SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -Diwata-1 also known as PHL-Microsat-1 was a Philippine microsatellite launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 23, 2016, and was deployed into orbit from the ISS on April 27, 2016. It was the first Philippine microsatellite and the first satellite built and designed by Filipinos.

Detailed explanation-2: -The microsatellite captured more than 17, 000 images of the Philippines, covering 38% of the country’s land area. Diwata-1 ushered in an age of Earth satellite observation in the Philippines, contributing to science-based approaches to planning, conservation, risk management, and mapping.

Detailed explanation-3: -Diwata-2 will have the same mission as its predecessor, Diwata-1. It has a sun-synchronous orbit having been equipped with an experimental sun sensor which would allow the operators to determine the position of the satellite in respective to the sun and it will orbit at an altitude of 620 km (390 mi) above sea level.

Detailed explanation-4: -13 January 2016 – The Philippines’ first-ever microsatellite, Diwata-1, was formally unveiled and received today by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP) at the Tsukuba Space Center in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

Detailed explanation-5: -Since then, Diwata-1 has been succeeded by the microsatellite Diwata-2 and nanosatellite Maya-1, both launched in 2018. Collectively, these satellites are intended to boost the Philippines’ space ambitions as well as capture data relevant to agricultural productivity.