main Component For World Latest Satellite To Measure Greenhouse Gases Delivered	WOOD PILE Indian State Plants 10 Million Trees In One Day East Africa Battles Deforestation With Butterfly Nets Peru Launches Drive To Regrow Lost Forests And Jungles Increase In Creeping Vines Signals Major Shift In Southern US Forests
FARM NEWS Wild Weather Forces Farmers To Adapt Researcher Studies Proteins That Make Rice Flourish Asian Land Grabs Highlight Class Friction And Bureaucratic Failures Natural Disasters Hit Chinese Grain Output	CAR TECH Nissan To Launch First Clean Diesel Vehicle Next Year See What You're Spewing As You Speed Along Toyota To Test Electric Plug-In Hybrid Prius Cars Toyota Plug-In Hybrid To Hit The Roads
AEROSPACE Boeing Flies Blended Wing Body Research Aircraft Steering Aircraft Clear Of Choppy Air EAA AirVenture 2007 Sensors May Monitor Aircraft For Defects Continuously	NUCLEAR SPACE Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement