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PHL’s Diwata-2 microsatellite launched by Tanegashima Space Center
To help in environmental assessment and determine the extent of damage brought by natural calamities, the Philippines’ second microsatellite, Diwata-2, was released into orbit at noon on Monday.
Diwata-2 was launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan via the H-IIA F40 rocket between 12:08 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Philippine time).
— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) October 29, 2018
WATCH: Diwata-2 was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan via the H-IIA F40 rocket. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/x0ONPHHBiq
— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) October 29, 2018
“It’s been two years, six months and three days since the Philippines had its first earth-observing satellite released in space. Like its predecessor, Diwata-2 will capture images of the Philippines for environmental monitoring and post-disaster assessment,” said project leader Dr. Gay Jane Perez.
“In addition, Diwata-2 features an amateur radio for emergency communication,” Perez noted.
The satellite will orbit at a higher altitude of 620 kilometers to lengthen its lifespan and achieve a sun-synchronous orbit, which will enable fixed revisit intervals that would make repeated environmental monitoring of specific areas.
In April 2016, the Philippines’ first microsatellite, Diwata-1, was released in orbit by British astronaut Tim Peake.
Diwata-1 was also intended to observe Earth and monitor climate changes. It was praised by researchers for providing “world-best” images.
Diwata-2 also carries a wide field camera, middle field camera, high precision telescope and “spaceborne” multispectral imager with tunable liquid crystal filter.
A distinguishing feature of Diwata-2 is the deployable solar panels for higher power output and enhanced resolution cameras.
Two locally-made amateur radio unit for emergency communications and a satellite orientation module for heightened pointing accuracy are also onboard Diwata-2 as part of an experiment.
Significant information
Satellites are important in providing the information government agencies receive during times of natural disasters, said Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara, Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) undersecretary for research and development.
“We are using a lot of satellites to give information not just to the National Disaster Risk Reduction [Management] Council but also to PAGASA for the weather. We also give it to PHIVOLCS for landslide ...” Guevara said.
“We are also giving it to other government agencies for assessing their resources as well as the hazard,” Guevara said.
Satellite images would also be useful for students conducting research in their own respective fields.
Under the Development of Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat) program, Diwata-2 was built through the collaboration involving the Hokkaido University and the Tohoku University, the University of the Philippines-Diliman, and the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI).
Diwata-2 is one of the five small satellites that are secondary payloads to be launched together with the satellites IBUKI-2 and KhalifaSat.
Guevara noted that the total funding for the said program was P900 million.
The PHL-Microsat Program is succeeded by the Sustained Support for Local Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program, which aims to build a local industrial base and enhance local space science and engineering expertise, which ultimately prepares the country in establishing the Philippine Space Agency. —VDS, GMA News
