The Theos contract includes the production and launch of one optical satellite, as well as the development of the ground segment necessary to operate and control the satellite directly from Thailand.

This is naturally accompanied by state of the art facilities for image archiving and processing. The Theos satellite is based on the new generation of EADS Astrium Optical Earth Observation high performance satellites, the AstroSat product line, and benefits from EADS Astrium's extensive experience in this field which started with the SPOT and METOP satellites.

As part of the Theos contract, Thai engineers will join the EADS Astrium development team and will attend intensive space programme training. This cooperation contract paves the way for further development of GISTDA and space activities in Thailand.

The Theos satellite payload features both high resolution in panchromatic mode and wide field of view in multispectral mode and has been tailored to Thailand's specific needs with a worldwide imaging capability. It will be launched mid 2007 on a sun synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 820km.

This is a major achievement and the third export cooperation contract in the field of Earth observation signed by EADS Astrium in Asia after the ROCSAT-2 satellite, built for the Republic of China, successfully launched in May 2004 and the KOMPSAT-2 satellite for Korea.

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