First PH micro-satellite Diwata-1 to be launched into space tonight

Following its historical delivery to the International Space Station (ISS) last month, Diwata-1, the first Philippine micro-satellite, will be driven to space to start its mission on April 27, Wednesday, 7 PM (Philippine time).

Diwata-1 is expected to be in orbit for approximately 20 months and will be imaging the country twice daily.

Diwata-1, the Philippines' first micro-satellite (wikipedia photo)

Along with the micro-satellite development is the installation of the satellite ground receiving station called PEDRO or the Philippine Earth Data Resources Observation. Located in Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales, Pedro is tasked to receive Diwata-1 imagery, including other images from selected commercial satellites.

According to the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), the micro-satellite will be released by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer at an altitude of 400 kilometers from the earth’s surface.

The deployment of Diwata-1 marks the first foray of a 50-kg class satellite from the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) nicknamed “Kibo”, the National Research and Development Institute of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Tsukuba Space Center said.

Acknowledging this historical milestone, JAXA noted that “the deployment of the micro-satellite combines the only air lock and robot arm in the ISS used in Kibo operations, which, in the future, is expected to be one of the important means to meet the launch needs of micro-satellites.”

Diwata-1’s mission is to capture photos and images from its main payload consisting of high precision telescope, spaceborne multispectral imager, and wide field camera. The telescope produces high-resolution imaging for observing large-scale weather patterns while the imager is used for monitoring bodies of water and vegetation. Meanwhile, the camera is used in observing large-scale weather patterns.

According to DOST secretary Mario G. Montejo, Diwata-1 is historic as it is designed, developed, and assembled by Filipino scientists. “Aside from the micro-satellite’s use in disaster-response mechanisms, agriculture, tourism, and others, it also marks a milestone in the country’s developing space program and a testament that local scientists can make our own micro-satellite,” he said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said that the launch of Diwata-1 is “not only a giant leap for Philippine science and technology. It could also provide Philippine policy makers with the scientific data and information needed to formulate policies relating to disaster mitigation, agricultural productivity, and management of land and water resources.

Another space-related facility under construction is the UP Diliman Micro-satellite Research and Instructional facility which will be the hub of training for future space technology research and development activities.

Diwatas 1 and 2, and the ground station called (Pedro) are part of a three-year, P840.82-million microsat program.

The space launch can be watched live at youtube.com/user/jaxachannel. (Newsbytes.ph)

http://newsbytes.ph/2016/04/26/first-ph-micro-satellite-to-be-released-into-space-on-april-27/

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PH’s Diwata–1 satellite launched into space

The Philippines yesterday took the penultimate step to launching an observation satellite in space as Diwata-1 soared to the International Space Station (ISS).

At around 11:05 a.m., an American supply spacecraft blasted off from Cape Canaveral, carrying 20 nano satellites, the Filipino-made 50-kg Diwata-1 microsatellite, and other payload.

Officials of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the University of the Philippines, and members of the media waited as the Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft pierced the Earth’s atmosphere.

Dr. Carlos Primo David, executive director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), said the flight takes about six hours from the ground station to the ISS.

“This is a momentous event,” he exclaimed after the Cygnus, the last stage of the spacecraft that will reach the ISS, separated from its carrier and slowly disappeared in the darkness of space for a rendezvous with the ISS.

He said the final step in the Philippines’ journey to space pertains to the deployment or release of Diwata-1 from the Japan Experimental Module (JEM), nicknamed Kibo (Hope) on April 20, or later.

Kibo has a lock and robotic arm to be used in Diwata-1’s deployment at an altitude about 400 kms from Earth’s ground surface.

University of the Philippines Associate Professor Gay Jane Perez of the Institute of Environmental Science and Metrology, and project leader of PHL-Microsat Project 5, said that, among others, the microsatellite’s images once it starts beaming back to Earth (ground station in Subic Bay Freeport), can be sources for information for farmers, for weather pattern.

She said Diwata-1 will look at crop areas, status and health of crops of various crops like rice and corn.

“So, it can be used in monitoring areas and it can provide information to farmers and also to government agencies,” said Perez. (Edd K. Usman, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
The first Philippine-assembled satellite."The potential uses of DIWATA include: improved weather detection and forecasts; disaster risk management; detecting agricultural growth patterns; and the monitoring of forest cover, mining, protection of cultural and historical sites, and the territorial borders of the Philippines. (DIWATA) has been launched into space (Screenshots courtesy of NASA)

http://www.mb.com.ph/phs-diwata-1-satellite-launched-into-space/

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Subic Bay to be the Philippines' earth station for "Diwata"

Subic Bay Freeport shall be the earth station for the Philippines' very own satellites, one of which shall be launched to space in April of this year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said.

A government project dubbed the Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Micro-Satellite (PHL-Microsat) Program aims to send two micro-satellites into space to assist in disaster management programs, weather forecasting, agriculture, fisheries, forest protection, mining, and even the protection of cultural and historical sites.

The first micro-satellite, PHL-Microsat-1, nicknamed Diwata, will be launched into space in April this year from the International Space Station (ISS), a large, habitable satellite orbiting the Earth. The second one, PHL-Microsat-2, will be launched in 2017.

The data will be obtained on a daily basis and will be sent to a ground receiving station in Subic Bay Freeport. The station, to be called the Philippine Earth Data Resources and Observation Center (PEDRO), will provide crops and climate experts with information on a particular area’s vegetation conditions.

It will also receive, process and distribute spatial data to provide government officials with intelligent decision-making tool on various areas of concern such as the occurrence of pests, annual yield of rice to prevent shortages in production and other issues.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said the launch schedule was set after the DOST firmed up the arrangements with an American provider of space shuttle services on which the “micro satellite” would be launched.

Select scientists from the DOST are now in Japan, collaborating with space scientists from Hokkaido University, in the assembly of the micro satellite.

Though the assembly is now getting much assistance from Japanese scientists, Montejo said the Filipino scientists are doing the actual design and fabrication activities.

DOST Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro said the micro satellite will be a key component of the cutting edge remote sensing technology capability being developed by the DOST, which will use satellite imagery and ground data processing to generate data and information on agricultural and also marine and mountain conditions.

Liboro said the remote sensing technology research and development effort of the DOST was greatly benefited by the DOST’s recent hosting of the 2015 Asian Conference on Remote Sensing during which it gathered the world’s foremost experts and resource persons last October.

He said the DOST and scientists and researchers of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration were able to confer with these experts.

Enrico Paringit, head of the DOST’s Project DREAM (Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation), explained that through the said technology, experts can make an inventory of the agricultural resources and immediately discover any irregularities in the crops before these spread.

“The El Niño phenomenon was detected using remote sensing technologies,” Paringit said.

He said remote sensing technology has benefits in the areas of agriculture, forestry and disaster mitigation.

Remote sensing is the technology used in getting information on an object or phenomenon without making any physical contact. It is done through aerial scanning of a location or through satellite images.

“We can say that remote sensing is more like feeling without touching,” Paringit said.

Under the DREAM program which Paringit heads, DOST will be sending two micro satellites in two years starting 2016 to enable the remote transmission of data. These images will be verified using data coming from other sources. (SNL)

PHOTO:

Diwata, the Philippines' first microsatellite, may look like this, the 1U CubeSat ESTCube-1 which was developed by Estonia.  Image from Wikipedia

Sources:

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/02/1538494/april-launch-seen-philippine-satellite

http://www.rappler.com/nation/86327-philippine-microsatellite-diwata

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