NASA allowed to use Thailand's U-tapao airport

BANGKOK, October 4 (TNA) - The government has now allowed the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use the U-tapao military airport, located in Thailand's eastern Rayong province, for conducting a three-month climate research and has prepared to cooperate with the US agency. Thai Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat told journalists Thursday that a NASA aircraft to be used for the purpose has already been parked at the U-tapao military airport. NASA earlier scrapped this project, after the Thai government failed to approve it by June 26, 2012 deadline, amid domestic opposition by the Democrat Party and some anti-government groups. The Thai defence minister said that NASA earlier conducted similar studies in China and Cambodia, where there was not any problem, insisting if any problem was found in NASA’s operations in Thailand, security authorities concerned would discuss and find out solution to the crux. According to the defence minister, it is up to Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's decision on whether she will explain to the public regarding her government's policy on allowing NASA to conduct climate studies in the Kingdom. (TNA)