GISTDA to push Thailand toward NASA’s Artemis lunar, Mars mission

2026-03-23 - 12:21

BANGKOK — Thailand is moving to stake a place in space exploration as the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) joined forces with 40 public and private organizations to push for involvement in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually send them to Mars. The announcement came during a national conference on advanced space research at Pullman King Power Bangkok on 23 March. The event, chaired by Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, brought together government officials, academics, private-sector representatives, and the U.S. ambassador’s office in Thailand. Dr. Nattawat Hongkanjanakul, GISTDA spokesperson, said the world is entering a “New Space Economy,” where private companies and emerging nations can contribute to rockets, satellites, and new space-based business models. “This seminar is a key step in boosting Thailand’s space capabilities. It lets us assess technological strengths, develop a strategic white paper, and prepare for formal collaboration with NASA under Artemis,” he said. Dr. Nattawat added that Thai expertise and technology could feature in future Artemis missions, possibly including Artemis III or IV.