Pinoy scientists eye micro satellite by 2016

MANILA, Philippines - Sixteen engineers and scientists from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and University of the Philippines-Diliman will soon leave for Japan to start their studies and training alongside experts from Hokkaido University in the effort to design, develop and launch the country’s very own micro-satellite into space as early as 2016.

“In a couple of weeks, we have 16 engineers and scientists going to Japan,” DOST Secretary Mario Montejo told The STAR at the just concluded National Science and Technology Week held last week at the SMX Convention Center.

The DOST’s NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) and DREAM (Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation) projects tapped UP Diliman meteorologists and engineers to develop and build the weather modeling and cutting-edge LiDAR (light ranging and detection) technology systems.

Montejo earlier said the premier Japanese higher educational institution has accepted the DOST’s proposal for a partnership for the country’s move to build the capability to develop and assemble its own micro-satellite and launch it into space in two or three years.

The program to build a micro-satellite, Montejo said, is mainly a leveling up of the DOST’s multi-hazard modeling and map-making capability to identify flood, storm surge, landslide and other hazard areas in the country pursued under Projects NOAH and DREAM.

He said that with the LiDAR mapping technology, DOST now wants to establish one remote ground sensor that will help in the information gathering for the LiDAR mapping effort.

The micro-satellite, he said, would be a key part of this whole program since it will course information orbiting in the skies over the country onto the remote ground sensor.

Montejo said there were other unexpected benefits of the Philippines having a micro-satellite of its own serving as its “eye in the sky.”

Montejo said that a micro satellite could be used to regularly and efficiently watch over the Philippines’ maritime territorial waters, and relieve the Philippine Coast Guard of the need to have a fleet of vessels to regularly patrol the country’s sea borders.

“Once we develop the capability, we may discover many other uses for it,” Montejo said.

He said that the Remote Sensing Program, which already includes the effort to build a micro satellite, was budgeted some P1.4 billion.