BANGKOK - Thai cabinet meeting on Tuesday decided to have NASA request to be debated in the upcoming parliamentary meeting scheduled in August.

As a result, the decision on NASA request to use U-Tapao navy airport to conduct atmospheric studies will be delayed.

Chalitrat Chandrubeksa, deputy government spokesman, said that NASA project will be debated at the joint sitting of the House and senators during the next parliamentary session according to Article 179 of the current constitution under which voting is not required.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration in March asked Thai government for the permission to use U-Tapao as its base to conduct atmospheric studies in Southeast Asia during August and September this year.