BANGKOK – Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) is in close coordination with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the launch of its high-resolution Earth observation satellite, THEOS-2A, encountered a major malfunction. The incident occurred shortly after liftoff from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, reported Thai PBS.

Thai Satellite KNACKSAT-2 Set for Launch

According to Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, the PSLV-C62 EOS-N1 rocket’s third stage malfunctioned after an otherwise smooth initial ascent. The four-stage rocket, which uses a combination of solid and liquid fuel stages, deviated from its intended flight path, affecting all payloads onboard, including the Thai satellite. Dr. Narayanan indicated there is now a high risk the payloads may re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.

Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) is coordinating with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on next steps after the launch of the Thai high-resolution Earth observation satellite, THEOS-2A, encountered problems.… pic.twitter.com/DuQOJhgXIX

— Thai PBS World (@ThaiPBSWorld) January 12, 2026

GISTDA acknowledged that such incidents can occur in space missions and described the failure as beyond its control. THEOS-2A was jointly developed by GISTDA and Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The satellite was designed to provide high-resolution imagery to support disaster management, environmental monitoring, agriculture, and urban planning.

Thailand’s THEOS-2 Satellite Launches Into Space

Both agencies are now evaluating next steps as they assess the status of the mission and potential recovery options.

-Thailand News (TN)