The direct launch into orbit of Diwata-2, the second Philippine microsatellite developed by Filipino scientists, was streamed live on October 29 via You Tube from the Japan space center.
Diwata-2 was lifted off into space via the H-IIA F40 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center at 12:08 PM in full daylight unlike the first satellite Diwata-1 which was deployed to the International Space Station first before it was finally launched into orbit in 2016.
The historic event was seen streamed live by the Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) You Tube channel and viewed by the public gathered at the PHL Microsat center in the University of the Philippines.
Diwata-2 was deployed to aid in the country’s environmental monitoring and disaster risk reduction and management efforts through the capturing of high-resolution images of the country’s geographical features.
The PHL Microsat team announced earlier that Diwata-2 improvements include increased lifespan and sun-synchronous orbit at the altitude of 620km, carries high performance cameras, deployable solar panels, and amateur radio unit for emergency communications.
Diwata-2 is one of two Philippine-developed microsatellite projects developed and built under the PHL-Microsat Program, funded by DOST, monitored by DOST-PCIEERD, and done through the collaboration between the University of the Philippines, the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), Hokkaido University and Tohoku University.
Watch the Diwata-2 Launch Video here
Watch the young engineers of the PHL-Microsat discuss what’s new with Diwata-2 and how it can be a game-changer in the country’s environmental monitoring and disaster risk reduction and management efforts.
