astronomy

Heinrich Hertz (satellite)

Heinrich Hertz (satellite) is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Heinrich Hertz (satellite) rather than just read about it. In short: The Heinrich Hertz, also known as H2Sat, is a German national communications satellite launched in 2023 to demonstrate and validate advanced satellite communication technologies in geostationary orbit. Named after the German physicist Heinrich Hertz (1857–94), it is the first dedicated German communications satellite in over two decades and considered as a successor to DFS Kopernikus satellites.

Key takeaways

Heinrich Hertz (satellite) belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Heinrich Hertz (satellite) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Heinrich Hertz (satellite) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Heinrich Hertz, also known as H2Sat, is a German national communications satellite launched in 2023 to demonstrate and validate advanced satellite communication technologies in geostationary orbit. Named after the German physicist Heinrich Hertz (1857–94), it is the first dedicated German communications satellite in over two decades and considered as a successor to DFS Kopernikus satellites. The mission is led by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and with the participation of the Federal Ministry of Defence.

Launch Heinrich Hertz was launched on July 5, 2023, at 22:00 UTC from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket as part of its final flight (also carrying the French Syracuse-4B satellite). The satellite has a launch mass of approximately 3,408 kg and is designed for a minimum operational lifetime of 15 years in Geostationary orbit (GEO) at an altitude of about 35,786 km. Its initial target position was 0.5° East longitude, but it has since been repositioned. As of late 2025, it is operating at 63.1° East longitude.

Timeline On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Technology, the Bremen-based satellite manufacturer OHB System AG conducted a feasibility study (Phase 0) of the project. The feasibility study (Phase A) was completed in 2010. OHB System, in partnership with EADS Astrium, was responsible for the overall project. OHB System was also responsible for the satellite bus. Tesat-Spacecom was responsible for the payload, with IABG GmbH and MDA Space as additional partners. The satellite's launch was originally planned for 2015, but was delayed until July 2023. The budget is €310.5 million for construction and launch plus development costs of €11 million from planning phase B and an as yet undetermined sum for 15 years of operation. The satellite bus components are designed for operation for at least 18 years.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Heinrich Hertz (satellite)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Heinrich Hertz (satellite) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Heinrich Hertz (satellite) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Heinrich Hertz (satellite) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Heinrich Hertz (satellite)

In research: Heinrich Hertz (satellite) appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Heinrich Hertz (satellite) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Heinrich Hertz (satellite) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 2023 in spaceflight, Communications satellites in geostationary orbit, Communications satellites of Germany, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Heinrich Hertz (satellite) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Heinrich Hertz (satellite) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Heinrich Hertz (satellite) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Heinrich Hertz (satellite) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Heinrich Hertz (satellite) in simple terms?

Why does Heinrich Hertz (satellite) matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Heinrich Hertz (satellite)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Heinrich Hertz (satellite).