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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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SATELLITE ORBITS

We've mentioned in our previous article that Diwata-1 took an ISS orbit while Diwata-2 will be launched to a Sun-synchronous orbit. We've also mentioned that Agila-1 and Agila-2 were previously positioned to a certain degree of orbital slot.  But what are these things called orbit? Do I need to know these things? Why should I care? Orbit is the path followed by a satellite. You are probably aware that the moon orbits the Earth -- and moon is a natural satellite! There are several types of orbits, and each has their pros and cons. Let us take a look at some of the most common satellite orbits. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites in this orbit resides from 180 km to 3000 km from the Earth's surface. Due to its closeness to the surface, this orbit is easily accessible and launch opportunities are common, keeping the launch cost low. This orbit is popular for remote sensing applications since small and relatively less powerful cameras can work well from this dist...
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SPACE ENVIRONMENT: VACUUM

Space is popular for its near-vacuum characteristic. However, along with this environment are potential issues with the satellite: Out-gassing From Earth's surface to space, pressure drops very significantly. This change of pressure can cause trapped gasses to be released, and these can re-condense to cause contamination or degradation of certain materials. While this is usually not a big issue, it can still affect delicate sensors and chips.  The concern on out-gassing is heightened when there are people involved, such as in the case of the ISS. A satellite bound for an ISS orbit stays in ISS for a certain duration (usually about a month). Since there are people living in the ISS, the released gasses can cause threat to their health. Cold Welding Moving parts in satellites such as deployment mechanisms entail challenges not only in the aspect of launch (vibrations and shock) but also in terms of successful operations (deployment). In vacuum, cold welding occurs...
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