BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s first domestically developed Earth observation satellite THEOS-2A failed to reach its intended orbit after launch from India, following an anomaly in a late phase of the rocket’s flight.
Launch from India ends in setback
The THEOS-2A satellite was launched on Monday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in southeastern India. The mission was led by Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) in cooperation with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). THEOS-2A had been designed to deliver high-resolution data for disaster management, environmental monitoring and more precise government planning.
Third-stage anomaly alters flight profile
According to ISRO, the problem occurred in the third stage of the launch vehicle, when an anomaly in the flight profile caused an unexpected change in the rocket’s roll motion. ISRO President V Narayanan said the technical malfunction was a consequence of the altered trajectory at this stage.
“The anomaly during the third stage affected the intended orbit of the satellite.”
said V Narayanan, ISRO President.
Uncertain fate of 100-kilogram satellite
It was confirmed that the roughly 100-kilogram satellite did not reach its planned orbit. Current analysis pointed to two possible scenarios: the satellite may have fallen back to Earth, or it may be in an incorrect orbit. Either outcome would prevent the planned regular operation of the system, while detailed data on the actual trajectory were still being evaluated.
Joint investigation by Thai and Indian teams
The launch sequence had been streamed live on Facebook by Gistda, but the transmission was briefly interrupted. After the problem became known, engineering teams from Gistda and ISRO began working together to analyse the flight data. Both organisations were reviewing telemetry to identify the exact cause of the anomaly and detect weaknesses in the system design, aiming to draw technical and organisational lessons from the failure.
Strategic blow, but lessons for future missions
THEOS-2A had been planned as a symbol of Thailand’s move into a broader space and technology strategy. The satellite was expected to improve data accuracy for policy decisions and support the development of domestic technologies. According to Gistda, THEOS-2A could still serve as a technological foundation for a follow-on mission, THEOS-3, and the agency viewed the failure as a setback but also a learning step toward a stronger presence in space.
Work on solutions to continue
The newspaper Bangkok Post reported that work on remedies and future missions would continue despite the failed launch. Authorities stressed that analysing the incident was crucial for future launches and for the safety of subsequent missions.