NASA astronaut tests Filipino balance device

The Philippine Space Agency said on May 22 that NASA astronaut Christopher Williams had carried out a microgravity experiment designed by Filipino students aboard the International Space Station. The experiment, called “Double Gyroscope,” was performed inside the Japanese Kibo module on March 24, 2026, according to PhilSA and Philippine news reports. The proposal came from third-year astronomy students majoring in astrophysics at Rizal Technological University. The students designed it for the 2025 Asian Try Zero-G competition, a Japan-led program that sends selected student experiments to the station. ### Which Filipino students built the device NASA tested? Rizal Technological University students Christopher Tumamac, Ryan Andrew Doña and Rose Ann Cezar developed the Double Gyroscope experiment, according to the Manila Bulletin and PhilSA. The project was submitted through the Philippines’ participation in Asian Try Zero-G, which PhilSA organizes locally as part of its education and outreach work. The students are identified as third-year astronomy students specializing in astrophysics. (philsa.gov.ph) The Manila Times reported on May 23 that the device was designed to measure and help maintain direction and balance, functions tied to spacecraft orientation. PhilSA said the work tested the behavior of paired spinning gyroscopes in microgravity rather than a commercial flight system or station hardware upgrade. (mb.com.ph) ### What exactly was tested aboard the station? Christopher Williams conducted the experiment in the Kibo module of the ISS on March 24, 2026, PhilSA said. The students’ hypothesis was that spinning two gyroscopes in opposite directions would create a stabilizing effect, while small differences in motion could gradually change the system’s orientation. Williams carried out multiple tests in microgravity to observe those dynamics, according to the Manila Times. (manilatimes.net) JAXA’s program materials list “Double Gyroscope” as the Philippine entry among the selected in-orbit experiment themes for Asian Try Zero-G 2025. JAXA said the competition focused on experiments that allowed visual confirmation of physical phenomena in microgravity. ### How competitive was the program? JAXA said Asian Try Zero-G 2025 drew 500 applications from 1,176 applicants across nine participating countries and regions. (manilatimes.net) Eleven themes were selected after national screening and a final review involving representatives from the participating countries and regions. The Philippines’ selected theme was “Double Gyroscope.” (humans-in-space.jaxa.jp) JAXA listed the participating countries and regions as Australia, Bangladesh, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. PhilSA said Filipino teams have had experiments selected and performed on the ISS since 2022. ### Why was the Kibo module used for this? The Japanese Experiment Module Kibo is the ISS facility used for the Asian Try Zero-G program, according to JAXA and PhilSA. (humans-in-space.jaxa.jp) The program is run through the Kibo-ABC framework, an Asia-Pacific cooperation initiative built around use of the Japanese laboratory on the station. PhilSA serves as the Philippine organizer for local entries. PhilSA said finalists watched the March 24 execution by livestream from the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center in Ibaraki, Japan. Team members Ryan Andrew Doña and Christopher Tumamac also presented their proposal there before the live run, according to the Manila Bulletin. ### What happens next for the Filipino team? The Manila Times said the experiment results will be presented at the Asian Try Zero-G 2025 wrap-up session later in 2026. (humans-in-space.jaxa.jp) PhilSA’s May 22 release and JAXA’s published program pages identify the same competition framework and the same in-orbit experiment theme, with JAXA and PhilSA as the named institutions tied to the next stage. (manilatimes.net) (mb.com.ph)