Thailand boasts over 35,000 enterprises directly influencing or benefiting from the space economy. These contribute an aggregated economic worth of approximately 56 billion baht annually, states KMITL’s rector, Associate Professor Komsan Maleesee.
The proposition of a regional space hub kindles the prospect of novel career possibilities in a vast array of professions. Along with showcasing exhilarating career prospects, a regional hub would enable local authorities to deploy space technology for disaster prediction and monitoring. This would facilitate the tracking of natural calamities like floods and droughts, PM2.5 air pollution, forest fires, and climate change repercussions, thereby promoting public safety.
International space organizations have conducted extensive research and chosen Chumphon province as a promising location for this groundbreaking project. Its proximity to the Equator makes it an ideal spot for a spaceport erection. With the establishment of the new space hub, Thailand joins the elite association of top-notch launch facility hosts, including Africa, Brazil, and the Philippines.
The space hub’s underlying goal extends beyond a launchpad for spaceships. It aspires to act as a center for learning and research in the progressive field of space innovation and technology. It would serve as a nurturing ground for academicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, and students harboring keen interest in this domain. The hub comprises five main components:
1. A highly advanced Very High Frequency (VHF) weather station furnished with space radar was constructed in 2020. This project was a joint venture with Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. This server holds the title of being Asia’s maiden space-based weather station and is strategically placed in one of the four most advantageous locations globally.
2. An Earthquake and Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre equipped with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). This center was inaugurated in April this year, established by the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation in collaboration with local authorities.
3. The Excellence Centre of Space Technology and Research (ECSTAR) is instrumental in spearheading space innovation and technology advancements like satellite development and launch.
4. The Institute of Space-Earth Environment Research prioritizes the downstream applications of space technology, focusing on aspects like satellite imagery to promote forest protection and natural security.
5. The Space Learning Park is an educational hub for space learning and exploration for individuals of all ages. This center is integral to the public’s knowledge about the space economy and its numerous advantages.
Be First to Comment