The USC Department of Physics hosted a technical tour for representatives from the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on May 28, 2025. The JAXA delegates are headed by Tadayoshi Sato and Yumiko Tateshita, while Sheila Samoza led the PhilSA delegates.
During the tour, members of PhilSA and JAXA visited the Department’s research facilities, including the Pandora spectrometer and the ionosonde—two advanced instruments for monitoring atmospheric phenomena.
Pandora is a research-grade spectrometer system capable of measuring vertical column densities of atmospheric trace gases. It was generously donated by the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). On the other hand, the ionosonde, a specialized radar system for studying the ionosphere, was donated by Japan and plays a key role in monitoring space weather and ionospheric disturbances. (For more information on these instruments, kindly contact Dr. Roland Emerito S. Otadoy.)
The delegation was also shown the Eugene and Cenia Acevedo smart classroom, where the Department’s high-resolution telescopes and other equipment were exhibited. Highlighted in the tour were processed astronomical images created by students enrolled in the general education free elective course, Reach for the Stars: Astronomy and Physics for Everyone, taught by renowned astronomer Christopher Y. Go, who is an adjunct faculty member.
The tour was conducted in preparation for the upcoming 31st Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-31) with the theme, “Empowering the Region through Space Ecosystems in Action,” scheduled to take place on November 18–21, 2025, at Shangri-La Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
APRSAF is a premier gathering of space agencies, organizations, academic institutions, companies, and government bodies from across the Asia-Pacific region. The forum fosters regional cooperation and the development of international projects in areas such as space policy and law, disaster risk reduction, and environmental protection.
The USC Department of Physics is hopeful that during the actual forum, participants will be able to visit the university for similar tours and possibly join a stargazing activity under the Cebu night sky.
by Stephen Villarante and Raymund Sarmiento, USC Department of Physics