On September 21, 2025, the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (China) (Affiliated to the United Nations) (RCSSTEAP) and Thailand's Mahanakorn University of Technology held a bilateral meeting at the Beihang Hangzhou International Campus and officially signed a cooperation agreement on education and research in small satellite technology. This agreement marks a significant step forward in China's international cooperation on space science education.
According to the agreement, the two sides will leverage the experience and teaching resources of Beihang University in the field of small satellite technology to carry out cooperation in three key areas:
1. Joint Laboratory: The two sides will establish a "China-Thailand Joint Laboratory on Small Satellites" to develop microsatellite models, advance R&D in micro- and nano-satellite technology, and cultivate high-level professionals in this field.
2. Curriculum Development: The partners will design a small satellite technology curriculum tailored to the needs of Southeast Asia, with the goal of cultivating high-quality aerospace talent in Thailand.
3. Joint Student Training: A joint training mechanism will be established, under which outstanding Thai students will be selected annually to participate in practical satellite development projects at Beihang University.
As an international cooperation demonstration zone, the Beihang Hangzhou International Campus will provide access to advanced satellite development laboratories and ground-based telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) facilities. The Vice President of Mahanakorn University of Technology stated, "This cooperation will significantly enhance Thailand's capabilities in space technology and inject new momentum into the cultivation of aerospace talent in Southeast Asia."
The cooperation agreement is an important initiative by Beihang University to advance the development of the "Belt and Road" Aerospace Innovation Alliance, and it will further promote the application of China's space education standards and technological achievements in Southeast Asia.
