The Department of Science and Technology is looking at launching three cube satellites or nanosatellites this year.
Sec. Fortunato dela Peña announced recently the launching of the two nanosatellites – Maya-3 and Maya-4.
Cube satellites are small satellites originally designed to provide hands-on experience in developing satellites. These are usually sent to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The development of Maya-3 and Maya-4 cube satellites are part of the STeP-UP Project.
Cube satellites last for six months to more than a year in orbit, depending on satellite mass, surface area, electronics inside, and the solar cycle, Mendoza said.
Maya-1, which was developed by two Filipino students at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan, is still in space since its launch in 2018.
Maya-1 contains an Automatic Packet Radio Service Digipeater which can communicate with ham radios. It also carries two cameras that have a wide-angle and narrow-angle lens to capture images and videos for research purposes.
In 2016 and 2018, the DOST also launched Filipino-made microsatellites, the Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, respectively.
Microsatellites are used to capture images that will be used for remote sensing (data-gathering about the earth’s surface) and for research. They also gather data on natural and man-made disasters, to monitor vegetation and water changes, among others.
Dela Peña earlier announced that the DOST has allotted P20 million for Maya-3 and Maya-4.
The fund was allocated for the scholarship of eight graduate students who would develop these, for the components, space environment tests, pre, and post-launch safety reviews.
The scholarship covers the students’ tuition, stipend, research grant, a “sandwich” program in Japan for them to undergo training in satellite development. – PNA release
April 26, 2024
