Satellite loss will not set back Thailand’s space ambitions - GISTDA

The failure and loss in India of the launch vehicle carrying Thailand’s new THEOS-2A Earth observation satellite into orbit on Monday is a setback, but it will not affect the morale or determination of the space agency and its engineers in developing a new satellite to strengthen Thailand’s capabilities in space technology development, said GISTDA today.

GISTDA said that the technological knowhow was not lost with satellite and “The knowledge and experience amassed by Thai engineers and Thai industry while they were building the ill-fated satellite are priceless invisible assets, which remain Intact.”

It said that the satellite and its launch were insured, so a replacement can be built and deployed.

The Thai space agency stressed that it did not buy the satellite from abroad, but had embedded more than 20 Thai engineers with the manufacturer in the UK for about two years, during which they learned from the experts and were engaged in the design, development, assembly and testing of satellites.

The lost high resolution THEOS-2A was equipped with technology to measure solar irradiance, the geomagnetic field and a GPS system.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said has reported that a malfunction in the third stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C62, which was carrying THEOS-2A and 15 other satellites, caused an anomaly in attitude control, resulting in a flight path deviation. This prevented all the satellites on board being carried into orbit.