PH students show technical knowledge in space science camp mission proposals, environmental awareness
It wasn’t just catchy mission names like 鉄un:AOL・ or 徹h my Venus・ that impressed scientists from the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) who evaluated the space mission proposals presented by participants during the the last day of 鏑ift Off: PhilSA Space Science Camp 2022・ was held virtually on July 21.
Jamaica Pangasinan, a senior scientific research specialist in PhilSA’s Space Mission Control and Operations Division (SMCOD), said she was struck by the level of environmental and social awareness among new high school students, such as their results attest to this.
The mission objectives showed the students’ eagerness to solve the current challenges and threats facing our environment. It was comforting to see that. I hope they will remain passionate about helping people and the planet while pursuing their interest in space science and technology,” she said.
典ouch Down Earth: Space Mission Proposals・ is one of the culminating activities of the three-day hybrid camp held July 19-21, hosted by PhilSA in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DoST-SEI), Moon Village Association (MVA) and the National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education at the University of the Philippines (UP Nismed).
This activity was designed to see if the participants were able to learn the concepts of the space mission lectures and satellite payloads on the first day.
Pangasinan moderated the space mission lecture, while Dr. Paul Leonard Atchong Hilario, Space Science and Technology Applications (SSTA) Researcher 2 at the PhilSA Spacecraft Payload and Communications Systems Development Division (SPCSDD), moderated the discussion. on satellite payloads.
The ideas presented showed that the students had studied their proposals well. They used not only what they learned in the camp, which is evident from their presentations, but also concepts and technologies that they discovered on their own,” said Hilario.
Fourteen science high schools from Metro Manila’s 16 divisions selected by DepEd to join the camp showcased their space missions. Each team had five minutes to describe the mission of its satellite, its main technical characteristics and its importance.
Mark Jayson Felix, senior science research specialist in PhilSA’s Earth Science Space Mission Studies Division, noted the variety of missions offered by students, ranging from Earth observation to surveillance. from space debris to planetary probes.
I am surprised by the diversity and the high level of technical precision of the space missions presented. This tells me that we will not run out of space missions to pursue in the future,” Felix said.
Mission presentations were scored by Pangasinan, Hilario, and Felix based on creativity, technical soundness, and time management.
Two missions topped the rest of the proposals ・ 溺monitoring Illegal Mining Activities in Remote Areas (MIMA)・ by Bianca Louise Cruz and Oscar Araja 2nd of the City of Mandaluyong Science High School, and 天enus Seismic Activity Monitoring Satellite (V-SAMS)・ by Peter James Lyon and Ysabela Juliana Bernardo of Caloocan City Science High School.
The students behind MIMA explained that their satellite mission aims to protect the environment and strengthen the implementation of mining laws and regulations in the country. Based on their proposal, MIMA would be a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite that could see through cloud cover to detect changes in areas where mining activities might be present. It would use optical imagers to capture images.
The goal of V-SAMS, meanwhile, would be to learn more about Earth’s twin planet, Venus, in particular its seismic activities. To achieve this, V-SAMS would use infrared imagery to monitor the surface temperature of Venus・volcanoes, identify which ones will erupt, and discover other active volcanoes on the planet. It would also have an interferometric SAR (InSAR) to detect deformations and signs of seismic activity on the surface of Venus・. Additionally, V-SAMS would be equipped with an optical payload to take high-resolution images.
Mission proposals along with camp lectures will be uploaded to the DoST website within a month.
On the second day, held in person at the University Hotel, UP Diliman, Quezon City on July 20, all student campers competed in the 滴high Tide: Space Science・ competition.
Participants had 30 minutes to answer a pen-and-paper elimination test consisting of 50 questions. Lance Chrysler De Jesus of Caloocan National Science and Technology High School had the highest score this round. De Jesus also clinched second place in the bee quiz final. Lee Ramses Ibannez of Makati Science High School won third place, while Benedict Pangilinan of Navotas National Science High School won the championship.
The Space Science Camp team is truly grateful to our partners, resource people, participants, facilitators and supporters. As we prepare for a larger camp next year, we hope everyone will continue to support PhilSA in all of its endeavours,・Lift Off co-leader Dr. James Cesar Refran said.
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