astronomy

PSAT-2

PSAT-2 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 PSAT-2 rather than just read about it. In short: PSAT-2 is an experimental amateur radio satellite from the U.S. Naval Academy, which was developed in collaboration with the Technical University of Brno in Brno, Czech Republic.

Key takeaways

PSAT-2 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect PSAT-2 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of PSAT-2 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

PSAT-2 is an experimental amateur radio satellite from the U.S. Naval Academy, which was developed in collaboration with the Technical University of Brno in Brno, Czech Republic. AMSAT North America's OSCAR number administrator assigned number 104 to this satellite; in the amateur radio community it is therefore also called Navy-OSCAR 104, short NO-104.

Mission PSAT-2 was launched on June 25, 2019 with a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, United States, as part of Mission STP-2 (Space Test Program 2) as one of 24 satellites. In August 2019, the VHF payload failed and control of the satellite was lost. However, after nearly two years of downtime, the payload mysteriously reactivated and control was regained.

Frequencies The following frequencies for the satellite were coordinated by the International Amateur Radio Union:

145.825 MHz - Uplink and downlink APRS digipeater, 1200 bd (once again functional as of 2021) 435.350 MHz - Downlink PSK31 and SSTV 29.4815 MHz - Uplink PSK31

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with PSAT-2

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what PSAT-2 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 PSAT-2 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 PSAT-2 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 PSAT-2

In research: PSAT-2 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 PSAT-2 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: PSAT-2 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Amateur radio satellites, Satellites orbiting Earth, Spacecraft launched in 2019, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for PSAT-2 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 PSAT-2 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what PSAT-2 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 PSAT-2 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is PSAT-2 in simple terms?

PSAT-2 is an experimental amateur radio satellite from the U.S. Naval Academy, which was developed in collaboration with the Technical University of Brno in Brno, Czech Republic.

Why does PSAT-2 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 PSAT-2?

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 PSAT-2.