On the afternoon of July 19, two CubeSats named Maya-5 and Maya-6 were sent into space from the International Space Station (ISS). Constructed by Filipino science scholars, the creation of these CubeSats marks the second batch originating from the Philippines. The dispatch into space took place as part of the CubeSat deployment mission known as “Kibo” or Japanese Experiment Module Small Satellite Orbital Deployer-26. The journey to the ISS for Maya-5 and Maya-6 began in June, with a ride aboard the SpaceX Dragon Falcon 9.

CubeSats are miniaturized satellites roughly double the scale of a standard Rubik’s cube, allowing them to be conveniently hitched to other rocket launches due to their compact size. Designed as educational tools, these small satellites provide invaluable learning opportunities for graduate students and scholars in the field of spacecraft design and technology.

Developed under the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) Project, the creators of Maya-5 and Maya-6 hope that their contributions will illuminate scientific inquiries and lend to future advancements in the Philippines’ satellite developments. In the 72 hours following their launch, the health of these satellites, specifically their antenna deployment and battery levels, was continuously monitored.

Maya-5 and Maya-6 follow in the footsteps of their predecessor, Maya-1, the first CubeSat, which was launched five years prior, in August of 2018. Named after a well-known Philippine bird, the project’s objectives extend beyond assessing the country’s satellite development capabilities. It also aims to provide valuable resources to the amateur radio community. The amateur radio satellite station at the University of the Philippines-Diliman caught the inaugural beacon from Maya-5 and Maya-6 on their launch day.

Currently, ambitions for further stargazing endeavors are in progress with the development of Maya-7, a two-unit cube satellite, by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). This project signifies the agency’s inaugural control over a cube satellite program. As the CubeSat project continues to progress, prior learnings and techniques are being passed down to upcoming scholars. This cycle of knowledge was aptly summarized by Nathan Rosimo, a mentor in thermal and radiation subsystem at PhilSA.

Future plans for the CubeSat project include the call for mission ideas for the upcoming Maya-7. Established in 2019, PhilSA is the official government agency devoted to the advancement of space science technology applications. Their responsibility over the CubeSat project signifies an important milestone in the evolution of Philippine space science and technology.

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