The Philippine microsatellite program (The Official Gazette)
Our country’s very own micro-satellite (PHL-Microsat-1), nicknamed Diwata, will make its historic launch on Wednesday, March 23, 10 a.m. Philippine time at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, USA.
This microsatellite carries three main instruments that can be used in disaster management programs, weather forecasting, agriculture, fisheries, forest protection, mining, and even the protection of cultural and historical sites.
Diwata is the first satellite of the venture and is also a part of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Micro-Satellite (PHL-Microsat) Program which was initiated in December 2014 by the government agency.
The potential savings are a major reason for the government’s decision to embark on the program.
DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said that it is actually more economical given how much the government currently spends to buy satellite images.
For instance in 2013, the government had to pay about P56 million for satellite imagery of an area affected by the typhoon Yolanda. Guevara stressed that with our own satellite, we can get data 365 days a year and we can task the satellite to take a picture of a particular location.
The said program aims to send two micro-satellite in space. The second one, PHL-Microsat-2, will be launched in 2017. It has not been given a nickname yet.
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