The Philippines’ first university-built cube satellites (CubeSats), Maya-3 and Maya-4, were released to space from the International Space Station (ISS) on October 6, 2021 at 5:20 p.m. PST via Japan’s Japanese Experiment (JEM) or “Kibo” Laboratory Module. 

The JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD), including satellite install cases with the CubeSats, were installed on the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) by ISS crew members and is passed through the Kibo airlock for retrieval, positioning, and deployment by the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS). The released CubeSats will move along an orbit similar to the space station’s, which is at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers. 

This latest development follows the CubeSat’s launch to the space station on August 29, 2021 at 3:14 P.M. (PST) aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s Dragon C208 as part of SpaceX Commercial Resupply Mission-23 (SpX-23). They have been released along with other CubeSats from Australia, namely, Biner-1 and CUAVA-1, developed by Curtin University and the University of Sydney, respectively.

The two CubeSats were developed under the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) Project of the STAMINA4Space Program, which is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and implemented by the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the DOST Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). Maya-3 and Maya-4 were built by the first of two batches of STeP-UP scholars taking the nanosatellite development track under the Master of Science (MS)/Master of Engineering (MEng) program of the UPD Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI). The development of the CubeSats is in collaboration  with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan, with scholarship support from DOST-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

“This is a very historic and important day, because the world has witnessed the deployment of the Maya-3 and Maya-4 cube satellites from the International Space Station (ISS) to outer space. These two CubeSats are the first Philippine university-built cube satellites developed by Filipino scholars,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña in his message during the deployment program hosted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and congratulated all the groups involved.

UPD Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo commented on the impact this latest development will make on the youth. “As I have said during the launch of microsatellites Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, this project of building our own satellites has the power to inspire students and young children to study space science and engineering,” he said. “This will help break down psychological barriers for many young and aspiring scientists. Space technology is no longer something we just read in books and see in movies. Space is no longer the exclusive territory of advanced, industrialized countries and superpowers. Space is something within our reach, especially with support from the government, and the public and our partners.”

Next steps after deployment

Now that the satellites are in space, the STeP-UP Batch 1 scholars shared that this means they can begin testing the different functionalities of the CubeSats. Prior to release, the team already prepared the schedule of activities for the ground station operations including the sequence of the command uplinks for the CubeSats. Initially, the team will monitor the satellite condition by receiving and decoding its CW beacon before sending commands for the CubeSats to perform. “It’s [going to be] like hearing a newborn baby’s first cry,” said the STeP-UP batch 1 scholars.

Simultaneously, the team has also coordinated with various ground stations internationally and locally to assist with the tracking of the satellites. Moreover, the team will record and assess the satellites’ functionalities and collect data from the CubeSats during the operations to evaluate its overall performance. This can be used as reference in planning for future satellite developments and related projects.

“The team is extremely excited now that Maya-3 and Maya-4 are orbiting Earth in space. As the first Philippine university-built satellites, this event marks a significant milestone in our country’s space science and technology initiatives,” they said, looking back on the hard work involved in developing and testing the satellite in the past 2 years.

Other than that, business continues as usual for the STeP-UP Project: The operations of Maya-3 and Maya-4 will commence once they are deployed, Maya-5 and Maya-6 are under development by the second batch of scholars, and the STeP-UP team is continuing its other activities, as shared by STeP-UP Project Leader Prof. Paul Jason Co. 

“Sustainability can be ensured by making sure that the knowledge gained from this is shared with as many HEIs [higher education institutions], as this ensures that there will be more people with the necessary knowledge to do the same,” he said. “While launching CubeSats would present some funding concerns, the knowledge about the development can still be learned without this.”

STAMINA4Space Program Leader Dr. Maricor Soriano congratulated the scholars and noted the collaborations that paved the way for the development of the CubeSats. “Building and operating something as complex as a satellite requires meticulous planning, rigorous design and testing of systems, and lots of support. Thus, we thank the Department of Science and Technology for funding our program, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Kyushu Institute of Technology for the Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite Project. We are immensely grateful to both our Philippine and Japanese mentors for guiding our scholars. It is our aim at STAMINA4Space to gain mastery in building and operating satellites to spread this know-how and thereby give the very best service to our fellow Filipinos. We look forward to gaining more confidence to innovate in this field in order to support our nascent Philippine Space Agency,” she said.

In his congratulatory message during the JAXA launch program, PhilSA Director-General Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr. shared that “[l]ooking back to 2014, as we were beginning our journey in developing small satellite technologies and applications, we saw the value of engaging and partnering with fellow nations with common aspirations in space. As the Program Leader of the Philippine Microsat Program and its successor, the Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) at that time, it was clear that the way to go far and to achieve more in space would be to work with others around us,” he said. “It was around that time that I learned about the BIRDS project of the Kyushu Institute of Technology or Kyutech and saw that the spirit of community and cooperation fostered by the project was a good match and complement to the Filipino core value of ‘bayanihan’ (that is, of civic unity and cooperation). Different nations coming together to learn how to build satellites means that they will be helping each other, learning together through the ups and downs, and emerging from it with stronger ties and bonds that will serve them well for future cooperation.”

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The CubeSats Maya-3 and Maya-4 were launched to the ISS on August 29, 2021 at 3:14 P.M. (PST) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s Dragon C208 as part of SpaceX Commercial Resupply Mission-23 (SpX-23). Weighing approximately 1.15 kilograms per unit with 10-centimeter cubic frames, these CubeSats house components that are designed to demonstrate nanosatellite-based remote data collection systems and optical imaging. Once the CubeSats are released from the ISS, they will move along an orbit similar to the space station’s, which is at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers. 

The first Filipino CubeSats built in a local university setting

The Maya-3 and Maya-4 CubeSats are fashioned after the bus heritage of Maya-1, but with enhancements incorporated from the previous design. Maya-3 and Maya-4 are mostly identical with only difference in a mission, that is the near-infrared camera, which is mounted only on Maya-4. These latest CubeSats were built under the Space Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) project of the STAMINA4Space Program, which is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and is implemented by the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the DOST Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). The nanosatellite development track under the Master of Science (MS) or Master of Engineering (MEng) program of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD-EEEI) is also implemented in collaboration with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan and with scholarship support from the Department of Science and Technology’s Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

The Maya-3 and Maya-4 CubeSats provide local opportunities to learn and acquire space technology know-how, and hands-on experience in satellite development, which contributes to building human resources for furthering the country’s space initiatives and activities. Its mission and payloads were conceptualized and developed to test and demonstrate technologies that can later on be used to provide data that may be used in a number of applications across various sectors such as agriculture, environment and natural resources, and disaster risk reduction and management, among others. These CubeSats can also be used to demonstrate technologies such as data collection systems that work with ground-based sensors and radios that serve the amateur radio community and emergency response teams.

