TEIN3 set to become vital pillar of THEOS satellite image transfer
Friday 5 June 2009 | Cambridge, UK:
DANTE and the Thai Space Agency (GISTDA) sign Memorandum of Understanding
Following its successful launch on 1 October 2008, the Thailand Earth Observation Satellite (THEOS) collects high-resolution images for analysis and deployment in areas such as cartography, land use, crop yield forecast, coastal zone monitoring, flood risk management and disaster response. Images outside the coverage area of the ground receiving station in Bangkok are transmitted to the ground receiving station in Kiruna in northern Sweden where, after inventory, they are currently sent by DVDs to the processing centre in Thailand.
Dr Thongchai Charapput and Dr Hans Doebbeling signing agreement Dr Hans Doebbeling (DANTE) and Dr Thongchai Charapput (GISTDA) signing the MoU To guarantee fast and reliable data transmission – particularly important in the case of time-critical disaster mitigation and response applications – DANTE, the research networking organisation, and GISTDA, the Thai Space Agency that runs the THEOS project, have been exploring the potential of high-speed networks such as GÉANT and TEIN3 to facilitate such satellite imagery transfer. This consultation has recently culminated in both parties signing an agreement on fostering collaboration to promote the use of the GÉANT and TEIN3 networks by THEOS.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 5 June at DANTE’s Headquarters in Cambridge by Dr Thongchai Charapput, current Director of GISTDA, and DANTE’s General Manager Dr Hans Doebbeling. The Thai delegation further comprised Ms Navanit Aphicholati, Director of the THEOS Project, as well as Mr Damrongrit Niammuad, engineer at THEOS Ground Control Station in SiRacha, ChonBuri (near Pattaya).
As a first step in this cooperation process DANTE, jointly with the Swedish NREN SUNET and the Thai counterpart ThaiREN, is providing assistance with setting up the network path over the GÉANT and TEIN3 network. In addition, discussions on joint promotional activities are underway.
