Military satellite to boost Thai air force capability
Thailand’s first military satellite is set for launch next month and will play a crucial role in the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Defence System.
The European Space Agency has scheduled the launch of the Napa 1 satellite on an Ariane Vega rocket at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, South America, on March 24.
The launch has been postponed twice, first in September last year and then in December.
A Bangkok Post report quoting an unnamed RTAF source said that the Napa 1 would have cameras crucial to the RTAF’s Defence System while strengthening national security and preventing threats.
The RTAF established a space operations centre on Aug 16 last year in a bid to enhance its operational capacity and upgrade the country’s capabilities in space missions.
The new centre aligns with the air force’s strategy, which includes “space” as a domain for operations ranging from surveillance and patrol, to the creation and maintenance of satellites and tracking of space objects.
The RTAF reportedly plans to propose a draft law to regulate and supervise space operations conducted by the air force and other government agencies.
Meanwhile, the national committee on space policy has set up a sub-committee to map out a policy and operations plan on tracking other satellites and orbiting objects, to keep pace with growing space traffic.
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the panel has assigned the Defence Ministry to draft the policy and the operation plan with support from related agencies.
Prawit’s spokeman Major General Patchasak Patirupanont said the formation of the panel was in line with the country’s 20-year draft blueprint on national space policy (2017-2036).
He said Thai communications satellites, survey satellites, and small satellites for educational purposes were already in orbit, and that the growing number of space objects and debris orbiting earth meant Thailand had to enhance its tracking and surveillance capabilities to avoid collisions and service disruptions.