Amateur Radio News

AMSAT News Service ANS-263
September 20, 2026

In this edition:

* AMSAT Board of Directors Election Results
* Call for Presentations: 44th AMSAT Space Symposium
* AO-7 Again Captures Attention
* Binar-567 CubeSat Trio Prepared for Launch
* LEO.space Free Platform for Tracking Satellites
* NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots ‘Once-in-Century’ Crater 
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for Sept. 18, 2026
* Three U.S. Schools Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts from All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

AMSAT Board of Directors Election Results

The following were elected to the three expiring seats of the Board of Directors:

• Paul Stoetzer
• Rich Gopstein
• Mark Hammond

The following were elected as noted:

• Douglas Tabor, First Alternate
• Bruce Paige, Second Alternate

On September 16, 2026, Barry Baines formally tendered his resignation from the Board for personal reasons.

The Board officially consists of the following 7 members:

• Jerry Buxton
• Drew Glasbrenner
• Rich Gopstein
• Mark Hammond
• Frank Karnauskas
• Paul Stoetzer
• Douglas Tabor

By my hand on September 19, 2026,

Douglas Tabor
AMSAT Secretary

Call for Presentations: 44th AMSAT Space Symposium

Do you have a story to tell the amateur satellite community? AMSAT invites proposals for presentations at the 44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting, to be held October 8-11, 2026, at the Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel & Conference Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

Presentations are welcome on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. Suggested subjects include current and future satellite projects such as the GOLF program and the CubeSatSim; ARISS and human spaceflight activities; ground station, antenna, and portable station design; software-defined radio; telemetry collection and analysis; satellite operating techniques and achievements; educational programs and youth outreach; and reports from DXpeditions and roving operations. Whether you have built it, flown it, coded it, taught it, or worked it through a satellite, your fellow attendees want to hear about it.

Prospective presenters should email a tentative presentation title and a brief abstract to symposium [at] amsat.org as soon as possible. Presentation time slots are limited, so early submissions are encouraged, and information on submitting final papers and presentation materials for inclusion in the Symposium Proceedings will be provided to presenters. A digital copy of the Proceedings is included with every Symposium registration.

Symposium presentations begin Friday afternoon, October 9, and continue through Saturday, October 10, leading into the Annual General Meeting. Live streaming will bring the sessions to members unable to attend in person – all the more reason to make sure your work is on the program.

Registration for the Symposium is now open at https://launch.amsat.org/event-6789663, with early bird pricing available through September 8. Hotel reservations at the Wyndham Jacksonville – the property formerly known as the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport/I-95 – may be made through the booking link at https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/ or by phone at 1-800-227-6963 using group code AMS.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Symposium Team for the above information.]

Registration is Now Open!

AO-7 Again Captures Attention

AMSAT OSCAR 7, the amateur satellite launched in 1974 but operational yet today, has once again gained the attention of the media. Historians and fans of space lore have often focused on the story of AO-7, one of the oldest — if not the oldest — satellite of any type to remain in operation a half century after its commissioning. Yet another space journalist has discovered the story and published an article about our venerable repeater in the sky.

Lachlan Brown, Editor-in-Chief and a Co-Publisher of Space Daily, an online technical news outlet that has published continuously since 1995, posted a new article on September 17 that recounts the history of the satellite. The full article is available at https://spacedaily.com/t-ao-7-amateur-radio-satellite-returned-after-21-years/.

As Brown notes, “AO-7 worked for more than six years, well beyond the two-year design life commonly given for the mission. Then it went silent in mid-1981.” As was typical of satellites designed and built in that era, the bird had succumbed to a shorted battery pack.

Radio amateur Pat Gowen, G3IOR, happened to hear a CW transmission in June of 2002 that was later confirmed to be the telemetry beacon of OSCAR 7. Apparently the repeated cycles of heating and cooling satellites experience when moving between sunlight and eclipse had cause the shorted batteries to become an open circuit. This allowed the solar panels to supply current to the satellite’s electronics directly. Experiments proved that not only the beacon, but also the transponders, could be operational.

AO-7 continues to be “semi-operational.” That is, when it is in sunlight one or the other of its transponders becomes active. Control of the satellite is limited, and overly strong signals on the uplink can create power drains that cause the satellite to change modes, and could potentially do more permanent damage.

An article in the recent, July/August 2026 issue of The AMSAT Journal, written by Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President, documents that mode timers and other basic functions of AO-7 continue to operate as designed. It is only abuse by careless operators transmitting excessively strong signals to the satellite that cause the mode changes that have been observed. AMSAT members can access the Journal by logging into the Member Portal on the AMSAT website, https://launch.amsat.org/.

