TECH & GAMING
Advocates Philippines
Philippine Space Agency Successfully Launches Maya-5 And Maya-6 To International Space Station
Photo credit: Philippine Space Agency
The Philippines' CubeSats, Maya-5 and Maya-6, were successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on 05 June 2023 at around 11:47 PM PST. The CubeSats, weighing approximately 1.15 kilograms each, were carried aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 as part of SpaceX's 28th commercial resupply mission. Once released to space, Maya-5 and Maya-6 will move along an orbit similar to the space station's, at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers.
Maya-5 and Maya-6 were developed under the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) project of the STAMINA4Space Program.
This initiative, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and implemented by the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the DOST Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), aims to provide local opportunities for space technology knowledge and hands-on experience in satellite development. The CubeSats were built as part of the course requirements of UP EEEI's nanosatellite engineering track, in collaboration with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan.
Maya-5 and Maya-6 serve as technology demonstration and educational platforms for remote data collection through the Store-and-Forward (S&F) Mechanism. Maya-5 shares the same mission payload as its predecessor, Maya-2, while Maya-6 carries an experimental on-board computer (OBC-EX) mission payload.
The successful launch of Maya-5 and Maya-6 marks the sixth collaborative mission between the Philippines and Japan, following the previous success of Diwata-1 and Diwata-2. These CubeSats contribute to the development of the country's space science and technology capabilities and showcase the Philippines' commitment to space exploration.
Dr. Maricor Soriano, STAMINA4Space Program Leader, emphasized the importance of sustainability in space science and technology development. She expressed the hope that building CubeSats and collaborating with local companies would pave the way for a space tech industry base. Engr. Paul Jason Co, STeP-UP Project Leader, acknowledged the continued support of DOST and DOST-SEI, which has accelerated the country's homegrown space scientists and engineers.
The successful launch of Maya-5 and Maya-6 demonstrates the Philippines' growing capability in satellite development and space technology. The country's focus on inclusivity and support for projects using emerging technologies for space science technology and innovation was highlighted by DOST-ASTI Director Dr. Franz De Leon. Dr. Josette Biyo, DOST-SEI Director, expressed pride in the accomplishments of the scholars and affirmed the agency's commitment to prioritizing space science and engineering in its scholarship program.
Maya-7, a 2U CubeSat, is currently being developed under PhilSA's ACCESS Nanosat Project, offering Filipinos the opportunity to pursue a master's degree in satellite engineering. The ACCESS Nanosat team is working closely with the winners of the Nanosat Mission Idea Contest (NMIC), who are developing proposed mission payloads for integration into Maya-7.
Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Director General Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. commended the STAMINA4Space Program and the STeP-UP Project for achieving another milestone in Philippine space development. He expressed gratitude to the DOST for its support and stated that PhilSA aims to build upon these accomplishments.
Further details about Maya-5 and Maya-6's deployment from the ISS will be announced in the coming weeks.
Maya-5 and Maya-6 were developed under the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) project of the STAMINA4Space Program.
This initiative, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and implemented by the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the DOST Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), aims to provide local opportunities for space technology knowledge and hands-on experience in satellite development. The CubeSats were built as part of the course requirements of UP EEEI's nanosatellite engineering track, in collaboration with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan.
Maya-5 and Maya-6 serve as technology demonstration and educational platforms for remote data collection through the Store-and-Forward (S&F) Mechanism. Maya-5 shares the same mission payload as its predecessor, Maya-2, while Maya-6 carries an experimental on-board computer (OBC-EX) mission payload.
The successful launch of Maya-5 and Maya-6 marks the sixth collaborative mission between the Philippines and Japan, following the previous success of Diwata-1 and Diwata-2. These CubeSats contribute to the development of the country's space science and technology capabilities and showcase the Philippines' commitment to space exploration.
Dr. Maricor Soriano, STAMINA4Space Program Leader, emphasized the importance of sustainability in space science and technology development. She expressed the hope that building CubeSats and collaborating with local companies would pave the way for a space tech industry base. Engr. Paul Jason Co, STeP-UP Project Leader, acknowledged the continued support of DOST and DOST-SEI, which has accelerated the country's homegrown space scientists and engineers.
The successful launch of Maya-5 and Maya-6 demonstrates the Philippines' growing capability in satellite development and space technology. The country's focus on inclusivity and support for projects using emerging technologies for space science technology and innovation was highlighted by DOST-ASTI Director Dr. Franz De Leon. Dr. Josette Biyo, DOST-SEI Director, expressed pride in the accomplishments of the scholars and affirmed the agency's commitment to prioritizing space science and engineering in its scholarship program.
Maya-7, a 2U CubeSat, is currently being developed under PhilSA's ACCESS Nanosat Project, offering Filipinos the opportunity to pursue a master's degree in satellite engineering. The ACCESS Nanosat team is working closely with the winners of the Nanosat Mission Idea Contest (NMIC), who are developing proposed mission payloads for integration into Maya-7.
Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Director General Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. commended the STAMINA4Space Program and the STeP-UP Project for achieving another milestone in Philippine space development. He expressed gratitude to the DOST for its support and stated that PhilSA aims to build upon these accomplishments.
Further details about Maya-5 and Maya-6's deployment from the ISS will be announced in the coming weeks.
Jun 6, 2023