“The success of Maya-3 and Maya-4 will prove that CubeSats can be successfully built locally,” said STeP-UP Project Leader, Prof. Paul Jason Co. “The knowledge and experience gained from this endeavor can and will be shared to any other institutions through collaboration and cooperation.”

The development of the CubeSats are part of the course requirements of the Master of Science (MS) or Master of Engineering (MEng) under the nanosatellite engineering track. The first batch of STeP-UP scholars are composed of eight (8) students who received scholarship support from DOST-SEI. They are Gladys Bajaro, Derick Canceran, Bryan Custodio, Lorilyn Daquioag, Marielle Magbanua-Gregorio, Christy Raterta, Judiel Reyes, and Renzo Wee.

Prior to the launch, the CubeSats were tested thoroughly to ensure that they can survive the launch and harsh space conditions. The team performed space environment tests of the two CubeSats and analyzed the results. Reports detailing the results of various tests were then sent to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for evaluation. After satisfying the set acceptance requirements, the CubeSats were turned over to JAXA for their launch to the ISS. 

How are Maya-3 and Maya-4 different from or similar to its predecessors? 

“The Maya-3 and Maya-4 CubeSats use the heritage bus of Maya-1 — which was developed as part of the BIRDS-2 Project led by Kyutech and launched along with Bhutan-1 (Bhutan) and UiTMSat-1 (Malaysia),” said the scholars. “Maya-3 and Maya-4 incorporate enhancements from the previous design including improvements in the antenna board. They are mostly identical, only with a difference in a mission, that is, the Near-infrared camera which is mounted only on Maya-4.

DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo commended the scholars’ success and noted how this relates to the attached DOST agency’s priority research areas. “The scholarship programs of the DOST through the Science Education Institute were designed as the government’s primary response to build a critical mass of S&T human resources that will propel us to a globally competitive state,” she said. “Providing scholarships through the [STeP-UP Project] is one the Institute’s ways of contributing to the growth of the space ecosystem in the country. Our goal is to produce a workforce trained specifically on conducting R&D activities in vital areas of space science, technology, and allied fields. With the impending launch of the Maya-3 and Maya-4 cube satellites in space, which were successfully developed by our very own DOST-SEI STeP-UP scholars, it is indeed a manifestation that we are on track in sustaining the space research and development activities in the country. The success of our STeP-UP scholars is likewise the success of the Institute,” she added.

The University of the Philippines expresses its delight over the university being home to these CubeSats. “Certainly there is much pride among the entire UP community in having our first ever university-built cube satellites. Considering the more obvious uses of these satellites such as in disaster mitigation and regional monitoring, the potential of these high-technology devices is limitless. We join the STAMINA4Space Program and STeP-UP Project in their success,” said Dr. Gonzalo Campoamor II, UPD Vice Chancellor for Research and Development. He also affirms the university’s continued support for future space-related initiatives. “Aside from the seemingly unending supply of quality researchers and experts, the University will continue to strive to support space-related initiatives, particularly in looking for alternative sources of research funds and industry partners via its continuously widening network,” he said.

A new milestone for Philippine CubeSat development

Kyutech has witnessed firsthand how the Filipino members of the BIRDS network have grown throughout the years. BIRDS Project Principal Investigator and Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Lean Satellite Enterprises and In-Orbit Experiment (LaSEINE) in Kyutech, Dr. Mengu Cho, is one of the mentors from Japan who has closely collaborated with the Maya engineers and the PHL-Microsat and STAMINA4Space Programs. “It is my pleasure to continue working with the Philippine teams,” he said. “The collaboration benefits not only the Philippine side but also the Japanese side.The Kyutech team, including students, learn many things and improve ourselves through the collaboration. Maya-3 and Maya-4 are the first examples of applying BIRDS satellite bus to abroad. I am delighted to see the DNA of the BIRDS program is inherited and evolves in developing countries.”

For STAMINA4Space Program Leader Dr. Maricor Soriano, opportunities seized in local CubeSat development yield a clear return of investment. “Maya-3 and Maya-4 built by our STeP-UP scholars in the Philippines lends credence to the quote ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’ Convincing local industries to participate in space technology development requires two things — local expertise and a clear return of investment. CubeSats are the low-hanging fruits which Philippine industries can grab because aside from being scalable, we already can train people to build them,” she said. “Congratulations to our first batch of home-grown STEP-UP scholars for this important milestone. Clearly, the mission to strengthen our local space industry and increase our knowhow continues beyond the launch. Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic you persevered. Beyond the product and expertise, please also remember the life skills you learned from your training – teamwork, clarity, grit, and self-confidence. Cheers and Padayon!”

According to Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Director General Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr., this was all part of the plan. “When we sent Filipino scholars to Kyutech to work on Maya-1 in 2016 and Maya-2 in 2018, we committed to the idea of being able to build and innovate future Maya cubesats in our own laboratories. With Maya-3 and Maya-4 being lifted up to the ISS today, we achieve that proximate objective,” he said. “This accomplishment spurs us on toward our larger goal of growing local space capabilities and cascading them to industry and society. I thank and congratulate the scholars, their mentors, and everyone in the team for their hard work, and look forward to more Mayas and breakthroughs to come.”

DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said this latest development is a “crowning moment” for these initiatives. “As a Filipino, I feel proud and hopeful that we have already developed our cube satellites locally. As a science and technology administrator, I think this is a crowning moment for the initiatives that we have undertaken, a return on investment of sorts for whatever resources we have put into the Philippine space technology development program, and a proof that our Filipino scientists, engineers, and researchers can be depended upon given a clear vision and target that we want to achieve,” he said, and adds “I commend the team who worked to accomplish this particular goal. We will aim higher of course. I feel fortunate about having our first batch of STeP-UP Scholars, who in spite of diversity of backgrounds in science and engineering, were able to accomplish their tasks within the given time frame.”

As the Maya-3 and Maya-4 team awaits the CubeSats’ release from the ISS into orbit, they  continue with the preparatory tasks for the operations phase of the project. At the same time, Maya-3 and Maya-4’s successors, Maya-5 and Maya-6, are simultaneously being developed by the second batch of STeP-UP scholars.