The lengthy Space Daily retrospective is only one of a number of articles celebrating AMSAT OSCAR 7 in recent years, particularly since the 50th anniversary of its launch in 2024. The old bird continues to inspire the awe of space fans, the interest of journalists, and the attention of radio amateurs. With care and responsible operating, amateur will hopefully be able to continue to enjoy the use of AO-7 for many years.

[ANS thanks Space Daily and The AMSAT Journal for the above information.]

It’s August! Time is running out for the 2026 President’s Club Coin!
Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.

Annual memberships start at only $120

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

Binar-567 CubeSat Trio Prepared for Launch

Binar-567, a group of three 1U satellites known as Binar-5, Binar-6 and Binar-7, is scheduled to launch no earlier than Q4 2026. The satellites are intended to support research, technology development and STEM engagement in low-Earth orbit.

Operation of student payloads will take place from high schools with ground stations built by students. Schools will be encouraged to constantly operate a downlink only station and (with support from a licensed amateur) uplink from their station or from the university ground station. The Binar team will support students who pursue an amateur license and start clubs at their schools.

The satellites also carry packet store and forward capability for general amateur engagement. UHF downlinks for Beacon and Telemetry will be OQPSK for 100 and 38.4kbps GFSK for 19.2, 9.6 and 1.2 kbps, and intermittent CW.

Binar-5 will carry student-designed payloads developed through the BinarX Student Payload Development Program, aimed at giving Western Australian high school students the chance to run experiments in space as part of a satellite mission. A downlink frequency of 437.750 MHz has been coordinated for Binar-5.

Binar-6 is intended to test technologies for future spacecraft developed under the Binar Space Program. The global amateur radio community is invited to transmit a command to Binar-6 on the UHF band, with the frequency yet to be announced, to attempt to activate an LED payload that would flash the mission call sign in Morse code. A downlink frequency of 437.850 MHz has been coordinated for Binar-6.

Binar-7 will carry an Earth imaging payload intended to capture data and imagery for environmental monitoring, including potential applications such as bushfire awareness, as well as outreach and public engagement. A downlink frequency of 437.725 MHz has been coordinated for Binar-7.

The mission builds on previous Binar efforts and is positioned as supporting Western Australia’s space sector through research, education and industry collaboration.

According to a recent update, on August 25, 2026 the team took the satellites to JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center in Japan, with launch services support from Space BD Inc. The following day, the satellites were integrated with JAXA’s J-SSOD deployment system.

From Tsukuba, the satellites are expected to be transported to the United States for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 (NG-25) cargo mission to the International Space Station. Once aboard the ISS, the J-SSOD deployment hardware is expected to be prepared in the Japanese Experiment Module before the satellites are released into low-Earth orbit at about 400km altitude.

[ANS thanks Space & Defense magazine for the above information. Read the full article at https://spaceanddefense.io/binar-567-cubesat-trio-set-for-launch-in-q4-2026/.]

LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

AMSAT is offering a limited-time promotion for new and renewing members
that includes a free digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites.
The promotion is being offered as AMSAT begins the 2026 membership year.

Anyone who joins or renews their AMSAT membership during the promotional period
will receive a download link for the latest edition of
Getting Started with Amateur Satellites in their membership confirmation email.
JOIN TODAY at https://launch.amsat.org/ (Remember! Students join for FREE!)

LEO.space Free Platform for Tracking Satellites

Thousands of satellites are orbiting overhead, but discovering what they are, where they are going and what they are doing often requires navigating specialized databases and technical websites.

LEO.space is changing that.

LEO.space logo (Image credit: LEO.space)

The newly launched free online platform brings together satellite information, orbital data, amateur radio resources, space weather, news and interactive tools designed to make low Earth orbit easier for anyone to explore.

Available free at LEO.space, the platform is built for satellite enthusiasts, amateur radio operators, students, educators and anyone who has looked into the night sky and wondered what is passing overhead.

Explore What Is Orbiting Earth

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) has become one of the most active areas of modern technology. Thousands of satellites support communications, Earth observation, scientific research, navigation and rapidly expanding satellite internet networks.

LEO.space provides a starting point for exploring this increasingly busy environment.

Visitors can discover satellites and learn about their missions, orbital characteristics and the larger constellations and systems operating around Earth. Interactive tools and visualizations are designed to make orbital information understandable while preserving the technical detail useful to more experienced users.

The objective is simple: turn complex space data into something people can explore.

Discover Amateur Radio Satellites

LEO.space also focuses on one of the most accessible ways individuals can directly interact with spacecraft: amateur radio.

