Dr. Natthawat Hongkarnjanakul on Thailand’s Space Ambitions [S7.E4]

The Bangkok Podcast

Ahh, Thailand. Beaches, sunsets, late-night parties, serene temples, and…space technology design and future satellite launch site?

Greg interviews Dr. Natthawat Hongkarnjanakul of the Thai Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, essentially Thailand’s version of NASA. Dr. Natthawat begins with his background studying aerospace engineering in Thailand and later in France on a scholarship. Next, he talks about GISTDA, and the Thai government’s interest in space research. Greg notes that people do not normally think of Thailand when they think of space, but Dr. Natthawat states that Thailand uses satellites for data gathering for mapmaking, air quality monitoring, and for help during natural catastrophes such as floods or forest fires.

The two continue by going into more detail on the work of the Thai space agency. Dr. Natthawat points out that a big part of their work is educating the private sector in Thailand on the value of satellite data. Greg remembers reading about McDonald’s use of satellite images back in the day to plan its expansion, and Dr. Natthawat says that this is exactly right, that many big companies have realized the unique advantages of data from space.

Listen in for further discussion of the ‘space economy’ and the unheralded work of Thailand’s space agency.

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