Details about Maya-3 and Maya-4’s deployment from the ISS to follow in the coming weeks.

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The Philippines is gearing up for its next generation of satellites. 

Sustaining the gains from the country’s microsatellites DIWATA-1 and DIWATA-2, plans are underway to have a bigger  Earth Observation satellite that can capture operational-quality – images of approximately 100,000 km² of land area daily. Dubbed the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment, or MULA, the commercial-grade satellite will weigh 130kg—the country’s biggest to date. 

As shared by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña in a report on February 2021, the newest satellite initiative is currently being developed by the DOST-funded Advanced Satellite and Know-how Transfer for the Philippines (ASP) Project as part of the science agency’s priority agenda under the emerging technologies sector of providing space technology applications to public services. The project is implemented by the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), and in coordination with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), who will oversee its completion and expected launch by 2023, as well its management and operation thereafter. It is being designed and manufactured together with British company Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). SSTL is one of the leading providers of small satellite development and know-how-transfer. 

The new satellite, MULA, will carry a TrueColor camera capable of capturing 5m resolution images with a wide swath width of 120km. It will have 9 spectral bands that can be used for different environmental applications such as disaster management, land use and land cover change mapping, crop monitoring, and forestry management. TrueColour was derived from SSTL’s Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) satellite. Incorporating it into MULA’s 130-kg-mass category will be “a new benchmark for Earth Observation capabilities at this mass and price point,” said SSTL Managing Director, Phil Brownnett in a press release. The satellite will also be equipped with two other payloads: Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), which can be utilized for ship and aircraft detection and tracking. The preliminary mission objectives of the satellite were determined based on a needs assessment conducted by the ASP Project of the Space Technology Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program with various stakeholders in the Philippines during the first quarter of 2020. 

“We are all very excited to start the development of MULA. Equipped with the acquired technical know-how and capabilities through our experiences in building DIWATA and MAYA satellites, we are now moving forward with our first operational and industrial quality satellite aimed towards providing a wide range of socio-economic benefits for the country,” said PhilSA Deputy Director-General and ASP Project Leader Dr. Gay Jane Perez. “With its capability to capture higher resolution images, we will be able to better monitor terrestrial ecosystems, as well as our land and marine resources to ensure both agricultural productivity and environmental integrity. In addition, we will also be able to assess environmental conditions to be more proactive in disaster management and mitigation.” 

Dr. Perez further explained that while MULA will be the first of next generation satellites aimed at further strengthening the Philippines’ space technology research, development, and innovation activities, the initiatives won’t be from scratch, but rather, a continuation of unwavering efforts to capacitate our country in developing its own capabilities towards building a space ecosystem and adding value in space. “This is of course done not only to keep up with the global competitiveness but most importantly, it is so we can minimize our reliance on foreign technologies… so we can have our own scientists and engineers whose expertise in space science and technologies can be targeted and tailored specifically to the needs of our land and our people,” she said. 

Since the first phase of the Know-How Training and Transfer (KHTT) for TrueColour kicked off in December 2020, over 30 Filipino engineers have remotely attended a small satellite system design course conducted by SSTL. Nine engineers are currently undergoing full immersion for the satellite design and manufacture process in the UK, having just passed the Qualification Status Review—an important design phase milestone. Simultaneously, ASP’s local team has been continuing its mission definition and know-how transfer efforts.  

MULA Project Manager Engr. John Leur Labrador says that the planned multispectral imager calibrated for land assessment can be thought of as having our own “astronaut” in space. 

“We can think of this spacecraft as a Filipino astronaut tasked to take images of our natural resources while monitoring aircraft and ship activity in our country at the same time,” he said. “We aim to significantly increase the land area captured by this satellite compared to our previous ones, effectively increasing the information gathered from the produced images.

Having worked on the Philippines’ small satellite projects since 2015, Labrador says he feels privileged for the opportunity. “It’s inspiring to think how far we’ve come, but at the same time, moving forward is an ever-present challenge,” he shared. “However, I’m confident that we are headed in the right direction, spearheaded by this project and the multitude of space technology ventures we are pursuing. These activities will bring Filipinos closer to our goal of playing a significant role in the rapidly expanding and high potential field of space technology.”

“The advancement of space research and development in the Philippines has always been part of the DOST’s priority goals, so the creation of the PhilSA during my service as DOST Secretary is something that I will always be proud of,” said Secretary Dela Peña. “More than the building of infrastructures and creation of micro-satellites, we have to train our young Filipino engineers. It is very crucial for us to build a competent pool of human resources who will train and inspire the next generation of Filipino scientific minds,” he continued.

“I commend these young Filipino engineers for continuously working hard to produce promising research and development (R&D) outputs, particularly their work on the Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite. I am very happy to note that they have just passed the Qualification Status Review (QSR), which is a crucial stage in the satellite’s design phase throughout their satellite development training with the SSTL of the United Kingdom (UK). Kudos to the whole team.” 

“When we build satellites, we also aim to boost local industrial capabilities for producing high reliability systems. These are differentiated by their ability to work well in difficult and harsh environments (such as space), and can be at the core of globally competitive products,” said PhilSA Director-General Dr. Joel Marciano, Jr. “Furthermore, we use the satellites to generate images and other data, which we control and mobilize to support evidence-based policies for better governance, leading to productive communities and inclusive development. This is in line with PhilSA’s mission of value addition and creation from space that supports societal benefit and economic development.”

“The team also faced many challenges before we got to this point, made more difficult by the pandemic. We had to ensure that all documents are crafted according to what is required, that all compliance boxes are ticked off, and that proper coordination is made with various offices, which were often done at dizzying speeds like an orbiting satellite moving at 7km/s,” said DOST-ASTI Chief Science Research Specialist Engr. Alvin E. Retamar. He likened the project’s beginnings to a space sci-fi journey, with the engineers’ deployment to the UK right before the Covid-19 travel restrictions being a real life adventure in itself. 

He also noted that this project is the DOST-ASTI’s second time working with SSTL, with the first one being the capacity-sharing agreement signed by the two parties in 2019 for NovaSAR-1.  “I must note that the familiarity should help us move things forward as we take some of the guesswork out for both parties. All these efforts and factors brought us to where the project is now and we all look forward to its completion. Till that day, tasks remain, the road is still long, so may the odds be ever in our favor.”  

