A diminutive Lampang woman is set to go where no Thai has gone before after triumphing in a string of contests and camps to win a six-minute ride in space next year.
Pirada Techavijit, 30, appeared Feb. 19 at her alma mater, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in Bangkok, to help the university open its Ionosphere and GNSS Data Center and encourage Thai youths to study science.
(L to R) Assoc. Prof. Supan Tungjitkusolmun, Associate Dean of KMITL’s Faculty of Engineering; Asst. Prof Prasert Kenpunkor from KMITL’s Faculty of Engineering; Assoc. Prof. Pornchai Supnithi from KMITL’s Faculty of Engineering; Pirada Techavijit, an alumni of KMITL’s Faculty of Engineering and soon to be Thailand’s first space traveler; Dr. Suchatvee Suwansawat, Dean of KMITL’s Faculty of Engineering; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yutthapong Rangsunseri, President of the Telecommunication Engineering curriculum at KMITL.
A satellite engineer for the Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency for the past five years, Pirada began her journey into space after earning a specialized master’s degree in embedded systems from Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique in Toulouse, France. Upon returning home, she prepared aggressively to win the “Fans of Apollo 13” television contest, knowing the top three finishers would qualify for a “trip into space” contest sponsored by Axe-brand deodorants and Space Exploration Corp. of the U.S.
Pirada and her two male co-contestants trained with the Royal Thai Air Force and, for a week, at a “space camp” in Florida, where she was selected as Thailand’s representative. She told the media she believes she was chosen because of her science and engineering education, which both Thai men lacked.
In all, she is just one of 62 people worldwide selected for the ride into space above the Lynx Mark II sub-orbital aircraft. The flight will reach a top altitude of 103km and will cut engines for six minutes to allow her to float weightlessly, take photos and possibly perform a science experiment.
Pirada will next undergo training in the U.S. before making her flight.
