THEOS-2 (THailand Earth Observation System-2) is a very-high-resolution Earth observation optical satellite provided by Airbus Defence and Space to support the Kingdom of Thailand’s development priorities.
THEOS-2 will provide imagery at resolutions of up to 0.5 m to provide service continuity for the 15-year-old THEOS-1.
The Vega VV23 mission carrying THEOS-2 reached Earth orbit at 09:30 hrs. (GMT+7) on 2023-10-09.
GISTDA characterizes THEOS-2 as Thailand’s first earth observation satellite capable of providing imagery with very high resolution.
THEOS-2 was launched aboard a Vega rocket on mission VV23 from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana.
Following insertion into its designated orbit, THEOS-2 will transition to operational mode, including testing the control system and establishing communication with ground stations.
THEOS-2 is a Thai satellite launched on 2023-10-09 at 08:36 hrs. (GMT+7).
THEOS-2 has a mass of 417 kg and was built by Airbus Defence and Space for Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency.
THEOS-2 (THailand Earth Observation System-2) is a very-high-resolution Earth observation optical satellite provided by Airbus Defence and Space to support the Kingdom of Thailand’s development priorities.
The first of the two original Vega launches is scheduled for 2023-10-06 and will place THEOS-2, FORMOSAR-7R/TRITON, and 10 smallsat secondary payloads into orbit.
GISTDA, a state-owned organization, operates THEOS-2.
THEOS-2 was scheduled to launch on Saturday, 2023-10-07 at 8:36 AM Thai time from the Guiana Space Center in South America.
Once launched, THEOS-2 will take approximately 5–7 days to adjust to its operational orbit.
THEOS-2 will complement THEOS-1, which was launched in 2008 for Thailand.
THEOS-2 is part of the nexgen national geo-information system provided by Airbus Defence and Space in support of the Kingdom of Thailand’s key development priorities.
THEOS-2 is manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space for the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand and is a Vega C customer payload.
GISTDA will operate THEOS-2 SmallSAT from Thailand.
GISTDA will operate the THEOS-2 SmallSAT from Thailand with SSTL providing support for early operations.
The THEOS-2 SmallSAT program represents SSTL’s second collaboration with Thailand after SSTL trained Thai customer engineers during the 1995–1997 Thai-Paht mission.
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) shipped the THEOS-2 SmallSAT, a 100 kg Earth observation satellite, to the Thai Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) in Sri Racha, Thailand.