Secretary Dela Peña also noted how the DOST, through the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), has spearheaded various initiatives that helped build a strong foundation for this endeavor. “Indeed, we have come a long way since the launching of the Diwata-1 microsatellite to the International Space Station(ISS)  in 2016, but there is still a lot of work to be done. We have just started,” he said. 

“To sustain our momentum, it is crucial that resources continue to be available for our satellite development and space applications activities, which are all aligned with our national development goals. This is recognized in the Philippine Space Act no less,” adds Dr. Marciano. The PhilSA recently submitted its 2022 budget proposal to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), with the development of MULA being included in its flagship program, ‘Build, Build, Build in Space (B3iS) – Philippine Satellites as a Vital Component of a National Information Infrastructure’.

The Philippine Space Agency was established on August 8, 2019, when the Republic Act 11363 or “Philippine Space Act” was signed into law. PhilSA builds on the foundation created by the development, launch, and operation of Earth Observation microsatellites Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, and CubeSats Maya-1, Maya-2 and the upcoming Maya satellites under STAMINA4Space (formerly “The Development of Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite” or “PHL-Microsat” Program), together with Japanese university partners.

“STAMINA4Space, like all government-funded programs, has a termination date,” said STAMINA4Space Program Leader Dr. Maricor Soriano. “Developing MULA is a fitting finale that allows the transition of satellite development from an academic, research setting to an operational, PhilSA-led endeavor.” 

PRESS CONTACTS

Tricia Zafra

Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)

Email: tricia.zafra@philsa.gov.ph

Nikki Ignacio

Advanced Satellite and Know-How Transfer for the Philippines (ASP) Project, STAMINA4Space

Email: info@stamina4space.upd.edu.ph or nikki.ignacio@stamina4space.upd.edu.ph

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The Philippines’ newest satellite has taken flight and is ready to take on its mission.

Maya-2, a cube satellite (CubeSat) made by Filipino engineers studying in Japan, was released to space from the International Space Station (ISS) on March 14, 2021 at around 7:20 p.m. PHT. This latest development follows the CubeSat’s launch to the space station aboard a Cygnus NG-15 rocket (S.S. Katherine Johnson) on February 21, 2021, together with CubeSats Tsuru (Japan) and GuaraniSat-1 (Paraguay).

The three satellites were designed and developed under the 4th Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite (BIRDS-4) Project of the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan. Their primary purpose is technology demonstration, from which the learnings will be used as an educational platform. The three Filipino engineers were sent to Kyutech by the Department of Science and Technology’s Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) to pursue doctoral degrees as part of a scholarship program done in cooperation with the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) Project of the STAMINA4Space Program. Like its predecessor Maya-1 (decommissioned on November 23, 2020), Maya-2 can remotely collect data using a Store-and-Forward (S&F) mechanism and capture images and videos using an on-board camera. Its 1.3 kg frame is also equipped with an Automatic Packet Reporting System Message Digipeater (APRS-DP), attitude determination and control units for active attitude stabilization and control demonstrations, Perovskite solar cells, and a Latchup-detection chip.

What’s next for Maya-2 now that it is in space?

“Right now we hope to execute all our missions with the help of other BIRDS ground stations around the world so that we could utilize the satellites to their full extent,” said BIRDS-4 Project Manager Izrael Zenar Bautista. Maya-2 engineer Marloun Sejera adds that the team is now preparing for the satellite operation, which includes satellite health monitoring and mission execution.

With Maya-2 being the Philippines’ fourth successful attempt to send a satellite to space in collaboration with Japan, this new milestone continues to nurture the longstanding partnership between the two nations.

“As the principal investigator of the BIRDS program, I am very happy to see Maya-2 deployed from the ISS,” said BIRDS Project Principal Investigator Dr. Mengu Cho, who highlighted the BIRDS Project’s goal to foster human resources to initiate indigenous space programs in non-space faring countries. “After seeing the infant space programs in many countries, I can say that the Philippines is one of the best examples of a success story… for Maya-2, three students from the Philippines are engaged and play key roles in the entire BIRDS-4 project. I am sure that they can be an important asset to the future Philippine space program. So far, I have supervised five Philippine students under the BIRDS program and have been always satisfied with their talents and sincereness to study.”

Kyutech Assistant Professor George Maeda shares the same sentiments.

“Of all the BIRDS partners, none is more serious about developing in-country ‘human resources’ than the Philippines. Before you can make a spacecraft, you have to train engineers who know how to make them. The point is understood in your country,” said Prof. Maeda. He adds, “And one more thing that is immensely impressive, you have propagated more capacity building through BIRDS-2S and BIRDS-4S [locally developed cubesats under the nanosatellite engineering track in EEEI UPD]. This means the ‘BIRDS concept’ is replicated inside of the Philippines. The fruit of knowledge acquired at Kyutech is taken to the Philippines and then applied to help others—this ‘multiplication of knowledge’ is precisely what we want to occur. This is what education is all about. It means to spread knowledge.  Replace darkness with light on a broad scale.”

After the scholars complete their studies, they have their eyes set on furthering the proliferation of the knowledge they gained in Japan and bring it back to the Philippines. 

“After finishing my studies, the plan is to return to our respective institutions and carry out knowledge transfer to aspiring students in the field of science and technology,” said Marloun Sejera. 

Maya-2 engineer Mark Angelo Purio chimes that he also plans on returning to his alma mater, Adamson University, to impart what he learned in Japan after he completes his PhD degree and supporting government projects related to this endeavor. “Furthermore, I envision setting up our own ground station in the university to continue our efforts to support space-related activities while involving our students by providing them hands-on training.”

As for Izrael Zenar Bautista, he hopes to contribute to the growing space industry back home. 

“Maybe in the Philippine Space Agency or in the academe so that I could share the things I learned in Kyutech and apply it for the future satellites that our country will build. A startup relating to satellites or my research is also one that I’m looking into,” he says. He also shared that he plans to continue what he has learned in Japan, from his research in Perovskite solar cells to satellite systems engineering, to hopefully providing meaningful output for the Philippines.

The investment made in these scholarships are well worth it, according to DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo.

“We are ecstatic over Maya-2’s successful deployment to space and incredibly proud of the DOST-SEI STeP-UP scholar-engineers behind it,” she says. “They exemplify the perseverance of Filipinos and the brilliance of our science scholars. Maya-2 proves that the country’s space program and science scholarships are investments worthy of people’s support.”

“The successful launching of Maya-2 makes me feel proud,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña. “The accomplishment made possible by our young researchers and engineers should make us confident that we can do more in the area of space technology. I have high hopes that we as a people will be able to benefit more from developments in this area—all towards making the quality of life of our people better.”

