CITY OF SAN FERNANDO---The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) will launch the first high-power hybrid rocket "TALA" on May 19, in Crow Valley, Capas, Tarlac.
In a statement on May 15, PhilSA said the TALA rocket is the first high-power hybrid rocket developed in the Philippines made from 3D-printed advanced composite materials. It stands 10 feet and weighs 15 kilograms and is suitable for space deployment despite being low-cost.
TALA's main purpose is to bring a Can Satellite (CanSat) up to approximately five kilometers into the atmosphere with the help of features like flight sensors, GPS, dual parachute deployment, and a payload system.
CanSats, according to PhilSA, are used to remotely gather environment data for educational purposes. Unlike drones, hybrid rockets are more effective in sending CanSats into the atmosphere as they are capable of reaching higher altitudes.
TALA was hatched by homegrown space technology researchers, students, and their mentors from St. Cecilia’s College-Cebu in 2018.
Its launch was initially set for March 2020 in Mati City Airport, Davao Oriental, but was grounded due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
PhilSA and the TALA team resumed working on the project in 2022 in collaboration with the Philippine Air Force Research and Development Center.
The creation of TALA is funded by the Young Innovators Program of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development.
PhilSA Director General Joel Marciano Jr. said the country is now taking its rightful place in the global community of nations because of its activities in space.
PhilSA was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 11363, otherwise known as the Philippine Space Act, to address all national issues and activities related to space science and technology applications.