Pinoy satellite Diwata-1 set to deploy on Wednesday, April 27

After just over a month onboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Diwata-1 microsatellite has finally been scheduled for deployment on April 27, Wednesday, at around 7pm (Philippine time).

The deployment of the Diwata-1 is a milestone not just of the Philippines but also of Japan's own space program, which hopes that the pioneering launch will be the first of many to come.

"The deployment of the microsatellite combines the only air lock and robot arm in the ISS used in Kibo operations, which in the future, is expected to be one of the important means to meet the launch needs of microsatellites," the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said in a statement sent to GMA News.

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The Diwata-1 will be in orbit for approximately two years, producing high-resolution scans of the Philippines twice a day.

The microsatellite is equipped with a high precision telescope, a multispectral imager, and a wide field camera. These instruments will enable scientists on the ground to get an accurate idea of weather patterns, crop health, and disaster damage, among other uses. — GMA News