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PHL-MICROSAT PROGRAM, DIWATA-1 and DIWATA-2

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This blog will not be complete without mentioning the country's initial foray to space through the PHL-Microsat Program. The PHL-Microsat Program The PHL-Microsat Program is a R&D program supported by the Philippine's Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It started on 2015, with an aim to develop, launch and effectively utilize the country's first microsatellites, Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, and lay the foundation for a sustainable space science and technology ecosystem in the country. The program is composed of five component project with focus on: Project 1 - Development of the microsatellites Project 2 - Development and operations of the ground receiving station for Diwata-1 and Diwata-2 Project 3 - Data processing, archiving and distribution Project 4 - Calibration and validation of remote sensing instruments Project 5 - Development of remote sensing data products Diwata-1 Diwata-1 , the country's first microsatellite is a ...
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AGILA-2: PH's SECOND SATELLITE

Just a year after acquiring Agila-1 , the Philippines acquired its second satellite, Agila-2. However, compared with Agila-1, Agila-2 is designed for a Philippine company and is not acquired while already in orbit. Agila-2 is a telecommunications satellite built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) for Mabuhay Satellite Corporation. It was launched to space from Xichang Satellite Launch Center via the Chang Zheng 3B rocket on August 19, 1997 (17:50 UTC) and was positioned at the 146°E longitude orbital slot. The mass varies from sources, but according to Gunter's Space, its launch mass is 3775 kg while its dry mass is 1800 kg (Wikipedia reports 2,820 kg launch mass). Agila-2 is claimed to be the most powerful telecommunications satellite in the entire Asia-Pacific region, and one of the most efficient in the industry. It carries 24 C-band, 24 Ku-band, and 6 extended C-band transponders, making it the satellite with the largest number of active transponders compared to any oth...
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SATELLITE CLASS BY MASS

There are many ways to classify satellites. These categories can be by function , by type of orbit or by mass. We will discuss satellite's functions and orbit in our next articles but for now, we will focus on satellite's classification by mass. Satellite's mass has direct impact on its cost, its development cycle and its launcher. The larger the satellite, the bigger is the development cost. This is because larger satellites carries more equipment such as redundancy modules, propellant, and more solar panels. Also, since it has more components and the lifetime and reliability expectation is higher, design reviews and tests conducted are also more than smaller satellites. Finally, larger satellites occupy larger space in the rocket, entailing higher launch cost. The names of the categories by mass is not an official convention. We can still, however use it for generic purposes: Large satellite - 1000 kg Medium-sized satellite - 500 kg to 1000 kg Small satellites...
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