As early as now, the Philippines can bank on witnessing more satellites be sent to space in the near future—with Maya-3, Maya-4, Maya-5, and Maya-6 already in their respective development and testing phases.  

“Between Japan and the Philippines, there are other ongoing space-related collaborations, including STAMINA4Space Program,” said Prof. Mengu Cho. “I am very happy to see [that the] Philippines is engaged in Maya-3 to Maya-6 projects to build CubeSats domestically. These kinds of capacity building efforts will solidify the basis of the Philippine space program. I am certain that the deployment of Maya-2 will open another page of our collaboration.” 

Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Director General Dr. Joel Marciano, Jr. issued the following statement, “Just as how computers on Earth have helped to improve our lives, satellites like Maya-2 are ‘computers in orbit’ that work for us from space. With the release of Maya-2 from the ISS, the genius words of Mark Weiser, father of ubiquitous computing, resonate with renewed meaning and inspiration: ‘The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it’. Like Diwata-1, Maya-1 and Diwata-2 before it, Maya-2 now ‘blends’ into the background to serve and perform its mission. Godspeed, Maya-2!”.

Please stay tuned for official updates about the initial contact between the CubeSats and the ground station.

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The country witnessed another historic moment as its second cube satellite (CubeSat) Maya-2 was successfully launched to the  International Space Station (ISS) today, February 21, 2021 at 1:36 A.M. (PHT) aboard the S.S. Katherine Johnson Cynus spacecraft. Sending the satellite into the ISS is the final step before the satellite reaches its targeted altitude in Low Earth Orbit, when the space station deploys it at a date to be determined later on.

The 1U CubeSat, which falls under the nanosatellite category in terms of mass (1-10 kg), was launched to the ISS with two other identical CubeSats from Japan (Tsuru), and Paraguay (GuaraniSat-1) as part of the Northrop Grumman CRS-15 mission. All three were developed under the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech)’s 4th Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite (BIRDS-4) Project. Maya-2 was designed and developed by Filipino scholars who were sent to Kyutech through the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) Project of the Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program. STAMINA4Space is funded by the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST), monitored by DOST’s Philippine Council for Innovation, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), and implemented by DOST’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), and the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD).

“To do something for the first time is great, but to be able to do it again and innovate is greater. We take pride in the launch of Maya-2, the successor to Maya-1 and the Philippines’ latest milestone in creating value in space for and from Filipinos and for the world,” said Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Director General Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr.

Like its predecessor Maya-1 (decommissioned on November 23, 2020), Maya-2 is a technology demonstration and educational platform geared to collect data remotely by Store-and-Forward (S&F) Mechanism. Aboard the 1.3 kg satellite is a camera for image and video capture, an Automatic Packet Reporting System Message Digipeater (APRS-DP), attitude determination and control units for active attitude stabilization and control demonstrations, Perovskite solar cells and Latchup-detection chip. Apart from the similarity of the platforms, Maya-2 was developed and improved using the knowledge gained from developing its predecessor.

“Maya-2 is [a part of a] well executed plan that Maya-1 will not remain as Maya-1 but it will continue to grow and improve as a series of Mayas  – as a platform to explore and educate Filipino generations of engineers and scientists in the meaningful and peaceful use of outer space,” said Engr. Joven C. Javier, who led the BIRDS-2 team that launched Maya-1, UiTMSAT-1, and BHUTAN-1. 

The development of Maya-2 under the BIRDS-4 Project started in 2018 and was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although they faced hurdles, the team of Filipino engineers, who are taking their postdoctoral degrees in Japan through the funding of the DOST-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), were able to power through.

“The development of Maya-2, and BIRDS-4 satellites in general, was special due to the fact that it was affected by the pandemic… Not being able to gather physically also add to the challenges we faced during the final stages of the project as most of the work such as troubleshooting and finalizing software and satellite assembly were done with less people from the team,” Engr. Mark Angelo Purio detailed the challenges they faced.

Why is it important to continue and sustain local CubeSat research—even during a pandemic?  

“More than the product, sustaining local cubesat research and development potentially leads to (1) a systems engineering mindset among our researchers , (2)  local partners that can co-develop our space industry, and (3) enhanced Science Technology and Engineering curricula in K-12 and higher education,” said Dr. Maricor Soriano, STAMINA4Space Program Leader and Project Leader of the program’s Optical Payload Technology, In-depth Knowledge Acquisition, and Localization (OPTIKAL) component. 

What’s next for the Philippines’ second CubeSat?

“As of now, the team is finalizing the mission operation for the first 24 hours, first week and first month. We are also preparing to coordinate with ground stations of the BIRDS network to ask for their help and cooperation in operating the satellites once deployed in orbit,” said BIRDS-4 Project Manager Engr. Izrael Bautista. 

“We hope for a successful launch today and deployment of the satellites from ISS soon. We are now preparing for the satellite operation and mission execution,” Maya-2 engineer Mark Angelo Purio adds. “It is such a wonderful experience to have worked with people from different backgrounds and nations. The commitment, contribution, and effort each member has put on to the satellite development are testaments that the team has made a bond.” 

After deployment into orbit, the team will immediately start carrying out the satellite’s missions. 

As early as now, the Philippines can anticipate more Maya launches in the future with Maya-3, Maya-4, Maya-5, and Maya-6 already in their respective design and development phases under the STeP-UP project led by Prof. Paul Jason Co.

“Maya-2 is the manifestation of our country’s commitment to build and sustain our own SSTA ecosystem,” he said. “This is but another step in our long journey as a space-faring nation.” 

“Having reached the point of sending the Maya-2 CubeSat for launch, it is a proud and anxious moment not only for the STep-Up scholars, but also for the rest of the STAMINA4Space Program,” adds Dr. Maricor Soriano. “Proud, in that, after all the challenges the scholars went through, including working  amidst a pandemic,  they passed all the qualifications for  launch;  and anxious, because the next step is to await signals from Maya-2 in orbit. But this is what building technology for space is really like. And we feel thankful for the opportunity to learn. Congratulations to our STep-UP scholars!”

With the Philippines now having its own space agency, the country can be confident that its space research and development activities will be sustained and built on. 

“We congratulate our BIRDS-4 Filipino engineers—IZ, Mark, and Marloun—and the rest of the STAMINA4Space team,” PhilSA Director-General Dr. Marciano, Jr. said. “The PhilSA is building on your accomplishments to bridge, uplift, and empower our nation through space.” 

