The satellite could be operational in 2021, when the ministry's lease contract for the Thaicom satellite is due to expire, according to ministry sources. Defence Ministry spokesman Khongcheep Tantrawanich said Wednesday the ministry should have its own satellite for security-related tasks, though a satellite would also be shared with other state agencies. "Right now, we are developing human resources [for satellite technology]," he said. According to ministry sources, the defence council had ordered the Defence Technology Institute (DTI) and the ministry's space affairs and cyber centre to assess the "THEIA" satellite project. In January, Deputy Prime Minister ACM Prajin Juntong, who leads the national space policy committee, visited the US, to discuss the satellite programme.

Source: Bangkok Post May 30, 2018 23:26 UTC