Science and Technology

PhilSA launches first-ever Space Science Camp

by Elijah Salazar

July 25, 2022

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) conducted its first-ever Space Science Camp on July 19-21, 2022, through online modalities and an in-person event at the University Hotel on the University of the Philippines – Diliman campus.

Dubbed “Lift Off”, the event was attended by incoming Grade 12 STEM students & campus journalists, together with SHS Science subject teachers, who together represent the 16 city science high schools of the National Capital Region.

Much of the event focused on developing and creating stories in science communication and understanding the various technologies being utilized globally and locally in space, with speakers including BusinessWorld science journalist Patricia Mirasol and DOST-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Chief Research Specialist Dr. Ruby Roan Cristobal, herself a former producer for the long-running educational show Sineskwela.

Participants were also exposed to the different space technologies being utilized and developed by the PhilSA, including the well-known Diwata and Maya microsatellites under the Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat) program. PhilSA engineers also showcased the in-development Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA), a 100+ kg satellite that will become the largest Filipino-made satellite upon its expected launch in 2023.

In a talk during the second day of the event, PhilSA Director-General Joel Marciano encouraged participants to develop their knowledge further and pursue postgraduate education to contribute to the field of space science.

He explained how space science is made up of a lot of different areas that come together to help humans understand the far beyond, stressing that the need for collaboration amongst people with expertise in various fields is important for the future of space science. “Be good at what you do; work with others. Form a team; solve bigger problems,” Marciano concluded.

At the conclusion of the camp, participants presented a space mission proposal based on the knowledge of payloads and satellites gained from the lectures in the first few days of the camp. Entries from the Caloocan City Science High School and the City of Mandaluyong Science High School were awarded plaques for being the best space mission proposals among participants.

Select participants also pitched science stories to be curated with the help of PhilSA’s Space Data Dashboard. These pitches also currently serve as long-term outputs for the participants of the camp and are set for release through the participants’ student publications and PhilSA’s official social media pages before the start of the incoming school year.

In an interview with CNN Philippines’ Rico Hizon, Space Science Camp head Dr. Jace Refran lauded the participants and expressed hope for their potential even to become astronauts. “You can already be impressed with their knowledge in space science,” Dr. Refran quipped.

ParSci & the Division of Parañaque were represented by incoming Grade 12 students and The Momentum staffers Marianne Marasigan and Elijah Salazar, alongside SHS Earth Science teacher Mr. Danilo Marquez Jr.