Bangkok, Thailand – July 7, 2026 The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), has announced significant progress in the development of THEOS-3, Thailand’s next-generation Earth observation satellite. The project represents the highest level of participation by Thai personnel in a satellite development program in the nation’s history, building upon the knowledge and experience gained from the THEOS-2A project.

THEOS-3 is being developed with Thai engineers playing key roles throughout the entire lifecycle of the mission, from mission design, structural development, electronic circuit and onboard software development, to the establishment of a fully integrated ground segment system.

The project is designed to strengthen Thailand’s capabilities in three key areas: human resource development, infrastructure development, and space industry advancement. To date, more than 1,000 Thai engineers, students, and academic personnel from universities across the country have benefited from knowledge transfer and capacity-building activities under the program.

In parallel, the project has contributed to the enhancement of Thailand’s space infrastructure, including cleanroom facilities, satellite testing equipment, and essential software systems required for satellite assembly, integration, and testing within the country.

THEOS-3 also aims to promote the growth of Thailand’s domestic space industry by enabling local companies to participate in the space supply chain. Through the adoption of space-grade manufacturing standards, Thai enterprises are being equipped to compete in international markets and seize future opportunities in the global space economy.

The satellite has been designed based on requirements gathered from more than 30 government agencies and stakeholders. Its mission will support a wide range of applications, particularly in agriculture, disaster management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Planned applications include soil moisture assessment, carbon credit monitoring and evaluation, green space analysis, urban heat island monitoring, and drought index assessment for agricultural areas.

The project continues to make steady progress. The first batch of Engineering Model (EM) hardware, including the satellite processing system, mission data handling system, and primary imaging payload, has already been delivered to Thailand. Thai engineers are currently conducting unit-level performance testing to verify system readiness prior to integration with satellite software developed domestically.

The next batch of Engineering Model equipment is scheduled for delivery between June and August 2026, marking another important milestone before the commencement of FlatSat assembly and system-level testing at the National Assembly, Integration and Test Center (NAIT) cleanroom facility in the second quarter of 2027.

THEOS-3 represents a major step forward in Thailand’s transition from a user of space technology to a developer and owner of indigenous space capabilities. The project will strengthen national data sovereignty, reduce reliance on foreign technologies, and establish a strong foundation for the growth of Thailand’s space economy in the years ahead.

About Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA)

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization), under Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, is Thailand’s national space agency responsible for developing space technology and geo-informatics capabilities for national development. Visit us at http://www.gistda.or.th

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