Navy denies hosting Nasa gear

News > Local News

Agency's website claim takes govt by surprise

Published: 25 Jun 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Royal Thai Navy has denied that the US government's space agency has had aircraft or research equipment delivered to U-tapao airport in Rayong.

Royal Thai Fleet commander Kanat Thongpoon dismissed as baseless reports that US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) equipment is already being housed in the naval airbase in anticipation of the agency's proposed climate studies project, yet to be approved by the cabinet.

"It is absolutely untrue. No equipment is here. The navy must be informed of any thing coming in. There is no [Nasa] aircraft here," he said.

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mrcoop
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Discussion 14 : 25 Jun 2012 at 09.0314
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Just a thought, but as stated, at 21 Km's up the aircraft would not be detected by radar, but on the other hand uploading information to the satellites would go undetected also.
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svenviking
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Discussion 13 : 25 Jun 2012 at 08.5813
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@#7
Aid and military assistance are just other worlds for bribes and they only aid and increase the corruption so yes, Thailand will do better without it.
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orange
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Discussion 12 : 25 Jun 2012 at 08.5612
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As I understand it, Lockheed's U-2 aircraft is a spy plane and NASA's modified version of it is the ER-2, unable to carry passengers the modidified spy plane is used for civilian weather research. NASA is a civilian organization that was involved in a US government cover-up of a 1960's spy mission over Russia. That mission was claimed to be a weather research study, earlier this month the pilot of the U-2 that was captured by the Russians was awarded a silver star.
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sirron

Discussion 11 : 25 Jun 2012 at 07.4711
As for the alleged ER2 use, does a plane undetectable by radar at 21K need permission to fly anywhere?
from iPhone application.
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rebel4ever
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Discussion 10 : 25 Jun 2012 at 07.4110
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A government must make its own clear decisions, but this government keeps silent and let the MP's, opposition, the press and the public do the talking. Everybody has its own opinion, goal and (hidden)agenda. It just keeps dragging on. The longer it takes, the more difficult this issue is becoming and eventually NASA will decide because this government is unable to do so.... Bad for Thai science and bad for Thailand's image...
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mitrapaap
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Discussion 9 : 25 Jun 2012 at 07.249
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Lookmoo D1: If they 'planned' to ship the container on May 18, why would they not have 'planned' to ask Thailand even before that date? Why ask only now and push Thailand for an answer?

Could it be they planned the following scenario: Prepare everything and get it ready (or even shipped), in a late stage ask Thailand for permission and give a short deadline so they don't have time to investigate too much, assuming that the Thai reaction will be something like 'oh, NASA wants to use Thailand, wow, what an opportunity (NASA always sounds good and the polls confirm the reaction)?

Again, why not ask earlier? Can Thailand ask to use a US air base for two month and get the okay back in 24 hours?
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bula
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Discussion 8 : 25 Jun 2012 at 06.268
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The Prachathipat party does not even know what is project management. The calendar on NASA website is not an actual project schedule but a projected/forecast one. It is OK if the oppositions asked the NASA to clarify but they used it to accused the government on anything they can dream of. Prachathipat party must not forget that the government is following through the agreement that was signed by AV administration that did not need permission from parliament.
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rat
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Discussion 7 : 25 Jun 2012 at 06.067
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Please NASA pull out of this deal, go somewhere else. Also,pull all our Aid and Military Assistance to this country. Do business only with friendly countries.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 6 : 25 Jun 2012 at 05.596
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Politicians of both sides make even the simplest of things so complicated.
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ykcir9
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Discussion 5 : 25 Jun 2012 at 03.485
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the plot thickens . is nasa here or not? does the miatary know whats happening is their country , or is there quiet agreement the government isnt telling? interesting
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