BANGKOK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is doing the final preparations for the launch of its first earth observation satellite called THEOS into orbit in October, Thai Science and Technology Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong said Friday.

    The THEOS project is expected to be completed in August or September and be launched into orbit in October as scheduled, the minister was quoted by Thai News Agency as saying.

    The French company EADS Astrium, a leading European satellite producer, was contracted by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) under Thai Ministry of Science and Technology in 2004 to build and deliver THEOS. Thai engineers working for the project have been trained in France.

    Installation of the satellite signal receiving systems at ground terminals began early January, while the testing is expected to begin in February, according to Yongyuth.

    The minister said the satellite will provide the kingdom with worldwide geo-referenced image products and image-processing capabilities for applications in cartography, land use, agricultural monitoring, forestry management, coastal zone monitoring and flood risk management.