The Space Technology Applications Mastery, Innovation, and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program  is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), monitored by DOST’s Philippine Council for Innovation, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), and implemented by DOST’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), and the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD). It further aims to develop deep expertise that enables and sustains the growth of a local scientific-industrial base in space technology and applications in the Philippines.

Email: info@stamina4space.upd.edu.ph

Website: stamina4space.upd.edu.ph

Facebook: Facebook.com/STAMINA4Space

Instagram: Instagram.com/@stamina4space

Twitter: Twitter.com/@STAMINA4Space (main), Twitter.com/@Diwata2PH (Diwata-2)

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, and administrative entity of the Executive Branch of the government that will plan, develop, and promote the national space program in line with the Philippine Space Policy. The PhilSA was created through the Philippine Republic Act 11363, also called the Philippine Space Act, signed into law on August 8, 2019. The PhilSA envisions a Filipino nation bridged, uplifted, and empowered through the peaceful uses of outer space. Its mission is to promote and sustain a robust Philippine space ecosystem that adds and creates value in space for and from Filipinos and for the world.

Email: info@philsa.gov.ph

Facebook: Facebook.com/PhilSpaceAgency

Instagram: Instagram.com/philspaceagency

Twitter: Twitter.com/PhilSpaceAgency

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In its two-year journey, Diwata-2 allowed us to take a peek through a typhoon, provided clues on the extent of Taal volcano’s ashfall, and even took us on a quick sight-seeing trip to the moon.

Diwata-2 has already acquired 19,439 images of the Philippines, spanning 82.01% of the country. Globally, Diwata-2 has captured 32,256 images. These images are part of the data being collected to conduct scientific measurements and experiments for environmental assessment and monitoring.

“Diwata-2 has already covered twice as much half the time than its predecessor, Diwata-1. This is mainly due to its sun-synchronous orbit, allowing more frequent revisits and improvements made in pointing accuracy and mission operations from the ground,” said Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program Leader Dr. Gay Jane Perez.

Diwata-2 is a 50-kilogram Earth observation satellite developed by a team of scientists and engineers from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), in cooperation with Tohoku University and Hokkaido University in Japan. Diwata-2 is the third Filipino-made satellite that has been sent to space, following the 50-kg microsatellite Diwata-1 (deployed to space April 27, 2016), and the 1-kg nanosatellite Maya-1 (deployed to space on June 29, 2018). Diwata-2 was launched into space via an H-IIA F40 rocket on October 29, 2018.

To mark this important milestone, the STAMINA4Space Program has organized a virtual tour highlighting Diwata-2’s features and latest developments. Nearly 50 space enthusiasts have joined the sessions while over 200 have expressed their interest in the event.

The pandemic did not stop the researchers from conducting experiments to further enhance the capabilities of Diwata-2. In fact, researchers working on Diwata-2 were able to optimize image download from the satellite to the Ground Receiving Stations, marking the start of a faster turnover rate of images from acquisition to processing. They were also able to improve the target pointing capabilities of the microsatellite after a successful experiment using the moon as a reference point. 

Like how Diwata-2 built upon the learnings from Diwata-1, Diwata-2 is paving the way for the development of a more robust microsatellite, a testament to the continuous advancement of space research and development in the country. 

“Moving forward, we also see Diwata to continuously serve as a seedbed to nurture growth in space science and engineering in our country through research and capacity building in satellite technologies and relevant space systems for the benefit of the society,” said Perez.

Diwata-2 has proven that Filipinos are capable not only of owning and operating satellites, but owning and developing them.

“Prior efforts in space science technology applications in the country such as the development, launch and operation of Diwata-2 help produce strategic know-how, vital infrastructure and skilled manpower,” said the Philippine Space Agency Director General Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr.  

“The Philippine Space Agency welcomes the challenge and opportunity to institutionalize and operationalize the various space science technology applications initiatives towards sustained productivity and socioeconomic benefit for the country,” Marciano added.

Diwata-2 flies at an altitude of 605 km above sea level at the speed of 7.5 km per second in a sun-synchronous orbit. Diwata-2 is expected to serve the country for another three years. 

Read more about Diwata-2 here.

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The mission of Maya-2, Tsuru, and GuaraniSat-1 includes obtaining data on the habitat of reduviid bugs, which can cause Chagas disease, in Paraguay through its store and forward payload. Other missions include the demonstration and operation of location information system using amateur radio bands, earth imaging, in-orbit demonstration of a new-generation perovskite solar cells developed by the Ma Laboratory in Kyutech, advanced attitude control using magnetic torquer and the installation of a new reaction wheel, and radioactivity resistance evaluation of consumer parts in orbit for future satellite development.    

A total of 14 students (1 undergraduate student and 13 graduate students) worked together from the concept stage to the actual assembly of the satellites, including the definition of the satellite missions and systems, integration work using test models, environmental tests, assembly of launch models, and final tests. Satellite operations will be done by the BIRDS international ground station network consisting of 13 countries, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Ghana, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines, which also participated in the BIRDS 1, 2, and 3 Projects.

“The Philippines will strive to continue its support to international cooperation on space programs. We look forward to further cooperation with Japan and Paraguay, and future activities under the BIRDS Project. Our new Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) will take the lead in expanding international space cooperation,” Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo affirmed in his message.

“The PhilSA commends the Filipino scholars behind our Maya-2 and the entire BIRDS-4 team, as well as the STAMINA4Space Program and the DOST-PCIEERD for this notable accomplishment. The development and utilization of these nanosatellites serve as an example of value creation in space not just through the data or experiments that they enable and the international cooperation that they foster, but also through the people and high value skills that they build. The PhilSA is committed to further expanding these activities towards a robust local space ecosystem that bridges, uplifts, and empowers the Filipino nation,” said PhilSA Director General Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr.

The participation of the Philippines in both the BIRDS-2 (2016) and BIRDS-4 (2018) Projects is also supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

“[This contributes to] developing our human resources by increasing the number of Filipino engineers and scientists that are trained and knowledgeable in small satellite development and operations,” DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said in his video message during the event.

In addition, the BIRDS-4 Project was headed by another Filipino, the second time since the country’s participation in BIRDS-2 in 2016, and marked the first satellite collaboration of Philippine universities, as the other two Filipino members were representatives from Adamson University and Mapua University.

