Agila (satellite)

Not to be confused with Agila-1 or Agila-2.

Agila

Names	Andesat-1 Philippines Sat-2
Mission type	Communications
Operator	Astranis Orbits Corporation
COSPAR ID	2024-252C
SATCAT no.	62456
Mission duration	7–10 years (planned)[1] 1 month and 7 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
Bus	MicroGEO
Manufacturer	Astranis
Launch mass	400 kg (880 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	29 December 2024, 05:00 UTC[2]
Rocket	Falcon 9 Block 5 B1083.7
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-40
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Earth (GEO)
Regime	Geosynchronous transfer (GTO)
Semi-major axis	42,225.69 km (26,237.83 mi)
Eccentricity	0.8010187
Perigee altitude	8,402.12 km (5,220.84 mi)
Apogee altitude	76,049.26 km (47,254.82 mi)
Inclination	11.495°
Period	23.987 h (0.9994 days)
RAAN	355.611°
Argument of perigee	187.873°
Mean anomaly	139.023°
Epoch	21 January 2025 (JD 2460697.0846765)

Agila is a communications satellite built by Astranis Space Technologies and operated by Orbits Corporation which is planned to serve the Philippines.

History

United States-based Astranis Space Technologies and Philippines-based Orbits Corporation announced in November 2023 a partnership to launch at least two MicroGEO satellites named Agila to exclusively serve the Philippine market.[3][4][5] The collaboration is valued US$400 million.[6]

It is meant to provide internet connection to remote areas in the country, as well as select Philippine government agencies and infrastructure such as airports, hospitals, and police stations.[7]

The first Agila satellite successfully launched from the United States on December 29, 2024 after suffering a launch abort on December 21.[2][8] It is projected to be operational by February 14, 2025 once it establishes its position over the Philippines.[7]

See also

• List of Philippine satellites

References

1. Gunter D. Krebs. "Philippines Sat 1, 2 (?, Agila)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
2. Tariq Malik. "SpaceX launches 4 Astranis satellites on 2nd try after last-second abort". Space.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
3. Luisa Cabato (16 November 2023). "2 PH internet sats for launching in 2024 named Agila, 10 million to gain". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
4. "Lawmakers laud Marcos' Agila internet satellite program for PH far-flung areas". Manila Standard. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
5. "Lawmakers upbeat on Agila internet satellite program". The Philippine Star. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
6. Dano Daanoy (5 January 2024). "DICT plans to utilize bandwidth from Agila satellite initiative". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
7. Raffy Ayeng (3 November 2024). "Agila satellite launch set in December". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
8. Mike Wall (21 December 2024). "Abort! SpaceX calls off launch of 'MicroGEO' satellites at last second (video)". Space.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.