The Current Status of Space Technology Activities in Lao PDR

1. APRSAF-18
Communication Satellite Application
Working Group, 6-7 December 2011, Singapore
The Current Status of Space Technology
Activities i L
A ti iti in Lao PDR
Singthong Khamone
Deputy Director of Space and Terrestrial Affairs Division
Ministry of Post and Telecommunication
Vientiane, Lao PDR

2. Overview
O i
• Country Profile
• Government Policy on Space Technology
• Space Technology Application
• Space Technology Development
• Conclusion

3. Country P fil
C Profile
• Country Name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Land area: 236,800 sq. km
• Population: 6,000,000
• Capital : Vientiane ( population 600,000 )
• Covered by forest: 43%
C db f t
• Mountainous: 70 %
• Ethnics: 49
Eth i
• Official Language: Lao
• Currency: Kip ( 1 US$= 8 000 Kip )
8,000
• Economy: Agriculture, Forestry, Hydro-electric,
Mine, Service
Mine Service.

4. Government Policy
on Space Technology
• By the Prime Minister’ s Decree No. 401/PMO-NAST,
dated 21 March 2008 The Department of Space
Technology (DST) has been set up in April 2008
under the National Authority for Science and
d h N i lA h i f S i d
Technology (NAST).
• DST is mandated to the overall Management and
Administration of Space Technology in Lao PDR
PDR.
• DST consist of 3 Divisions:
1. General Affairs Division.
2.
2 Space and Terrestrial Affairs Division
Division.
3. Service Management Division.

5. Government Policy
on Space Technology
Role and Responsibility of DST:
-RResearch and draft the policy, strategy and various
h dd f h li d i
legislation for management , development and
application of Space Technology: Remote
li ti fS T h l R t
Sensing(RS), Geographic Information System
(GIS) and Global Position System(GPS);
- Reserve, manage, protect and utilize the orbital slot
of Lao Satellite (126°E);
(126 E);
- Manage and apply Lao PDR Satellite Control
Center(SCC);

6. Government Policy
on Space Technology
Role and Responsibility of DST (cont’d):
- Promote Space Technology Application: RS,GIS GPS
to serve socio-economic development;
i i d l
- Promote the research and development for the
construction of the rocket and satellite;
t ti f th k t d t llit
- Set up the database on space technology for
exchange with domestic and international
organizations;
- Human Resource Development on Space
Technology for various sector nationwide both central
and local levels;

7. Government Policy
on Space Technology
Role and Responsibility of DST (cont’d):
- Coordinate, meet, negotiate and cooperate with
various organizations both domestic and
i i i b hd i d
international in the field of Space Technology;
- St d and analyze the rule and regulations of the
Study d l th l d l ti f th
relevant Regional and International Space
Technology Organizations in order to apply for a
member of the latter ;
- Sign the Agreement Minute of Meeting and
Agreement,
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
various organizations related to Space Technology
Technology.

8. Space T h l
S Technology Application
A li ti
Ministries and organizations in Lao PDR used the
Space Technology :
-Ministry of Information and C
f f Culture,
(Radio Television Broadcasting via APSTAR,
Lao St
L Star TV Broadcasting via Thaicom) ;
B d ti i Th i )
-Ministry of Agriculture and forestry,
(Remote Sensing and GIS);
-Ministry of Education and Sports,
(Tele-education
(Tele education in National University of Laos);
-Ministry of Post Telecommunication,
(Telephone and Internet Services via Thaicom
Thaicom,
Intelsat and Inmarsat);

9. Space T h l
S Technology Application
A li ti
-Ministry of Public Work and Transportations,
(GIS for Urban Planning, Road Construction);
-Ministry of Energy and Mines
(Remote S
(R Sensing f Mi i Projects);
i for Mining P j )
-Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
(Meteorology Dept, R
(M t l D t Remote St Sensing C t )
i Center);
-National Bank of Lao PDR
(ATM Services via Satellite);
-National Geographic Department
(GIS for Land Mapping Management);
-Mekong River Commission
(Remote Sensing and GIS to monitor water level).
level)

10. International Cooperation
I t ti lC ti
1. UNOOSA
2. UNESCAP
3.
3 APRSAF
4. APSCO
5.
5 ASEAN
6. GISTDA
7.
7 NARIT

11. Space Technology D
S T h l Development
l t
• Preparatory phase for Lao Satellite Project (LAOSAT).
• Collect and analyze the data for socio-economic
study of LAOSAT;
• R
Reserve and protect the orbital slot and frequencies
d h bi l l df i
of LAOSAT (126°E);
• R t
Restore L S t llit C t l C t (SCC)
Lao Satellite Control Center (SCC).
• Cooperate with international companies to develop
Lao Satellite Project;
• Cooperate with GISTDA to organize Youth Capacity
Building on Space Technology Applications, use
Applications
map from THEOS to monitor agriculture productions
and tourist service in Luang Prabang City of Lao PDR;
• Cooperate with NARIT on Astronomy Activities.

12. Conclusion
C l i
We have a Ground Station Building (area 12 ha).
We are now planning to activate this Station.
We will be the National Center to provide
Satellite Data and Information to all related
organizations i L PDR
i ti in Lao PDR.
This Working Group is very important for us to
g p y p
learn from other countries.
We are very pleased to receive your comments
comments,
suggestions and recommendations.
E-mail: skhamone@gmail.com

13. THANK YOU