Amateur radio satellites carry beacons, telemetry systems, repeaters and transponders that allow people on Earth to receive signals from space and, with an amateur radio license and appropriate equipment, communicate through satellites.

LEO.space helps licensed HAM radio operators discover amateur radio satellites and explore information about passes, frequencies and operating capabilities.

For someone interested in satellite radio but unsure where to begin, the platform provides a path from discovering a spacecraft to understanding how it can be heard or used.

Understand Space Weather and Propagation

Satellites operate within a dynamic environment influenced by the Sun and Earth’s atmosphere.

Solar activity can affect radio propagation, satellite communications and spacecraft operations. Conditions in Earth’s upper atmosphere can also influence spacecraft traveling through Low Earth Orbit.

LEO.space brings space weather and propagation information alongside satellite resources, helping users understand how conditions around Earth affect both spacecraft and radio communications.

This combination is particularly useful for amateur radio operators while providing students and space enthusiasts with a practical way to explore the relationship between the Sun, Earth and satellites.

Space Exploration From a Web Browser

LEO.space is designed around the idea that exploring space should not require specialized software or an aerospace background.

A visitor might arrive wanting to identify a satellite and leave having explored orbital mechanics, radio communications, space weather, satellite constellations or the technology behind modern spacecraft.

The platform will continue expanding with new interactive tools, satellite data, visualizations and educational resources.

As the number of spacecraft surrounding Earth continues to grow, LEO.space aims to provide an accessible place for people to understand and participate in the rapidly changing world of Low Earth Orbit.

Explore what is happening above Earth at LEO.space.

About LEO.space

LEO.space is a free, independent online platform dedicated to Low Earth Orbit. It brings together satellite information, interactive tools, amateur radio resources, space weather, news and educational content to make satellites and the environment surrounding Earth easier to discover and understand.

Visit https://LEO.space to start exploring.

[ANS thanks EIN Presswire for the above information.]

AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available
Yes, These are the Real Thing! Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a FoxPlus Satellite
Includes First Class Postage (Sorry – U.S. Addresses Only)
Order Today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots ‘Once-in-Century’ Crater

It started as a routine data-quality check. But as Robert Wagner, a scientist with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), scanned a giant Moon map on his computer screen, an unusually large bright spot circled by a dark halo caught his eye, as it implied that surface material in that area had been shaken up.

“I just stopped, dropped everything, and started looking into what that spot was,” said Wagner, an image-processing specialist from Intuitive Machines who works with data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) system.

Side view (55 degrees away from straight down) of McGetchin – Image: NASA

By comparing before and after images of the Moon, Wagner realized he had discovered the largest, newly formed crater ever found in the solar system, as scientists reported Wednesday in Science Advances. This discovery highlights the value of NASA’s Moon orbiter data in studying a dynamic landscape as the agency advances a sustained human presence and expanded scientific and commercial activity on the Moon.

Officially named McGetchin after pioneering lunar scientist Tom McGetchin, the crater formed on the Moon’s eastern edge sometime between April 11 and May 22, 2024, after a comet or asteroid the size of a three- to six-story building hit the surface.

The crash left a crater, 728 feet wide, that spans the length of two football fields. And at 141 feet deep, the crater could fit three vertically stacked yellow school buses.

Scientists estimate that an impact of this magnitude happens on the Moon about once in a century or even longer.

The LROC system collects images from about 60 miles above the Moon as LRO loops from pole to pole. The system includes two cameras that capture high‑resolution black‑and‑white images and one camera for moderate‑resolution multispectral images. Over the years and thousands of passes, scientists have built maps detailed enough to spot not only new craters, but also landslides, landers, seismic faults, and even hints of lava tubes.

LROC scientists regularly analyze close-up images of small portions of the Moon’s surface taken by the Narrow-Angle Camera. Using these images, they look for changes that are typically less than 30 feet across. But every few years the team searches for large (wider than 150 feet) features by creating global Moon maps and comparing them to older versions.

[ANS thanks NASA for the above information. Read the full story at https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/moon/nasas-moon-orbiter-spots-new-once-in-century-moon-crater/.]

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for Sept. 18, 2026

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.

General Perturbations Data Support

AMSAT is pleased to announce that modern forms of what are called General Perturbations data are being disseminated via modern formats including JSON, XML and KVN at https://newark192.amsat.org/gpdata/current/. The reason this change is being made is that we are running out of 5-digit catalog numbers and the TLE format is not viable for satellites launched after July of this year. See https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/gp-data-formats.php for details.

