The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Thursday marked the first year in orbit of the Philippines’ first microsatellite, DIWATA-1, through a showcase of space technology at the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus.
Researchers from DOST organized the initial Pinoy Showcase of Space Technologies which features a live demonstration of the Philippine Earth Data Resource Observation (PEDRO) facility.
PEDRO is a multi-mission ground control station for receiving, processing and distributing multi-sensor (optical and radar) images and telemetry data from various earth observation satellites in orbit over Manila.
The satellite images support various applications related to environmental monitoring, disaster risk reduction and management and resource assessment, among others.
PEDRO also houses the PHL-Microsat Ground Control Station, which is used to send commands to and receive data from the DIWATA-1 microsatellite.
Manila achieved a major breakthrough in space technology with the launch of the 50-kg DIWATA-1 into space on April 27 last year.
“In keeping with the theme of highlighting technology innovation, we chose to mark the occasion of DIWATA-1’s first year in orbit by focusing on demonstrating current local capability in satellite ground mission control," said DOST-ASTI Acting Director and PHL-Microsat Program Leader Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr.
A progress report on the second Philippine microsatellite, DIWATA-2 was also presented in the showcase.