The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) collaborated with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to conduct Pangkalawakan 101: An Overview on Space Technology and Applications at the Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City from 14 to 16 June 2023. 

The three-day seminar aims to raise awareness and understanding of space science technology and applications (SSTA) for the national security and defense sector. Pangkalawakan 101 equips participants with knowledge and information that enable informed decisions and when developing and implementing space-related policies and projects. 

Subject matter experts from PhilSA delivered a series of comprehensive lectures to participating PAF officers and personnel. The sessions covered the basics of space flight and operations, systems engineering, space missions, key space technologies and applications, space law and policy, and the space industry in the context of the current state of space technology in the country. A discussion on the development of the Maya-5 and Maya-6 CubeSats was also delivered by PAF’s satellite engineer 1Lt. Genesis Remocaldo, who managed the structue and antenna deployment subsystems of the said CubeSats.  

PhilSA Director General Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr., Deputy Director General Gay Jane P. Perez with Philippine Air Force Acting Chief of Air Staff MGEN Teofilo R. Bailon, Jr., joined the closing ceremony to culminate the event. Both parties expressed openness to possible collaboration in the future, with plans of conducting further iterations of training activities. 

PhilSA DG Marciano delivers a message during the closing ceremony of Pangkalawakan 101.

Pangkalawakan 101 closing ceremony. (Photo courtesy of PAF.)

The seminar is part of PhilSA’s Pagsasanay para sa Kalawakan, a capacity-building initiative of the Space Security Technologies Division (SSTD), which provides relevant space science & technology and applications (SSTA) training and techno-scientific support. 

Pangkalawakan 101 participants