These data are presently considered in beta test for the next two months while hosted on the test server newark192.amsat.org, and we are very open to community feedback at webmaster at amsat.org. Testers may experience outages and errors while we make improvements. We intend to put this into production on our main web server in July as we expect that satellites launched after this summer will require one of the new formats to accommodate longer object numbers. AMSAT will continue to publish TLE bulletins for satellites launched before July 2026 indefinitely.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information.]

Three U.S. Schools Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce that 3 additional US schools have been selected for ARISS contacts in 2026 and 2027. These schools submitted proposals during the recent proposal window and have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS. The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities.

ARISS USA is announcing selections for ham radio contacts with the ISS crew during the Fall 2026 through June, 2027. They are now at work starting to implement their 4–6-month education plan which was outlined in their proposal. These STEAM based educational activities help prepare students for their contact as well as create an on-going exploration and interest in aerospace and amateur radio topics. They are also completing an acceptable equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by ARISS, the final selected schools will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities offered by NASA.

 

The schools are:

• The Archdiocese of Atlanta Catholic Schools
• Dresden Elementary in Dresden, Ohio
• The University of Texas at Austin’s Women in STEM – STEM Girls Day event

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the ISS. In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.

[ANS thanks the Dave Jordan, AA4KN, of the ARISS PR Team for the above information.]

Buying from DX Engineering?
Add AMSAT’s Getting Started With Amateur Satellites to your order. Available for $30 from DX Engineering (free shipping on most orders over $99)
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/amt-satellites ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Upcoming Contacts

MAOU “School No. 200, Belogorsk, Russia, direct via TBD  
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS 
The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR   
Contact is go for Tue 2026-09-22 08:15 UTC

Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, Charlotte, NC, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Jack Hathaway KJ5NIV
The ARISS mentor is K4RGK
Contact is go for: Wed 2026-09-23 16:51:34 UTC 80 degrees maximum elevation

Collège Roger Martin du Gard, Belleme, France, direct via F6KCO
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is F6ICS  
Contact is go for: Fri 2026-09-25 13:38:43 UTC 38 degrees maximum elevation

Many times, a school makes a last-minute decision to do a Livestream or runs into a last-minute glitch requiring a change of the URL, but we at ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication. You can always check https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

The crossband repeater remains configured in the Columbus Module (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If a crewmember decides to pick up the microphone and turn up the volume, you may hear them on the air—so keep listening, as you never know when activity might occur.

​Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RSØISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/.

Ham TV is currently scheduled to power up Wed 2026-09-23 17:10 UTC at 2395.00 MHz.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

Give Your Next Rove a Payload — Put Your Lunch into Orbit! Pack the rover dogs and hit the grid line with an all-new
AMSAT Round Logo Metal Lunchbox. Keep Amateur Radio in Space — and your lunch in the box! https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_round_logo_metal_lunchbox-256761530568368967

 

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

October 3, 2026
Bored Net μExpo and ARRL Santa Barbara Section Convention
Cal State University Channel Islands
1 University Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
https://www.theborednet.net/index.php/2026/06/22/2026-microexpo-is-on/
K6KH

October 3, 2026
Tucson Area Autumn Hamfest
Radio Society of Tucson
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
9252 E. 22nd St.
Tucson, AZ
https://k7rst.club
N1UW

October 8-11, 2026
44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting
Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel and Conference Center
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/

November 14, 2026
Southern Arizona Fall Hamfest
Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club
Marana Middle School
11285 W. Grier Rd.
Marana AZ
https://www.tucsonhamradio.org/hamfest
N1UW

Interested in becoming an AMSAT Ambassador? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]

Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ A50QO was actived in Bhutan on GEO and LEO last month, and the website with the operation report will be online soon on QSL dot net page. Feng, BA7LVG, and Taka, JK2XXK, operated as A50QO from NL47VL Thimphu, Bhutan, from August 15-20, 2026, on QO-100 and LEO satellites. Total 1564 QSOs with 841 stations in 306 grids, including 1057 on QO-100 and 507 on LEO satellites. Paper QSL direct or via OQRS. LoTW confirmation is free. (ANS thanks Ma Zhiwei, BG7ZDQ, for the above information.)

+ Russia launched a cargo mission toward the International Space Station (ISS) on September 16, delivering about three tons of food, propellant and other supplies for the astronauts aboard. The robotic Progress 96 spacecraft lifted off atop a Soyuz rocket from the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1333 UTC. The freighter docked with the station on Saturday, September 19 and will remain docked to the orbiting lab for about five months. As is the usual protocol, amateur radio activity aboard the ISS was suspended during the docking, but should be restored later Saturday. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. See the full story at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/russia-progress-96-cargo-launch-international-space-station.)

