Senators laud 3 Pinoy space engineers

MANILA, Philippines — Senators are seeking recognition for the three Filipino space engineers who developed the Maya-2 CubeSat, the country’s second nanosatellite successfully launched into the International Space Station (ISS) on Feb. 21.

Senators Cynthia Villar and Nancy Binay, in filing Senate Resolution 657, said Izrael Zenar Bautista, Mark Angelo Purio and Marloun Sejera have brought pride to the country for the satellite launched aboard the cargo spacecraft Cygnus “NG 15.”

Villar said the remarkable achievements of the three engineers brought inspiration to the Filipinos amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Their work on the development of Maya-2 CubeSat constitutes a valuable contribution to the country’s science and technology, particularly in the area of space science,” she said.

Villar said the three, who are currently pursuing their respective doctorate degrees in Space Engineering at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan, should be given commendation.

She said the Maya-2 CubeSat, while being the second Philippine nanosatellite launched, is considered as the country’s fourth satellite orbiting into space.

The Philippines launched Diwata 1 microsatellite on March 23, 2016; Diwata 2 microsatellite on Oct. 29, 2018, and Maya-1 nanosatellite on June 29,2018.

The Maya-2 uses commercial off-the-shelf components to verify proper function in space and the information gathered form the basis for the usage of these COTS components for future space missions.