Thailand

Minister’s insistence Thailand’s moon mission will go ahead sparks social media debate

Published

Saturday, December 26, 2020 10:32

Could this be what's to come? PHOTO: Envato Elements

Debate is raging on social media following a claim from the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, that Thailand’s plan to orbit the Moon is going ahead. Anek Laothamatas adds that it will be “mission accomplished” within the next 7 years, costing, “only 3 billion baht”.

A report in the Bangkok Post says that, according to Anek, Thailand will be producing satellites weighing 50–100 kilograms within 5 years, and in the following 3 years, will start building spaceships capable of going beyond the Earth’s orbit. He says we can all look forward to an official announcement on January 13.

“The new economy of space travel will be a way for Thailand to overcome the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and then to escape the middle-income trap, and the ministry will embrace creativity and innovation.”

Anek’s announcement has sparked debate on social media, with some saying the poverty and other social issues facing their fellow countrymen should take priority. Others defend Thailand’s right to develop a space exploration program in line with what other countries are doing. Here’s two opposing views shared on Twitter:

“Children living in mountainous areas still have to navigate treacherous terrain, wade through water and cross bridges to go to school. 3 billion baht can do a lot to solve current problems.”

“Other countries have already sent people to the moon, what are we doing? When we (Thais) plan to do it, critics ask why? I am waiting to see the reaction when electric vehicles are produced in Thailand.”

“Let’s see, critics who complained that we didn’t promote electric vehicles will soon begin to ask what the government plans to do with petrol vehicles and hybrids and that people will lose their jobs”

However, in the 2 weeks since Anek originally announced his ambitious plans for Thai space exploration, the response on social media has been mostly cynical.

Missions to the Moon have been conducted by these countries (in order)… the Soviet Union, the US, Japan, the European Space Agency, China, India, Luxembourg, and Israel. The Moon has also been visited by 5 spacecraft not dedicated to studying it; 4 spacecraft have flown past it to gain gravity assistance, and a radio telescope, Explorer 49, was placed into selenocentric orbit in order to use the Moon to block interference from terrestrial radio sources.

The Soviet Union were the first to have a spacecraft reach the Moon in 1959 and then have a spacecraft successfully land in a controlled landing in 1966. The US were the first to send manned missions to the Moon from 1969 to 1972. China recently sent a probe to the moon and successfully returned with 2 kilograms of moon soil and rock samples it collected during an unmanned 48 hour mission on the Moon.

Thailand has never successfully launched a rocket into space, let alone manage a mission to the Moon. On the other hand they do have a worthy history in land-based rocket launches as a kick start to any future ventures.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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24 Comments

Frank Leboeuf

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 10:34 am

Aaah, Alternate Space Quanrantine, the ultimate quarantine destination…

Reply
brian mc

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 10:49 am

surely the photo at the top of the story is clear proof theyve already been there and landed. what? converging shadows and multiple light sources? all normal, nasa proved this.
they tried to open a full moon bar there but it wasnt popular…. apparently the atmosphere was terrible

Reply
- Pasta Pasta
  
  Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 1:45 pm
  
  I knew I’d find a moon hoaxer here. Six times American astronauts walked on the moon. Twelve men in total. You know where you won’t find a moon hoaxer ? You won’t find one at Roscosmos. The Russians were watching and they know NASA’s moon landings really did happen. ALL SIX OF THEM.
  
  Reply
  - Issan John
    
    Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 7:31 pm
    
    I think your maths is flawed …
    
    Reply
    - Pasta Pasta
      
      Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 7:19 pm
      
      No, Issan John, my math is not wrong. What specifically are you disagreeing with? Apollos 11,12,14,15,16,and 17 all successfully landed crews. Two men walked on the moon each time. 6 and 12 is correct.
      
