First contact. On Oct 29, 2018 at 13:52 GMT+08, initial contact was established between the Department of Science and Technology Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) Ground Receiving Station (GRS) and Diwata-2.

Diwata-2 was successfully launched to space on October 29, 2018 at 12:08 GMT+08 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan via H-IIA F40 rocket. It is one of the small satellites piggybacked with the main payloads IBUKI-2, also known as GOSAT-2 (JAXA’s Second Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite), and KhalifaSat, a remote sensing Earth observation satellite developed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates. The other small satellites are the Japanese-made Tenkou, PROITERES-2, Stars-AO, and AUTcube-2. Diwata-2 was inserted into the Sun-Synchronous Orbit at an altitude of 621 km, 43 minutes and 20 seconds after rocket lift-off.

On Oct 29, 2018 at 13:52 GMT+08, initial contact was established between Diwata-2 and the Ground Receiving Station (GRS) located at the Department of Science and Technology Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). Short telemetry data was received from the satellite on that day. Diwata-2 was initially tracked using pre-launch orbital parameters. As of 12:40 PM yesterday, October 31, 2018, the GRS can now read the satellite’s status, including vital signs such as fully charged batteries, normal power consumption, and good communication link. Commands were successfully sent and initial check procedures will continue throughout the first week from launch. Initial image captures from the cameras can be expected in the coming days.

Another milestone for Philippine space initiatives

The Philippine public viewing session. Government representatives, the Embassy of Japan, stakeholders, students and space enthusiasts gathered on October 29, 2018 at the GT Toyota Auditorium in Quezon City.

The team, program collaborators and stakeholders celebrated in two major simultaneous events: one at the Tanegashima Space Center together with the Japanese partners, and one at the GT Toyota Auditorium in Quezon City with the public. Pocket viewing sessions were also held at the DOST Region VI office in Iloilo, Bicol State University, Cebu Technological University, and Caraga State University. Simultaneously, Japanese professors Dr. Tetsuro Ishida (from Hokkaido University) and Dr. Yuji Sakamoto (from Tohoku University) and Filipino scholars Gerwin Guba, Leur Labrador, Julie Banatao, Leonard Paet, and Paolo Violan who were part of the team who built the Diwata-2 in Tohoku University, were also tuned in.

The Philippine contingent to the launching of Diwata-2 microsatellite at Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima, Japan, poses for posterity. The group is led by Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña (center) and is joined by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency President Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa (seventh from left). With them are (from left) University of the Philippines Chancellor Michael Tan, PHL-Microsatellite Project Leader Mark Edwin Tupas, Philippine Embassy First Secretary and Consul Cassandra Sawadjaan, PCIEERD Chief Science Research Specialist HRIDD Ermie Bacarra, PCIEERD Chief Science Research Specialist ETDD Edna Nacianceno, Philippine Deputy Chief of Mission to Japan Eduardo M.R. Meñez, Philippine Embassy Economic Attaché Diane Merce Bartolome, PHL-Microsat Program Leader Dr. Joel Marciano and Office of Sen. Bam Aquino Political Officer John Razil Paramio. Photo and caption courtesy of Business Mirror.

In Japan, the Philippine representatives were led by DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, Sen. Bam Aquino representative Mr. John Razil Paramio, Philippine Deputy Chief of Mission to Japan Mr. Eduardo M.R. Meñez, DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research Development (PCIEERD) Human Resources and Institutional Development Division (HRIDD) Chief Engr. Ermie Bacarra, DOST-PCIEERD Emerging Technology Development Division (ETDD) Chief Ms. Edna Nacianceno, DOST-ASTI Acting Director Dr. Joel Marciano Jr., University of the Philippines Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan, PHL-Microsat Data Processing, Archiving and Distribution Project Leader Engr. Mark Edwin Tupas, and media representative Ms. Angelina Resurreccion.

In Quezon City, the event was opened with remarks from PHL-Microsat Remote Sensing Product Development Project Leader Dr. Gay Jane Perez, followed by a special message from DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Guevara. PHL-Microsat Program leader Dr. Marc Talampas gave an overview of the event and shared some of the milestones made while developing the microsatellite.

PHL-Microsat team members Engr. Ariston Gonzalez, Kaye Vergel, and Delburg Mitchao guided the crowd through the actual launch. Embassy of Japan Minister Atsushi Kuwabara, Policy Officer from Office of Sen. Bam Aquino, Mr. Jose Fernando Escalante, and UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, Dr. Fidel Nemenzo gave congratulatory messages to the team and the audience, which was composed of students from select science high schools, media, and various spectators who signed up to join the public viewing.