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Diwata-1 is a Philippine microsatellite deployed into orbit from the International Space Station (ISS) on April 27, 2016. It is the first 50kg satellite of the Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat) Program, a three-year research and development program funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines. The program is a collaboration between the University of the Philippines, the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), and Japan’s Tohoku University and Hokkaido University. Diwata-1 has three optical instruments for scientific earth observation: the High Precision Telescope (HPT) which can be used in studying the extent of damages from natural disasters; a Space-borne Multispectral Imager (SMI) with Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter (LCTF) for assessing changes in vegetation and ocean productivity studies; and the Wide Field Camera (WFC) which can capture cloud patterns and weather disturbances. It is also equipped with one engineering control instrument, the Middle Field Camera (MFC), which is used to help locate the images captured by HPT and SMI.
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Class |
Microsatellite (Microsat) |
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Mass |
52.40 kg |
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Type |
Earth Observation |
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Dimensions |
55 cm x 35 cm x 55 cm |
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Orbit |
Low Earth |
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Payloads |
High Precision Telescope (HPT), Spaceborne Multispectral Imager with Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter (SMI w/ LCTF), Middle Field Camera (MFC), Wide Field Camera (WFC) |
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Launch |
March 23, 2016 via Atlas V Rocket from Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral, Florida) |
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Release |
April 27, 2016 via International Space Station (ISS) |
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Mission |
Disaster Response and Management - Assess damages caused by natural disasters by taking pre and post disaster images in the area.Environmental and Natural Resource Assessment - Multi-spectral Earth Observation for remote sensing applications - Derive geophysical parameters for land and ocean applications. |
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Images |
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Status |
Decommissioned (April 6, 2020) |
July 2015
Initial structure assembly
Photo courtesy of: Prof. Yuji Sakamoto, Associate Professor Tohoku University
September 2015
Flight Model assembly & testing (electronic and vibration tests)
October 2015
Compatibility tests at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
December 2015
Final assembly and vibration test
January 13, 2016
Diwata-1 turnover to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at Tsukuba Space Center, Japan
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January 18, 2016
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) ships Diwata-1 to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
March 23, 2016
Diwata-1 launched to the International Space Station (ISS)
Via United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket (through the Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo spacecraft) from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
April 27, 2016
Diwata-1 successfully released into orbit
Via Japanese Experiment Module ‘Kibo’ on board the International Space Station (ISS) at 20:44 (JST)
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April 28, 2016
First signal received from Diwata-1
Radio signals successfully received at the Tohoku University ground station (CRESST), indicating good satellite health
May 6, 2016
Diwata-1 ‘s First Image of Earth
Received by Tohoku University ground station at 11:55 JST; captured using WFC (Wide Field Camera)
May 9, 2016
First captured using Middle Field Camera (MFC)
Captured at 10:54 (JST) on May 9, 2016 (area shown in image: Tohoku, Japan)
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June 2, 2016
First set of images released to public by Tohoku University
Set includes a test image of the Isabela, Philippines captured using Middle Field Camera (MFC) at 01:15UT (09:15 PHT) on May 17, 2016
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March 20, 2020
Diwata-1 altitude gradually decreases
Signaling approach of end of mission
April 6, 2020
Diwata-1 re-enters atmosphere, ends mission
After four years of its journey in space, Diwata-1 retires as it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
Diwata-1 is the Philippines’ first microsatellite for scientific earth observation built by Filipino engineers and scientists from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) in collaboration with Japanese universities, Tohoku University and Hokkaido University, and with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).