Last look at NASA Spaceadrome

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Last look at NASA Spaceadrome - August 20, 2005

Anyone of a certain age will remember NASA Spaceadrome, the massive disco on Ramkamheang Road that once was the trendiest place to be. Admission was 500 baht and the climax of an evening was when a large UFO with flashing lights descended from the ceiling above the crowd. During the height of its fame, legitimate youth activities were limited to a few discos like NASA and somewhat seedy snooker halls.

NASA has long been vacant. The generic mega-disco with paid admission concept that it represented was made obsolete by areas of smaller pubs (like RCA and RCA II on Suthisarn Road) offering more specialized music to a more sophisticated audience--and with no admission charge. And then as now, Bangkok discos existed to relentless advertise alcohol products--especially whiskey--to young people. (The last of the mega-discos to close was Phoebus which was recently torn down).

NASA Spaceadrome was built on an SRT concession along the Eastern rail lines out of Bangkok. Developed by Excaliber Company, it will soon be torn down to make way for the Airport Link project.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

In Bangkok, NASA is a Disco - New York Times, May 12, 1987 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration may have its troubles at home, but over here on the other side of the world, NASA is the hottest name in town. NASA is a discotheque. No, a "spaceadrome"--a $3.85 million hangar-size contraption resting on moon-landing legs on the outskirts of Bangkok. It takes a lot to attract the attention of Bangkok's residents, who live in a world of pleasure palaces that leave no sense untempted. But NASA has in two months managed to become the place that everybody has to visit--5,000 or more people on weekends. Everybody includes diplomats, film stars, business leaders, politicians and a few titled people. The very, very V.I.P. merit a booth of black glass so they can see and not be seen.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Below: On the other side of Ramkamheang Road are other Excaliber projects including NASA Vegas Complex Hotel.