TOKYO – Researchers from Japan and Philippines are developing a satellite that can examine the damage caused by typhoons and rainstorms, which are common weather phenomena in the two countries, Japanese Asahi daily reported Friday.
Six Filipino technicians and Japanese researchers from the universities of Hokkaido (north) and Tohoku (northeast) are developing the first of the two observation satellites that are expected to be in the orbit in 2017.
The project costs around 800 million yen ($6.66 million), according to a source at Hokkaido University, Asahi said.
The first orbiter will be a microsatellite, weighing about 50 kilograms (110 pounds), that will examine the destruction caused on land by typhoons and rainstorms, with an accuracy of up to five meters (16.4 feet).
It will be launched by next year at the earliest.
The satellite will be an updated version of the Rising-2 prototype that the two Japanese universities developed and launched into space in May, last year.
This will be the first satellite developed by Philippines, according to one of the researchers from the country.
The researchers hope that the satellite helps Philippines to respond quickly to adverse weather phenomenon to prevent tragedies like the one caused by the typhoon in November 2013, which left more than 6,000 people dead.
The team did not offer details about the purpose of the second satellite, whose functions would be determined based on the development of the first one.
Latin American Herald Tribune - Japan and Philippines Developing Satellite to Examine Damage by Typhoons
Six Filipino technicians and Japanese researchers from the universities of Hokkaido (north) and Tohoku (northeast) are developing the first of the two observation satellites that are expected to be in the orbit in 2017.
The project costs around 800 million yen ($6.66 million), according to a source at Hokkaido University, Asahi said.
The first orbiter will be a microsatellite, weighing about 50 kilograms (110 pounds), that will examine the destruction caused on land by typhoons and rainstorms, with an accuracy of up to five meters (16.4 feet).
It will be launched by next year at the earliest.
The satellite will be an updated version of the Rising-2 prototype that the two Japanese universities developed and launched into space in May, last year.
This will be the first satellite developed by Philippines, according to one of the researchers from the country.
The researchers hope that the satellite helps Philippines to respond quickly to adverse weather phenomenon to prevent tragedies like the one caused by the typhoon in November 2013, which left more than 6,000 people dead.
The team did not offer details about the purpose of the second satellite, whose functions would be determined based on the development of the first one.
Latin American Herald Tribune - Japan and Philippines Developing Satellite to Examine Damage by Typhoons