+ Russia’s planned alternative to Starlink is encountering severe operational setbacks, with satellites deployed in orbit losing altitude while newly launched units fail to reach their designated positions. Commercial operations were set to launch in 2027, with plans to expand the constellation from 250 to 900 satellites in orbit by 2035. Deploying the intended satellite group requires at least 18 Soyuz-2.1b rocket launches. However, Russia conducts only six to eight such launches per year. On the night of August 15, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Progress Space Center in Samara—the sole facility manufacturing the Soyuz-2.1b rockets. According to orbital tracking data, the first spacecraft are already beginning to lose altitude earlier than anticipated, while several others were unable to enter their assigned orbits. (ANS thanks United24 Media for the above information. See the full article at https://united24media.com/world/russia-wanted-its-own-starlink-now-its-satellites-are-falling-before-the-network-even-takes-off-22100.)

+ Yaogan 50-02 — a Chinese reconnaissance satellite that had been flying in an unusual retrograde orbit about 590 miles above Earth — has broken up. Experts speculate that the failure was due to a battery explosion or an impact by space debris. The U.S. Space Force is tracking 43 fragments from the breakup in orbits ranging from 372 to 683 miles. Fragments at those heights can stay in orbit for extraordinarily long periods, so a single satellite failure can create a pollution problem that endures for generations. (ANS thanks Yahoo News for the above information. See the full story at https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/china-satellite-breaks-unusual-orbit-132200637.html.)

 

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

• Societies (recognized groups, clubs or organization).
• Students are eligible for FREE membership up to age 25.
• Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Mark Johns, KØJM
mjohns [at] amsat.org

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002. AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

Solar flare activity is expected to remain at very low levels, with a
chance for isolated C-class flares through September 19, according to
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). Solar wind speed was
steady near 530 km/s, and negative polarity CH HSS (coronal hole
high-speed stream) effects are anticipated to persist through September
18, with additional enhancements likely today due to flan...

The Yagi-Uda beam antenna was invented 100 years ago, in 1926, and Contest University (CTU) is celebrating its centennial with a live Zoom webinar this Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 1600 UTC (noon Eastern). The free webinar, titled “The Yagi Turns 100,” will be available online at https://w3lif.org/yagi. There is no pre-registration. Click on the link before 1600 Zulu on Saturday to watch. Q...

Solar flare activity was at low levels in the past week with
isolated C-class flare activity, according to NOAA’s Space Weather
Prediction Center. The largest flare of the period was a C3.4 on
September 8 from otherwise stable Region 4528. Region 4530 developed
asymmetric penumbra on both its leading and trailing poles while
undergoing consolidation in its intermediate area. New flux
emergence in the...

AMSAT News Service ANS-256
September 13, 2026

In this edition:

* Frank Hoonhaut, KJ7DZ, Sweeps AMSAT Award Ladder
* AMSAT Youth Initiative Adds “Satellite and Astronomy” Course
* ISAR Launches 2 Ham Band Satellites
* The Addictive World of Amateur Radio Satellites – An OARC Member Talk
* World Radio Broadcast & “Send Your Name into Space” Campaign
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for September 4, 2026
* Global ARISS Contact Window- Submit Your Proposals and Applications
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts from All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

Frank Hoonhout, KJ7DZ, Sweeps the AMSAT Awards Ladder

Some operators apply for an award. Frank Hoonhout, KJ7DZ, applied for the whole shelf. Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, has announced that Frank, having decided to apply for “a few” AMSAT awards, has been awarded five of them at once: the Satellite Communicators’ Club Award, Oscar Satellite Communication Achievement Award #660, Oscar Satellite Sexagesimal Award #205, Oscar Satellite Century Award #64, and South Africa AMSAT Satellite Communication Achievement Award #US262.

Taken together, that is the complete AMSAT operating awards ladder in a single submission. The Satellite Communicators Club recognizes an operator’s first satellite QSO. From there, the Communication Achievement, Sexagesimal, and Century Awards recognize confirmed satellite contacts with stations in 20, 60, and 100 different U.S. states, Canadian call areas, or DXCC entities, respectively; the awards aggregate, so each rung’s contacts count toward the next, and all contacts must be made from locations within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of one another. The South Africa Satellite Communication Achievement Award, meanwhile, recognizes contacts with 25 unique stations via satellite. The serial numbers tell the story of just how steep the ladder gets near the top: 660 operators have claimed the 20-entity award, but Frank is only the 64th ever to reach 100.