“We are grateful to the Department of Science and Technology for enabling our young engineers and scientists to advance their know-how on satellite development. The BIRDS-4 Philippine team is a testament that, given the opportunity and adequate support, Filipinos can be global leaders in highly technical fields such as Aerospace Engineering,” said Dr. Gay Jane Perez, STAMINA4Space Program Leader. 

Maya-2 is part of the fourth iteration of the Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite (BIRDS-4) Project, with two other CubeSats from Paraguay (GuaraniSat-1) and Japan (Tsuru). These BIRDS-4 CubeSats will be carried to the International Space Station (ISS) and will be released in orbit through JAXA’s Kibo Module on the ISS next year.  

Read more about Maya-2 here.

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The speakers provided updates on the current and future endeavors of space technology research and development (R&D) in the Philippines such as space data applications for disaster risk reduction and environmental monitoring, space technology localization, and updates on plans and activities of the PhilSA.

The event marked the first year since the Philippine Space Act or Republic Act (RA) 11363 was passed into law.

“While the PhilSA is only recently established and is building from the ground up, it is not starting from scratch. A number of space science and technology applications (SSTA) activities are being undertaken leading up to its establishment,” said the PhilSA Director-General Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr. The PhilSA’s ability to work seamlessly with these existing technological capabilities, infrastructure, and skilled personnel, Dr. Marciano says, gives the PhilSA a solid foundation and momentum that enables the agency to “hit the ground running.”

“The PhilSA, therefore, intends to institutionalize, grow, expand, and nurture these resources so they can yield further benefits and socio-economic impact. It’s very important for the PhilSA to be working closely and harmoniously with these projects and have intimate knowledge on their progress and background so that they can be effectively absorbed, translated, and cascaded into the new agency,” Dr. Marciano added.

A platform that analyzes and compares different sets of space data, the Space Data Dashboard, was also launched during the event. The dashboard features relevant research and development outputs from different DOST-initiated space projects, which are to be absorbed by the PhilSA. Space data available consists of air quality, water quality, night lights, land cover, and traffic monitoring. Users may also access various information on plotted data on the platform, such as data source and descriptive interpretations per satellite image.

The platform also highlights maps and other data in monitoring ground activities related to COVID-19 such as comparison of land and air traffic density, NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) emission observations, nightlights, and pollution monitoring — among many others — before and during the quarantine period.

Coinciding with the first anniversary of the enactment of RA 11363 or the Philippine Space Act, the event featured resource speakers from the PhilSA, DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), and the Sustained Support for Local Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program.

“We are grateful to the Department of Science and Technology, the University of the Philippines, and our collaborators for paving the way for space technology development in our country,” said Dr. Gay Jane Perez, Program Leader of the STAMINA4Space Program.

“Our Philippine Space Agency is undoubtedly on its track to fulfill its mission, which is to promote and sustain a robust Philippine space ecosystem that adds and creates value in space for and from Filipinos and for the world,” she added.

Watch the full video of the online press briefing here.

About the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)

The Philippine Space Agency was established through Republic Act 11363 or the Act Establishing the Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy and Creating the Philippine Space Agency. The PhilSA is an attached agency of the Office of the President wherein all space science and technology applications of the country will be centralized. This includes the creation and implementation of space policies, space-related research, and development programs such as National Security Development; Hazard Management and Climate Studies; Space Research and Development; Space Industry Capacity Building; Education and Awareness; and International Cooperation. Further, the PhilSA will represent the country in international space events, meetings, and agreements.

About DOST-ASTI

The Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) was created by virtue of Executive Order 128 on January 30, 1987. As a Research and Development Institute (RDI) under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), ASTI is mandated to conduct scientific research and development in the advanced fields of studies including Information and Communications Technology and Microelectronics. It envisions itself to be one of the leading R&D Centers in Southeast Asia through its research programs. Its mission of supporting national development will be realized by using ICT to improve the country in the areas of Education, Environment, e-Governance, and Enterprise Development.

About the DATOS Help Desk

The Remote Sensing and Data Science (DATOS) Help Desk is a DOST-ASTI led project that aims to produce and communicate relevant disaster information to agencies and key end-users to complement the current efforts of existing government agencies and initiatives. DATOS builds on and integrates past and ongoing DOST-supported projects; and different Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) and other Data Science techniques.

About the PEDRO Center

The DOST-ASTI currently operates the Philippine Earth Data Resource and Observation (PEDRO) Center. The facility includes Ground Receiving Stations with satellite tracking antennas that receive, process and distribute satellite images and other spaceborne data. These can be used for various applications such as disaster risk management, environmental monitoring and terrestrial and maritime surveillance.

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As a scientific Earth Observation satellite, Diwata-2’s primary task is to capture images of Earth but it can also be used to target other celestial bodies in our solar system. Recently, Diwata-2 was tasked to take pictures of the Moon as part of an experiment carried out by researchers from the STAMINA4Space Program and Tohoku University in Japan. The experiment was undertaken to test Diwata-2’s target pointing capability, calibrate its sensors, and monitor its health and status. Accurate target pointing is crucial for effectively capturing images of areas identified during mission planning, and the Moon is a good point of reference for target calibration.

Satellite calibration using the Moon

This mission was part of the experiments of Mr. Edgar Paolo Violan, a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholar currently pursuing a degree in Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the Space Robotics Laboratory of Tohoku University in Japan. Mr. Violan’s research involves using the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) of Diwata-2 to target lunar acquisitions that lead to more precise target pointing maneuvers in capturing observation images. In-flight calibration of the ADCS is implemented as needed to correct any small, but still apparent, misalignments within the satellite’s components.

“From its initial skewed results, the satellite’s attitude sensors settings were adjusted accordingly until the Moon was finally captured and centered in the frame of view of the optical payload used (in this case, the High Precision Telescope or HPT). From the results of the lunar acquisition, we hope to increase the precision of Diwata-2’s Earth observation captures,” says Violan.

The results of the experiments can be used to yield enhancements in the design and implementation of ADCS that can be incorporated in other and future satellites.

“Attitude control systems enable spacecraft and satellites like Diwata-2 to accurately determine and adjust its orientation. As such, its robust performance is crucial to the success of the space mission. These systems also have wide ranging applications outside of space, ranging from autonomous vehicles, navigation to wearable devices for balance control. Therefore, innovation by Filipino engineers and scientists in this technology is important,” says Dr. Joel S. Marciano, Jr., the Director General of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and formerly Program Leader of the STAMINA4Space Program.

