Diwata-2

Diwata-2 is the second 50 kg. earth observation microsatellite of the Philippines built by researchers from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ASTI) in cooperation with Tohoku University and Hokkaido University in Japan under the Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat) Program. It was successfully deployed into 600 km SSO orbit on 29 October 2018 and carries the same optical cameras for scientific earth observation found in Diwata-1. It has since captured over 3,900 images total around the world, over 2,290 of which are of the Philippines (image count as of June 2019). Specifically, improvements in Diwata-2 include an Enhanced Resolution Camera (ERC) for pansharpening images captured by the SMI, experimental modules for attitude determination & sensing, and an experimental amateur radio unit (ARU) which can be used as an alternative mode of communication for emergency response.

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Diwata-2 overview
Class
Microsatellite (Microsat)
Mass
57.36 kg
Type
Earth Observation
Dimensions
50cm x 50 cm x 50 cm (Stowed State)
Orbit
Low Earth, Sun-Synchronous
Payloads
High Precision Telescope (HPT), Spaceborne Multispectral Imager with Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter (SMI w/ LCTF), Middle Field Camera (MFC), Wide Field Camera (WFC), Enhanced Resolution Camera (ERC), Deployable Solar Array Panels (DSAP), an Amateur Radio Unit (ARU), Zenith Sun Sensor Module (SAS-Z), and an Extentded Attitude Control Unit (ACU-Ex)
Launch
October 29 2018 Via H-IIA F40 Rocket from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Release
Direct release to space via rocket
Mission

Environmental and Natural Resource Monitoring

  • Multi-spectral Earth Observation for remote sensing applications.
  • Data Collection by Store-and-Forward Mechanism (S&F Mission)
  • Provide Satellite data to agriculture, fisheries, forestry , and other sectors

Disaster Response and Management

  • Assess damages caused by natural disasters by taking pre-and post-disaster images in the area.
  • Provide means of communication for emergency responders through amateur radio.
  • Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) Message Digipeater (APRS-DP Mission)
Status
Active (since October 29, 2018)
Diwata-2 timeline
Follow Diwata-2's space journey.