Frank is no stranger to the awards desk. He earned GridMaster Award #66 in 2024 for confirming satellite contacts with all 488 grid squares in the contiguous United States, and satellite rovers know him for the “grids needed by the top grid chasers” map he compiled to help activators target the squares that matter most.

Operators looking to start climbing the ladder themselves will find complete rules for all of AMSAT’s operating awards at https://www.amsat.org/awards/.

Congratulations, Frank!

[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, for the above information.]

AMSAT Youth Initiative Adds “Satellites and Astronomy” Course

The AMSAT Youth Initiative has added its fifth online course, Satellites and Astronomy, to the Satellites in Space Help Us Live a Better Life on Earth series. The new course is now available at www.BuzzSat.com.

Satellites and Astronomy [Credit: NASA]

The course curriculum is broken down into three main sections:

• Part One: An introduction to the formation of the universe and the properties of its heavenly bodies, providing a necessary starting point for understanding what satellites measure.

• Part Two: A review of Earth-orbiting satellites used to investigate planets in our solar system and objects in interstellar space.

• Part Three: An exploration of space-faring satellites that look beyond our solar system and galaxy to the edges of the universe.

Two additional chapters are also under consideration to familiarize learners with satellites that study the Moon and Mars.

Course Authors and Team Expansion

This new curriculum was written by AMSAT member Eric Sonnenwald, N2XS, a Montclair State University M.S. graduate in Geosciences and former Science Curriculum Coordinator for Hardyston Middle School. Eric has authored the complete existing library of courses, which includes:

• Satellite Meteorology

• Satellites and Climate Change

• Satellites and Pollution Control

• Satellites and Natural Resources

Eric is currently finishing a course on Satellites and Fighting Wildfires and has begun work on two additional courses: Satellites and Communications and Satellites and Navigation.

At the same time, Vidya Gopalakrishnan, K4VGK, has joined the Youth Initiative as a fellow course writer and editor. Vidya helped edit the newly added course and is beginning work on her first courses, Introduction to Satellites and Amateur Radio Satellites – Communications and Telemetry.

Inspiring Future STEM Careers

Designed for junior high and high school students, these survey courses aim to interest youth in STEM subjects and careers in aerospace and engineering. ANS readers are encouraged to try out any of the courses at www.BuzzSat.com.

[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT VP of Development, for the above information.]

ISAR Launches 2 Ham Band Satellites

Isar Aerospace became the first commercial space company from Europe to successfully deliver satellites into orbit on its second flight. Mission ‘Onward and Upward’ lifted off from Isar Aerospace’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space in Norway at 20:12 UTC on Saturday, Sept. 5, deploying payloads in orbit. The payload included  two CubeSats coordinated by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).

The mission Onward and Upward proved Isar Aerospace’s orbital launch capability. In parallel, the company has advanced its global network of available launch sites and is nearing completion of Europe’s largest integrated production facility for launch vehicles. In addition to the above developments, Isar Aerospace is constructing a launch complex in Nova Scotia, Canada, covering mid- to high-inclination orbits critical for Earth observation and communications.

The launch vehicles used to transport these satellites are developed, manufactured, and tested almost entirely in-house. Headquartered near Munich, Germany, Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 and has grown to over 400 employees, working across five international locations. Spectrum launch vehicles 3-7 are already in production.

The mission’s payloads were selected through the Microlauncher Competition of the German Space Agency at DLR, which provides educational institutions and start-ups with low-cost access to space. The Microlauncher Competition is funded through the European Space Agency (ESA) Boost! program. The two amateur radio projects chosen were SpaceTeamSat1 and FramSat-1.

SpaceTeamSat1:  SpaceTeam is a project of the Technical University of Wien, Austria, (TU Wien) that aims to get undergraduate students interested in space technologies, RF and amateur radio.  This satellite is a 1U CubeSat equipped with a range of sensors connected to a Raspberry Pi. The processor  runs code written by participating students. Young amateurs and students accompanied by an amateur operator will be able to – in coordination with TU Wien – upload and schedule their code themselves. There are also plans to open timeslots where the CubeSat acts as a data relay for amateur operators. A downlink on 437.395 MHz has multiple modes available from CW to up to 115200 baud using 2GFSK.

FramSat-1: Orbit NTNU is a project of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology at Trondheim, Norway. It is Norway’s largest student-led technical organization, and has been successful with a number of high-altitude balloon and sub-orbital launches, as well as SelfieSat, a 2U cubesat launched in 2022. FramSat-1 is a student-built 1U CubeSat engineered to develop certain satellite subsystems in-house and a functioning satellite bus capable of supporting a sun sensor payload. A downlink 435.141 MHz has been coordinated for 9600 bps AX.25 G3RUH FSK telemetry.

