Kibo-ABC Member Countries' News: Thailand

SEMINAR REPORT
"Space : Infinite Assets for All Humankind"

The "Space : Infinite Assets for All Humankind" seminar was held on Friday 26th, May 2017, 08:30 am - 04:00 pm at Centara Grand Hotel (Central Plaza Ladprao), Bangkok, Thailand by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and National Science and the Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) with support from the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The seminar is a product of the planning of the National Space Exploration (NSE) project of GISTDA/NSTDA. Furthermore, several lectures and workshops from the field were held by GISTDA/NSTDA to encourage Thai researchers and scientists who were interested in research experiments & exploration in space. The 3rd Space Environment and Kibo Utilization Workshop (SEKUW) jointly organized by GISTDA, NSTDA and JAXA in February, 2017 in Bangkok was one of the workshops at which activities and utilization ideas as well as the cooperation between GISTDA and JAXA on the International Space Station (ISS)/Kibo were introduced and discussed.

This seminar was held as a comprehensive summary of these workshops and lectures.

Objectives of the seminar:

1. To advertise National Space Exploration Project in Thailand
2. To announce and declare purpose of GISTDA to promoted space experiment and exploration
3. To point out space experimental utilization and give information among researchers, teachers, expert, and people interested in space experiment and exploration by world leading space organizations
4. To open opportunities for oversea organizations to support and cooperate space experiments and exploration
5. To hold meetings of Thai researchers, teachers, and experts in space exploration field and space experiment field for benefit of Thailand

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Dr. Anond Snidvongs, executive director of GISTDA and the chairman of the seminar, made opening remarks. We were honored by Dr. Pairat Tachayapong who gave the keynote talk "Human Resources Development in Science, Technology and Innovation under the Royal Initiative." He is the secretary-general of Information Technology Foundation under The Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn : PSIT and a Senior Consultant of NSTDA.

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Figure 4. Dr. Kritchai Somsamarn, director of science media division: NSTDA

Dr. Kritchai Somsamarn, the director of science media division: NSTDA, briefed the audience on the background of space activities by presenting on space experiment activities in Thailand: Asian Try-zero G, Parabolic Flight, Space Seeds for Asian Future. It was received with great enthusiasm from Thai.

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Figure 5. Dr. Ammarin Pimnoo, head of National Space Exploration Project from GISTDA

Dr. AmmarinPimnoo, head of the National Space Exploration Project of GISTDA, gave details about the NSE project to the audience. The NSE project aims to bring ideas to perform on microgravity state. The process of this project is open to scientific proposals from interested parties and it allows other countries to join.

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Figure 6. Mr. Xu Yansong, division director, CNSA

Mr. Xu Yansong, division director of CNSA, talked about CNSA's missions and space activities. CNSA has been operating many missions such as launch vehicles, Science Missions (Quantum Experimental Mission (2016), Recoverable Micro Gravity Test Capsule(2015), Smile Mission for Solar Storm Study (2020) etc., and Chinese Space Station.

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Figure 7. Mr. Fumiaki Tanigaki and Mr. Masanobu Tsuji from JAXA

Mr. Fumiaki Tanigaki and Mr. Masanobu Tsuji from JAXA gave presentations on Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) and JAXA's space activities and utilization. For example, new policies of Kibo Utilization, platform for promoting small satellites deployment via J-SSOD, and various use of the Kibo Exposed Facility.

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Figure 8. Mr. Kem Oleg, director of department from Roscosmos

Mr. Kem Oleg, director of department from Roscosmos, presented on space policy priorities and instance experiment on ISS: materials in outer space, humankind in outer space, biotechnology etc.

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Figure 9. Reporters interviewed Dr. Pairat Tachayapong, Dr.Anond Snidvongs, and Dr. Kritchai Somsamarn regarding the National Space Experiment Seminar

Dr. Pairat Tachayapong and Dr. Anond Snidvongs gave interviews to reporters regarding the National Space Experiment Project and "Space : Infinite Assets for All Humankind". The event was broadcast on television news and published in newspapers.

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Figure 10. Atmosphere of brainstorming session

At a brainstorming session to discuss Space Experiments comments and suggestions were collected from Thai researchers and experts in science, engineering, and other involved fields.

In conclusion, 123 participants attended as well as 40 agencies, consisting of of:

• 15 government agencies
  (for example GISTDA / NSTDA / BIOTEC / NANOTEC / Department of Science Service / The Thailand Research Fund)
• 10 academies
  (for example Mahidol University / Kasetsart university / Mahanakorn University of Technology / Maefahluang University / Chulalongkorn University)
• 5 overseas agencies
  (for example CNSA / JAXA / ROSCOSMOS)
• 5 private companies
  (for example CAT Telecom Public Company / Thaicom Public Company Limited / ATHI Corporation Co.,Ltd. / TOT Public Company Limited / Hiveground Company)

* All photo credit: GISTDA