MULA’s main satellite body prior to integration with its camera payload | Via Wikimedia Commons
MANILA — The Philippines is preparing to deploy its most advanced Earth‑observation satellite yet — the 130‑kilogram Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) — marking a major leap in the country’s space‑based monitoring and disaster‑response capabilities. The satellite was developed by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and is slated for launch in June 2026, according to the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS).
MULA represents a shift from earlier microsatellites like Diwata‑1 and Diwata‑2 toward a full operational platform capable of supporting national security, agriculture, and environmental management. It carries a TrueColour multispectral camera capable of capturing 5‑meter resolution images and covering 73,000 square kilometers in 24 hours.
Developed by PHILSA With International Partners
PhilSA engineers co‑developed MULA with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) in the United Kingdom, where the satellite underwent environmental and technical validation. The partnership allowed Filipino engineers to work on advanced subsystems including power management, thermal control, and high‑speed data downlink.
PhilSA Director for Space Policy Noelle Riza Castillo confirmed the deployment timeline, saying, “This is the current target window.”
The satellite is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, pending final manifest confirmation.
What the Satellite Will Do
MULA’s imaging capabilities will support food security, disaster resilience, environmental conservation, and national security, according to CEOS. Its wide 120‑kilometer swath allows rapid monitoring of crop health, pest outbreaks, land‑use changes, and post‑disaster damage.
Beyond imaging, MULA carries an Automatic Identification System (AIS) for maritime vessel tracking and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS‑B) receiver for aircraft monitoring. These tools will help authorities detect illegal fishing, monitor shipping lanes, and strengthen maritime domain awareness.
Operating from a 500‑kilometer sun‑synchronous orbit, the satellite will deliver consistent, repeatable imaging crucial for long‑term environmental trend analysis and disaster‑risk assessment.
Government Support and National Strategy
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently convened the Philippine Space Council and approved programs to strengthen satellite development and space‑data utilization. PhilSA Ad Interim Director General Gay Jane Perez, Ph.D., reported that MULA is fully built and undergoing final testing in the UK.
Perez emphasized the satellite’s strategic value: “Data from MULA will support agriculture, maritime monitoring, disaster risk reduction and management, and national security applications.”
The government also approved the development of a MULA satellite constellation, enabling future satellites to be built domestically under a licensed technology transfer.
A Major Step for Philippine Space Capability
With MULA’s deployment, the Philippines moves closer to establishing a sovereign Earth‑observation capability, reducing reliance on foreign satellite data and strengthening national geospatial intelligence. The launch marks not only a technological milestone but a statement of intent: the Philippines is building a modern, resilient, and strategically capable space program.