Both satellites are in sun-synchronous orbits of approximately 500 km altitude.

[ANS thanks Isar, IARU, SpaceTeam, and Orbit NTNU for the above information.]

 

Give Your Next Rove a Payload — Put Your Lunch into Orbit! Pack the rover dogs and hit the grid line with an all-new
AMSAT Round Logo Metal Lunchbox. Keep Amateur Radio in Space — and your lunch in the box! https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_round_logo_metal_lunchbox-256761530568368967 The Addictive World of Amateur Radio Satellites – An OARC Member Talk

The Online Amateur Radio Community (OARC) has published the video recording of a recent member talk exploring amateur satellite operations. Titled Chasing Birds: The Addictive World of Amateur Radio Satellites and presented by John Stringer, M5JFS, the presentation is now available to watch on YouTube.

Drawing on six years of operating experience, Stringer’s presentation provides a comprehensive entry point for operators interested in working amateur satellites. The talk traces his progression from using modest, readily available equipment to developing a more advanced station, offering a practical roadmap for newcomers.

Key topics covered in the presentation include:

• Getting Started: Practical advice on utilizing basic equipment without requiring high-end initial investments.

• Satellite Landscape: An overview of the various types of amateur satellites currently in orbit.

• Station Requirements: Guidance on the essential gear needed to successfully access space-based transponders.

• Operating Etiquette: Best practices for maintaining discipline, clarity, and courtesy during high-demand passes.

• Software and Networks: Useful digital tools, tracking software, and social networks designed to support satellite operators.

• Milestones: Notable achievements and experiences from Stringer’s six years on the birds.

In tandem with the video release, OARC highlights its ongoing community infrastructure for satellite enthusiasts. The organization maintains dedicated channels on its Discord server for general satellite discussions, weather satellite discussions, and specific regional or transponder projects such as QO-100.

Operators looking to engage with the community or explore further resources can access the following links:

• Watch the talk: OARC YouTube Channel

• Join the community: OARC Membership

• Explore documentation: OARC Wiki Directory

• Connect on X: Follow John Stringer M5JFS and AMSAT-UK

[ANS thanks OARC and AMSAT-UK for the above information.]

World Amateur Radio Broadcasting & “Send Your Name into Space” Campaign Amateur Radio Broadcasting Event

From September 11 to 20, 2026, amateur radio digital broadcasts of postcards will be conducted almost worldwide from the Geoscan-2, Geoscan-4, and Geoscan-5 satellites using Geoscan’s own protocol.

These postcards feature the upcoming Ioffe-1 satellite. It is scheduled to launch in the winter of 2026–2027. Ioffe-1 is a scientific and educational nanosatellite. It is built by specialists from Geoscan and the ANO “Space Education Development.” The project operates within the Space-π framework. It is backed by the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE). The satellite’s payload includes a high-resolution camera. It also carries a scintillation gamma-ray detector developed jointly with the Ioffe Institute.

Amateur radio enthusiasts can independently receive and decode images from the CubeSats. To do this, follow the instructions here.  Postcard transmissions will continue until September 20, 2026. Stations within the SONICS open network will decode postcards automatically. These images are gathered directly in the portal’s gallery section. As a reminder, Geoscan’s QSL program for radio amateurs remains active. For more information, see https://spacepi.space/news/vsemirnaya-radiolyubitelskaya-translyacziya/.

Observers can submit a report on the spot a satellite feature at the bottom of the AMSAT Status page.

 Name Submission Deadline

The Send Your Name into Space campaign for the Ioffe-1 is active. Participants have until October 15, 2026, to register online. Submissions can include a name, photograph, or drawing. All materials will be saved on a physical digital storage device and will be loaded onto the Ioffe-1 satellite. Once in orbit the nanosatellite will join the Supernova Hunters constellation.

This campaign builds on previous successes—such as the 2025 campaign where 7,887 names and over 3,500 images from 117 countries were uploaded. Sixty-seven top entries were selected for regular transmission from the 239Alferov satellite. For the current campaign, Mission Control Center specialists will select the 100 best hand-drawn works. These will be broadcast to Earth via amateur radio after launch. For more information, see https://spacepi.space/news/stante-chastyu-kosmicheskoj-missii-akcziya-otprav-svoyo-imya-v-kosmos-prodolzhaetsya/

[ANS thanks Spacepi for the above information.]

The 2026 Coins Are Here! Help Support GOLF-TEE and Fox-Plus.
Annual memberships start at only $120.

