Hungary launches fourth satellite
Hungary this week launched its fourth small satellite with a mission to gauge levels of artificial electromagnetic smog in the upper atmosphere, as well as its exposure to ionising radiation, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics said on Thursday.
The Italian-made 32 kg Unisat-7 satellite codenamed SMOG-1 was launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on Monday and it entered into orbit on Wednesday, the university said.
The satellite was developed by the university’s instructors with the active participation of students, and supported by sponsors.
One novel feature of SMOG-1 is its use of a magnetically lossy material designed to reduce its estimated plus-18-year orbital life with a view to minimising its time spent as space debris around the Earth.
