Agila: The First Satellite Dedicated to the Philippines
The Philippines is a country that consists of more than 7,000 islands, making it challenging to provide internet connectivity and other telecommunication services to its people. To address this problem, the Philippines has launched and acquired several satellites over the years, the first of which was Agila.
What is Agila?
Agila is the name given to two satellites that were owned and operated by the Philippine company Mabuhay Satellite Corporation, a subsidiary of PLDT. The name Agila means "eagle" in Filipino, and is also the local name for the Philippine eagle, the national bird of the country.
The first Agila satellite, Agila-1, was acquired by Mabuhay in 1996 from PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, an Indonesian company. Agila-1 was originally launched in 1987 under the name Palapa B2-P, and was used for communications and broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region. Upon its acquisition by Mabuhay, it became the first Philippine satellite through acquisition while in orbit. Agila-1 operated until January 1998, when it was deorbited.
The second Agila satellite, Agila-2, was launched by Mabuhay in 1997 from China. Agila-2 was the first Philippine satellite launched into space, and was also used for communications and broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region. Agila-2 was sold to Asia Broadcast Satellite (now known as ABS-3) in 2009, and is still active as of 2023.
Why is Agila important?
Agila was important for the Philippines because it provided the country with its own satellite capacity and capability, which enabled it to improve its telecommunication services, especially in remote and rural areas. Agila also helped the Philippines to participate in the global satellite industry, and to foster its own space program.
Agila was also a symbol of national pride and achievement for the Philippines, as it demonstrated the country's technological advancement and innovation. Agila was named after the Philippine eagle, which is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world, and is considered a rare and endangered species. Agila represented the Philippines' aspiration to soar high and reach new heights in the field of space and science.
What is the future of Agila?
The legacy of Agila continues in the Philippines, as the country has launched and developed more satellites in recent years. The first microsatellite of the Philippines, Diwata-1, was launched in 2016 and was the first satellite built and designed by Filipinos. Diwata-1 was followed by Diwata-2 in 2018, which is still active as of 2023. The first nanosatellite of the Philippines, Maya-1, was launched in 2018 and was followed by Maya-2, Maya-3, and Maya-4 in 2021 and 2022. These satellites are part of the Birds program, a joint project with JAXA and the Kyushu Institute of Technology.
The Philippines also established its own space agency, the Philippine Space Agency, in 2019, to lead and coordinate the country's space program and activities. The
The Philippines is a country that consists of more than 7,000 islands, making it challenging to provide internet connectivity and other telecommunication services to its people. To address this problem, the Philippines has launched and acquired several satellites over the years, the first of which was Agila.
What is Agila?
Agila is the name given to two satellites that were owned and operated by the Philippine company Mabuhay Satellite Corporation, a subsidiary of PLDT. The name Agila means "eagle" in Filipino, and is also the local name for the Philippine eagle, the national bird of the country.
The first Agila satellite, Agila-1, was acquired by Mabuhay in 1996 from PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, an Indonesian company. Agila-1 was originally launched in 1987 under the name Palapa B2-P, and was used for communications and broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region. Upon its acquisition by Mabuhay, it became the first Philippine satellite through acquisition while in orbit. Agila-1 operated until January 1998, when it was deorbited.
The second Agila satellite, Agila-2, was launched by Mabuhay in 1997 from China. Agila-2 was the first Philippine satellite launched into space, and was also used for communications and broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region. Agila-2 was sold to Asia Broadcast Satellite (now known as ABS-3) in 2009, and is still active as of 2023.
Why is Agila important?
Agila was important for the Philippines because it provided the country with its own satellite capacity and capability, which enabled it to improve its telecommunication services, especially in remote and rural areas. Agila also helped the Philippines to participate in the global satellite industry, and to foster its own space program.
Agila was also a symbol of national pride and achievement for the Philippines, as it demonstrated the country's technological advancement and innovation. Agila was named after the Philippine eagle, which is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world, and is considered a rare and endangered species. Agila represented the Philippines' aspiration to soar high and reach new heights in the field of space and science.
What is the future of Agila?
The legacy of Agila continues in the Philippines, as the country has launched and developed more satellites in recent years. The first microsatellite of the Philippines, Diwata-1, was launched in 2016 and was the first satellite built and designed by Filipinos. Diwata-1 was followed by Diwata-2 in 2018, which is still active as of 2023. The first nanosatellite of the Philippines, Maya-1, was launched in 2018 and was followed by Maya-2, Maya-3, and Maya-4 in 2021 and 2022. These satellites are part of the Birds program, a joint project with JAXA and the Kyushu Institute of Technology.
The Philippines also established its own space agency, the Philippine Space Agency, in 2019, to lead and coordinate the country's space program and activities. The