Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency


The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency or, in brief, GISTDA, is a Thai space agency and space research organisation. It is responsible for remote sensing and technology development satellites.
It has its offices in Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, Bangkok.

History

In 1971, Thailand had a satellite natural resource survey project by joining the NASA ERTS-1, which is a project of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 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 "Satellite Natural Resources Survey Division" in 1979.
Later in 2000, the Ministry of Science Technology and Environment has set up a new unit by combining the Satellite Natural Resources Survey Division, Office of the National Research Council and the Coordinating and Promotion Department for Geographic Information and System Development, Information Center, Office of the Permanent Secretary for Science Technology and Environment in the name of Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency.

Satellite programs

THEOS

GISTDA owns the THEOS satellite, which was launched by a Dnepr rocket from the Dombarovskiy Cosmodrome in Russia on 1 October 2008.

THEOS-2

In June 2018, GISTDA selected Airbus to build the THEOS-2 satellite, an observation satellite that will replace THEOS satellite.