      Reply
  - brian mc
    
    Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 2:18 pm
    
    theres a really interesting video by american statement analyst peter hyatt. he did an analysis of an interview between patrick moore and armstrong. well worth a shufty.
    it was a follow-up after his fantastic analysis of the mccanns… also worth a butchers
    
    Reply
  - billyjones
    
    Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 4:11 pm
    
    haha why would you rely on the Soviets? Don’t forget the Americans let the Soviets conquer all of eastern europe in ww2 and they provided them with support and munitions even before they supposedly entered the war. You don’t find anything unusual about the Soviets invading Poland shortly after Germany yet no war was declared on the Soviets. Wake up.
    
    Reply
    - Pasta Pasta
      
      Monday, December 28, 2020 at 12:56 am
      
      Haha, so you think all six moon landings were faked. No way the second best space program in the world was in cahoots with NASA. That’s a weak argument. The footprints are there,and NASA left 3 cars on the moon from Apollo 15,16,and 17. Deal with it.
      
      Reply
Issan John

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm

“only 3 billion baht” … and “the response on social media has been mostly cynical”!

That must be one of Ed V’ s understatements of the day.

Absurd toys for the boys, along with submarines, aircraft carriers and Gold Lines.

Reply
- Dreamon
  
  Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 4:24 pm
  
  A window licker like you must be excited, you are a dictatorship supported, why aren’t you celebrate?
  
  Reply
  - Issan John
    
    Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 7:32 pm
    
    Only in your dreams, Dreamon.
    
    Reply
- preesy chepuce
  
  Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 4:13 pm
  
  Thai space stuff is usually built for them by Airbus, and they get training jollies out of it in Surrey and Toulouse. One of the potential income streams they are after is mobile internet using constellations of cubesats. Unlike military equipment, space equipment has a commercial dimension.
  
  Reply
Toby Andrews

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 1:01 pm

Going broke and going to the moon.
They really have a big opinion of themselves.
What about the $50 billion Kra Canal they were going to build?
They are just out of the rice fields, and foreign investment and a crooked export business makes the think they are going to the moon.

Reply
- Yogibaer
  
  Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 7:29 pm
  
  Not forget the Bridge Pattaya-Huahin…Thailand has a bright Future…??
  
  Reply
Yogibaer

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 3:38 pm

Thailand has a Long Tradition of constructing rockets….
I m Sure there are enough Experts to find in Yasothon?

Reply
Mrs armstrong aldin

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 5:20 pm

I see no reason why a tuktuk can not be adapted for this small step. If mr musk can do it no reason mr somchai can not either.

Reply
Jason

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 6:19 pm

Ok….maybe spend the money on your people…3 billion baht could go a long way right now 🙂

Reply
John

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 8:56 pm

NASA = 1960’s we sent a man to the moon
NASA = 2019 we still haven’t figured out to navigate the Van Allen radiation belt with manned spacecraft.

Reply
Bobby B

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 11:39 pm

A quick poll.

If you won the lottery and are about to book your space flight, who do you choose…

A. Space X, Elon Musk
B. Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson
C. Siam Rockets, Thailands Minister of Higher Education

Why, Thailand, why…

Reply
Ipaddressfunnycolors

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 2:36 am

I went “too the moon” last week. The coffee and food were good. its in bkk next to the river

Reply
- Chuck W
  
  Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 1:14 pm
  
  Interesting. I just got back from The Rocket on the Mars. Coffee not so good though.
  
  Reply
crispy

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 2:45 am

Militaries everywhere excel at doing what theyre told,but left on their own have little idea where to go.
Example: the military who decided to go to the moon.
See what I mean?

Reply
crispy

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 2:55 am

Militaries everywhere excel at doing what theyre told, but left on their own have little idea where to go.
Example: the military who decided to go to the moon, abandon their golden goose the tourism industry, mostly ignore the needs of a vast population with tongues hanging out in the middle of a pandemic, the country’s wealth going into projects dictated by the CCP, not spotting the glaring deficiencies and opportunities in its education systems.
See what I mean?

Reply
Roger C

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 3:43 am

Hey John (not Issan John), your Nasa quotes are lacking in context.

Reply

Maya Taylor

A seasoned writer, with a degree in Creative Writing. Over ten years' experience in producing blog and magazine articles, news reports and website content.

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