Malacañang is very proud of the country’s latest historic feat in the science and technology sector — the launch of its first microsatellite into space.
The Filipino-made Diwata-1 micro satellite, designed to provide real-time images for disaster risk management and other applications, was aboard Atlas V rocket that took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida last Wednesday.
“Ikinararangal natin na nagkaroon muli ng demonstrasyon na ang Pilipino ay may sapat na kakayahan sa larangan ng Agham at Teknolohiya. Kaya’t narating natin ‘yung puntong nakapag-launch tayo ng satellite on a global platform” Coloma said.
With the budget of P800-million, the 50-kilogram Philippine Earth Observation Microsatellite was designed and assembled by Filipino engineers under the guidance of Japanese experts from Hokkaido University and Tohoku University.
Following his launch into space, the low earth orbit satellite remain on board the International Space Station until the end of April. It will then fly 400 kilometers above the earth to monitor weather detection and forecasts, agricultural growth patterns, monitoring of forest cover, as well as extent of disasters. It may also provide images on the territorial borders of the Philippines.
Diwata will then send images and data back Philippine Earth Data Resources and Observation (PEDRO) Center which was set up to receive data from the satellite.
Part of the three-year program is the development of a second microsatellite (Diwata 2) to be launched in 2017.