THEOS-2

THEOS-2
Mission typeEarth Observation
OperatorGISTDA
COSPAR ID2023-155A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.58016Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerAirbus Defence and Space
Start of mission
Launch date9 October 2023
RocketVega
Launch siteGuiana Space Centre
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous, LEO
Eccentricity≈0

THEOS-2 (Thailand Earth Observation System-2), is a Thai Earth observation satellite capable of observing Earth's surface with a resolution of up to 50cm, and covering about 74,000 square kilometers per day. It is the second generation of the Thai Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency earth observation system, following the THEOS satellite launched in 2008.

Development and mission

THEOS-2 was constructed by Airbus on an AstroBus-S satellite bus in conjunction with Thai engineers. System testing occurred in Thailand at the Satellite Assembly and Testing Center in Si Racha district, Chonburi province. In March 2017, the Thai government announced ฿7.8 million in funding for the development and launch of THEOS-2.

THEOS-2 was launched by a Vega rocket from Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana on 9 October 2023. Its planned lifespan is 5 years.

Following THEOS-2, Thailand intends to build the THEOS-3 satellite completely domestically as its replacement.

Specifications

The satellite's dimensions are 1.2 meters by 1.2 meters by 1.8 meters, and its weight (including fuel) is approximately 455 kilograms. Its primary payload is an imaging system with a resolution of 2 meters in multispectral imaging mode and 50 centimeters in panchromatic imaging mode.

THEOS-2A

As part of the THEOS-2 project, a small satellite known as THEOS-2 SmallSat or THEOS-2A, constructed by Surrey Satellite Technology, was planned to be part of the GISTDA's Development Survey Satellite System Project (โครงการระบบดาวเทียมสำรวจเพื่อการพัฒนา) together with THEOS-2. THEOS-2A was lost in the PSLV-C62 launch accident on 12 January 2026.

References

  1. ↑ "Thailand to launch its second Earth satellite next week". Thai Public Broadcasting Service. 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  2. ↑ "ไทยส่ง 'THEOS-2' ไปอวกาศ7ต.ค.นี้-เป็นดาวเทียมสำรวจโลกรายละเอียดสูง" (in Thai). Civilian Security Organization. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  3. 1 2 Malisuwan, Settapong; Munikanond, Charnvit; Delmaire, Cattleya; Kaewphanuekrungsi, Wassana (2022-10-31). "Earth Observation Ground Station Systems of KMITL-ECSTAR Research Center". 2022 3rd International Conference on Next Generation Computing Applications (NextComp): 1–4. doi:10.1109/NextComp55567.2022.9932160.
  4. ↑ Goh, Deyana (2018-06-19). "Thailand selects Airbus for Theos-2 satellite, total budget $238 million". SpaceTech Asia. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  5. ↑ "เปิดนาทีประวัติศาสตร์ ปล่อยดาวเทียมสัญชาติไทย "THEOS-2" ขึ้นสู่อวกาศแล้ว". www.thairath.co.th (in Thai). 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  6. ↑ "The launch of Arianespace Flight VV23 is a smallsat deployment success". Satnews. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  7. 1 2 Premjit, Wannaporn (2023-10-09). "ปล่อยแล้ว 'ดาวเทียมธีออส 2' ขึ้นสู่วงโคจร ชมสด ภารกิจครั้งประวัติศาสตร์". www.komchadluek.net (in Thai). Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  8. ↑ "2 satellites under Thailand's Theos-2 project ready to take off". The Nation. 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  9. ↑ "The THEOS-2 satellite launching into space". www.thailand.go.th. 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  10. ↑ "THEOS-2 Airbus-built satellite for Thailand successfully launched". www.airbus.com. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2026-11-06.
  11. ↑ "Earth observation satellite update 2022". GISTDA. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  12. ↑ "GISTDA: THEOS-2A launch fails after PSLV technical issue". nationthailand. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-01-13.