PHL’s second microsat off to space today

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

ANOTHER Filipino-made microsatellite, Diwata-2, will be orbiting the space starting October 29, 2018 to serve as the Philippines’ second eye in the sky.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Dr. Fortunato de la Peña said that Diwata-2 was developed by young Filipino engineers under the mentorship of experts and professors particularly at Tohoku University in Japan.

“Young Filipino engineers were the ones who worked on it not too long after Diwata-1 was launched in 2016,” de la Peña added.

According to de la Peña, the Diwata-2 carries improved camera capabilities compared to Diwata-1.

“It has cameras that can fetch images pero ngayon mas maganda ang quality ng cameras. Aside from carrying improved camera capabilities, it can also be used as a communication facility especially in times of emergency,” he stated.

In April 2016, Diwata-1 was deployed into space from the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Diwata-2 will be launched in the same manner.

De la Peña said the first microsatellite was expected to disintegrate already but it still orbiting.

He also said that they already started programming the third micro satellite of the country to be deployed in space.

“Our intention is that for the period of six years from 2017-2022, dapat walang single moment na walang nag-oorbit na satellite. So expect na within the period of 6 years in this administration there will be a third Diwata orbiting the space,” he noted.