Thai moonshot plan gets priority-checked by Earthlings

Thailand wants to reach for the stars and send a satellite to orbit Luna, but not everyone is over the moon about the idea.

An education minister’s announcement that Thailand would build its own lunar spacecraft and launch facility within seven years – at an added expense to taxpayers – provoked those choking on more earthly matters to question his priorities.

“At a time when the PM 2.5 [pollution] can’t even be solved, you still dare to talk about the moon?” tweeted Vanvaree Talomsin, an opposition MP with the Move Forward Party, referring to smog crisis which hit a new high this morning, dropping Bangkok to rank the world’s third-worst in air quality. 

Can’t breathe today, Bangkok? Don’t look up, it’s ugly.

The idea was raised Monday by Anek Laothamatas – minister of higher education, science, research and innovation. During a news…