PH's first high-power hybrid rocket set for take-off on May 19
The Philippines is headed for another feat in science and technology, as it is set to launch the country's first high-power hybrid rocket this week.
Dubbed TALA, the rocket is set for take-off on May 19 in Crow Valley, Capas, Tarlac—five years since the space technology researchers, students, and mentors of St. Cecilia's College-Cebu initiated the project in 2018.
In a release published on May 15, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said that the TALA rocket stands 10 feet and weighs 15 kilograms. It is made of 3D-printed advanced composite materials and is suitable for space deployment despite being low-cost.
Its main purpose is to bring a Can Satellite (CanSat) up to approximately 5 kilometers into the atmosphere with the help of features like flight sensors, GPS, dual parachute deployment, and a payload system.
Unlike drones, hybrid rockets are more effective in sending CanSats into the atmosphere as they are capable of reaching higher altitudes, says the TALA team.
CanSats, according to PhilSA, are used to remotely gather environment data for educational purposes.
The creation of TALA is funded by the Young Innovators Program of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development.
Its launch was initially set for March 2020 in Mati City Airport, Davao Oriental, but had to be postponed due to the pandemic. PhilSA and the TALA team resumed working on the project in 2022 in collaboration with the Philippine Air Force Research and Development Center.