The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has completed its first all-Filipino simulated space mission in Batangas, testing technologies and research methods that could help universities develop expertise in human spaceflight support systems.
The 24-hour Analog Habitat Waypoint (ANAHAW) mission ended on Sept. 26, 2026, at Batangas State University (BatStateU) – The National Engineering University. Conducted at its Alangilan Campus, the mission served as a benchmarking study for similar university-based projects, giving institutions a reference for planning and running their own simulations.
“Over time, we hope to build the Philippines into a regional hub for analog missions, a place where people can come together to train, conduct research, and cultivate the knowledge and skills needed for human spaceflight,” said PhilSA Acting Director General Gay Jane Perez. “What begins here as a scientific experiment can grow into something larger: a community, a national capability, and new opportunities for the Philippine space sector.”
Analog missions recreate parts of space travel on Earth so researchers can test equipment, procedures, and teamwork. ANAHAW used a simulated lunar habitat to expose its six-member crew to isolation, limited resources, communication delays, and other conditions associated with space missions.
Experiments covered how people work with robotic rovers, a crew welfare mentoring system, and teamwork during emergencies. The crew also collected surface samples to study microbes and tested the germination of Philippine food crops. These activities allowed participants to study technical systems and the needs of people working inside a simulated space habitat.
The crew included Mission Commander Suguru Vaughn Hernandez, Flight Engineer Nathaniel Macato, Mission Scientists Bianca Angeline Alcantara and Yzhae Marrione Villaruel, Communications Officer Jeremaine Ko, and Health and Nutrition Specialist Mary Audrey Amorao. A separate Mission Control Center supported their work.
Before entering the habitat, participants completed a six-part learning series covering analog mission concepts and operations. Kristine Atienza, the first Filipino analog astronaut, helped develop the mission concept with PhilSA, led training sessions, and mentored the crew.
PhilSA plans to replicate the program in more Philippine universities in succeeding years. The inaugural mission provided insights into experiments, operations, and habitat construction that will inform a framework for future missions. For participating institutions, the program offers opportunities to contribute research, test technologies, and share expertise and resources with the Philippine space sector.
ANAHAW forms part of PhilSA’s bigger pathway toward Filipino human spaceflight capability, covering analog missions, space science experiments, astronaut selection, and eventual training for actual spaceflight.