PNoy receives Diwata replica

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino recently received a replica of Diwata-1, the Philippines’ first microsatellite, from officials of the Department of Science and Technology who visited him at the Palace.

Science Secretary Mario Montejo led a team of engineers, who designed and built Diwata-1, in presenting the replica to the President last June 20.

Aside from the replica, Montejo also gave Aquino a coffee table book titled Diwata-1, which contained photos and articles of how the microsatellite was created.

The launch of Diwata-1, also known as Phl-Microsat-1, into the International Space Station on March 23 was considered a milestone for the Aquino administration and in the country’s space technology.

It was released from the Japanese Experiment Module nicknamed “Kibo” into outer space on April 27.

It is expected to orbit the Earth for about 20 months before it re-enters the atmosphere.

Equipped with four specialized cameras, Diwata-1 is expected to provide an average of 3,500 high-resolution images of the country that would be used for monitoring land and water resources and studying changing weather patterns, agriculture, fishery, forestry as well as disaster response and mitigation.

With the success of Diwata-1, the DOST is expected to launch the second microsatellite Diwata-2 in 2017.