mmalabanan
MANILA, Philippines. Designed by a team of Filipino scientists and engineers based in Japan, microsatellite Diwata-1 was launched into space on Wednesday, March 23, at around 11 am. It was on board an Atlas V rocket which took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida in the U.S.
The first Pinoy-made microsatellite will be in orbit for about 18 to 20 months. Equipped with four specialized cameras for imaging agricultural productivity, weather patterns as well as land and water resources, Diwata-1 will take images twice daily.
By late 2017 or early 2018, Diwata-1’s sister Diwata-2 will be launched.
A flagship project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Diwata aims to give contributions to food security, agricultural productivity, and even tourism.
DOST Secretary Mario Montejo explained that the microsatellite will provide vital information to Filipino farmers to help them overcome the devastating effects of El Nino up to the middle of 2016.
He added: “The satellite will also aid the rest of the country in terms of agriculture and tourism, with the satellite giving data that will help farmers decide what crops to plant and where, while also capturing the country’s natural wonders.”
