science

MaSat-1

MaSat-1 is a science 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 MaSat-1 rather than just read about it. In short: MaSat-1 (from the words Magyar and Satellite, the first meaning "Hungarian" in Hungarian, maszat, pronounced IPA [ˈmɒsɒt], meaning "smudge") is the first indigenous Hungarian satellite, developed and built by students at the Technical University of Budapest. The 1U CubeSat-type satellite was launched into low Earth orbit on 13 February 2012.

Key takeaways

MaSat-1 belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect MaSat-1 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of MaSat-1 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

MaSat-1 (from the words Magyar and Satellite, the first meaning "Hungarian" in Hungarian, maszat, pronounced IPA [ˈmɒsɒt], meaning "smudge") is the first indigenous Hungarian satellite, developed and built by students at the Technical University of Budapest. The 1U CubeSat-type satellite was launched into low Earth orbit on 13 February 2012. The satellite provided telemetric data as well as VGA resolution color images at the 70 cm amateur radio wavelength (437.345 MHz frequency) received at the tracking center at Budapest. The center was tested on 31 March 2009 with the help of Charles Simonyi on board the International Space Station. With the successful launch of MaSat-1, Hungary became the 47th nation to orbit a satellite. Between 9 and 10 January 2015, the satellite reentered into the atmosphere.

Operations Weeks following its launch, after the first high-quality images were available was it revealed to the public that a camera was on board.

Technical specifications Satellite class: 1U CubeSat Dimensions: 10 cm × 10 cm ×10 cm Mass: 1 kg Propulsion: no Expected life: minimum 3 months Input power: 1.2 – 2.2 W Communication type: Half-duplex Frequency: 437,345 MHz Data rate: 625 or 1250 bps Modulation: 2-GFSK Transmission power: 100/400 mW Telemetry protocol: modified ESA PUS v1 Callsign: HA5MASAT Digital camera: VGA sensor, 640×480 pixels

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with MaSat-1

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what MaSat-1 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, 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 MaSat-1 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 MaSat-1 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 MaSat-1

In research: MaSat-1 appears in science 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 MaSat-1 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: MaSat-1 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 2012 in Hungary, CubeSats, First artificial satellites of a country, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for MaSat-1 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 MaSat-1 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what MaSat-1 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 MaSat-1 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is MaSat-1 in simple terms?

Why does MaSat-1 matter?

Because it connects several science 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 MaSat-1?

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 MaSat-1.