The Ground Receiving, Archiving, Science Product Development and Distribution or GRASPED project, a component of the STAMINA4Space program, assisted in carrying out the experiment. The GRASPED project is in charge of the day to day operations of the Diwata microsatellites, from deciding which targets to acquire to distributing the images to project stakeholders. In this experiment, Violan worked with the GRASPED team in tasking Diwata-2 to perform the acquisition through the Tohoku University Ground Station (CRESST), Sweden’s Kiruna Station, and the Philippine Earth Data Observation (PEDRO) Center at the Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the DOST. The data was then downloaded and processed by GRASPED into the images seen here.

Figure 2. Diwata-2’s first image of the Moon using the 740nm band of its Spaceborne Multispectral Imager (SMI) payload. Image acquired on November 14, 2019.

All eyes on the Moon

While the lunar acquisition experiments served its purpose in improving Diwata-2’s pointing accuracy, it also gave us detailed images of the Moon showing several notable features on its surface. Explorations and studies towards understanding of our planet’s only natural satellite have ensued since the Apollo missions in the ‘60s.

The commercial exploitation of the Moon has now become the subject of heightened international interest with the announcement of the Artemis Accords by NASA, which is in line with the United States-led Artemis Moon program aimed at building long-term human presence on the Moon. According to a recent Reuters news report1, the accords “appear to clear the way for companies to mine the Moon under international law and urge countries to enact similar national laws that would bind their private sector’s space operations.” Included in the plan is the establishment of so-called ‘safety zones’ on the lunar surface that are intended to ensure peaceful coexistence among parties operating Moon bases. Concerns have been raised, however, on how the safety zones might lead to national appropriation and therefore contravene the Outer Space Treaty, which states that the Moon and other celestial bodies are “not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.”

Figure 3. Notable features include the famous landing sites of Apollo 11, Luna 5, and Surveyor 3 & 4; Tycho Crater, Gassendi Crater, Ptolemaeus Crater, Schickard Crater, Copernicus Crater, Mare Humorum, Mare Nubium, and Mare Nectaris.

 

References:

¹ Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-artemis/star-trek-not-star-wars-nasa-releases-basic-principles-for-moon-exploration-pact-idUSKBN22R2Z9

Read about Diwata-2 or browse, download, or request for images.

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Using Diwata-1’s images, researchers were able to estimate the height of a cloud top, which is relevant in monitoring rainfall and thunderstorms.

This is according to a study published in the international journal Scientific Reports on May 5, 2020. The study, with a title “Determination of Cloud-top Height through Three-dimensional Cloud Reconstruction using DIWATA-1 Data”, highlighted the use of data from Diwata-1 in determining cloud-top height.

The height of a cloud-top, which is the distance between the top-most visible portion of a cloud and the Earth’s surface, is important in estimating the vertical growth of clouds. A faster rate of vertical growth of clouds often indicates rainfall and thunderstorms.

The study is a collaborative research among scientists from University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Hokkaido University in Japan and Understanding Lightning And Thunderstorms For Extreme Weather Monitoring And Information Sharing (ULAT) Project. The ULAT Project is done through a Collaborative Research Agreement (CRA) with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Science and Technology (JST) and Hokkaido University enjoining all parties for a project titled “Development of Extreme Weather Monitoring and Information Sharing System in the Philippines”. The project is an Official Development Assisted (ODA) project under the initiative of Japan’s Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) Program.

“This study is a demonstration that a single microsatellite, such as DIWATA-1, with its target-locking mode, can be used to obtain cloud-top height estimates at a higher temporal and vertical spatial resolution than conventional satellites. Since microsatellites are much cheaper to build and can be developed faster, the realization of its operational use for weather forecasting can be achieved with a constellation of microsatellites and denser ground receiving stations,” said STAMINA4Space Program Leader Dr. Gay Jane Perez.

Using the satellite’s target-locking capability that could capture cloud images at 200-ms interval and its high resolution payloads, researchers constructed three-dimensional cloud models. These images have finer vertical resolution than other satellite data, allowing more precise measurements.

Diwata-1’s mode of capturing

Normally, earth-observation satellites such as Diwata-1 and Diwata-2 capture images by facing their cameras or sensors towards the Earth’s surface. This is shown in Figure 1 where the satellite continues to take pictures with the same orientation as it moves along its orbit. This is called nadir-pointing and produces a bird’s-eye view of the surface.

In this study, Diwata-1 employs a different imaging technique called target-locking mode which can be seen in Figure 2. The target-locking mode is where a satellite reorients itself as it captures images of a specific target, in this case, clouds. This allows Diwata-1 to capture images of the same cloud at different angles. With these sets of images at hand, a technique called stereo-imaging can be used to produce a reconstructed 3D model of the cloud.

What is a cloud-top height for?

For this study, Diwata-1’s high resolution cameras like the Spaceborne-Multispectral Imager (SMI) and the High-Precision Telescope (HPT) were used, allowing for higher image resolution. The precision of the 3D model and its measurements, shown in Figure 4, relies on the resolution of the images. Due to the relatively finer resolution of DIWATA-1’s cameras, a more precise measurement of cloud-top heights can be achieved.

In particular, using images captured by Diwata-1’s HPT and SMI cameras, cloud-top height measurements at 2-m or 40-m resolution can be obtained, which are 250 and 12.5 times, respectively, finer than currently available data on cloud-top heights derived from other satellites and techniques.

“The vertical resolution provided by Diwata-1 is indeed higher than conventional satellites, only measurements provided by emitting lasers could produce a higher vertical resolution. However, these instruments are limited and only provide measurements below their track. Furthermore, they are technologically expensive and complex. By using a microsatellite, greater aerial coverage can be achieved.” said Ellison Castro, researcher and one of the authors of the paper.

But where can these measurements be used?

These measurements are used in estimating the vertical growth of clouds. A faster rate of vertical cloud growth can indicate heavy rainfalls. This is especially helpful in tropical countries such as the Philippines. During the dry months of April to June, intense heat experienced during the day contributes to an increase in the convective activity of the atmosphere, enabling the development of thunderstorm clouds that may bring isolated heavy rains.

Monitoring the cloud-top height may be used as an input to an early warning system and forecast methodologies, further equipping us for weather disturbances.

In April 6, 2020, Diwata-1 reentered the Earth’s atmosphere, ending its four-year service to the country. With this, Diwata-1’s estimation of cloud-top height continues with Diwata-2, having been equipped with similar HPT and SMI cameras.

See the full paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-64274-z

Read more about Diwata-1 or browse, download, or request for images.

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