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for September 11, 2026

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

Bulletin format elements for all satellites of interest to radio amateurs.  This file is updated at least every 24 hours.

Bare elements are derived from the bulletin, but contain no header or footer.  These data are used as input to the AMSAT Pass Predictions page.

This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.

General Perturbations Data Support

AMSAT is pleased to announce that modern forms of what are called General Perturbations data are being disseminated via modern formats including JSON, XML and KVN at https://newark192.amsat.org/gpdata/current/. The reason this change is being made is that we are running out of 5-digit catalog numbers and the TLE format is not viable for satellites launched after July of this year. See https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/gp-data-formats.php for details.

These data are presently considered in beta test for the next two months while hosted on the test server newark192.amsat.org, and we are very open to community feedback at webmaster [at] amsat.org. Testers may experience outages and errors while we make improvements. We intend to put this into production on our main web server in July as we expect that satellites launched after this summer will require one of the new formats to accommodate longer object numbers. AMSAT will continue to publish TLE bulletins for satellites launched before July 2026 indefinitely.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information.]

 

Global ARISS Contact Windows: Submit Your Proposals and Applications ARISS Contact Proposals (U.S. only)
 The proposal window opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on September 30, 2026,  for contacts to be held from January to June 2027.To find more information and proposal instructions, visit this website: https://www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.htmlARISS Contact Applications (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) Schools and Youth organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East interested in setting up an ARISS radio contact with an astronaut on board the International Space Station are invited to submit an application from September to October and from February to April.
Please refer to details and the application form at https://www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/school-contacts.ARISS Contact Applications (Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Australia and Russia)
Organizations outside the United States can apply for an ARISS contact by filling out an application.  Please direct questions to the appropriate regional representative listed below. If your country is not specifically listed, send your questions to the nearest ARISS Region listed. If you are unsure which address to use, please send your question to the ARISS-Canada representative; they will forward your question to the appropriate coordinator.For the application, click here.

• ARISS-Canada and the Americas, except USA: Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD

• ARISS-Japan, Asia, Pacific and Australia: Shizuo  Endo, JE1MUI,   Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL)
• ARISS-Russia: Soyuz Radioljubitelei Rossii (SRR)

[ ANS thanks ARISS.org for the above information.]

ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateur radio operators at schools and astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Scheduled Contacts

+ Recently Completed

No ARISS educational contacts were completed during the last week.

+ Upcoming Contacts

MAOU School No. 200, Belogorsk, Russia — direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmembers are Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Tue 2026-09-22 08:15 UTC

Many times, a school makes a last-minute decision to do a Livestream or runs into a last-minute glitch requiring a change of the URL, but ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication. You can always check https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking, the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

+ Schedule of ISS radio power downs and power ups
Friday 2026-09-18 15:20 UTC Columbus module radio power down
Friday 2026-09-18 15:25 UTC Service module radio power down
Saturday 2026-09-19 13:46:39 UTC Progress 96P docking
Saturday 2026-09-19 19:05 UTC Columbus module radio power up
Saturday 2026-09-19 19:10 UTC Service module radio power up
Progress Cargo Resupply: Postponed

ISS HAM TV Outage [Credit: ARISS.org]

The crossband repeater remains configured in the Columbus Module (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If a crewmember decides to pick up the microphone and turn up the volume, you may hear the crew member on the air—so keep listening, as you never know when activity might occur.

Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Callsign RSØISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/.

​HamTV in the Columbus Module (2395.00 MHz) is currently transmitting a test signal. For more information, visit the ARISS Ham TV Live site at https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/.

Note that all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.]

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker fairs, and other events.

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,

“Think a 75-minute presentation on ‘working the easy satellites’ would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint [at] gmail [dot] com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!”

Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized to its audiences.

Scheduled Events

Greater Louisville Hamfest – September 12, 2026
Paroquet Springs Conference Centre
395 Paroquet Springs Drive
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6007
https://louisvillehamfest.wixsite.com/louisvillehamfest
W4FCL

Bored Net µExpo and ARRL Santa Barbara Section Convention – October 3, 2026
Cal State University Channel Islands
1 University Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
https://www.theborednet.net/index.php/2026/06/22/2026-microexpo-is-on/
K6KH

Tucson Area Autumn Hamfest – October 3, 2026
Radio Society of Tucson
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
9252 East 22nd Street
Tucson, AZ
https://k7rst.club
N1UW

44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting – October 8 –11, 2026
Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel and Conference Center
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/

Southern Arizona Fall Hamfest – November 14, 2026
Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club
Marana Middle School
11285 W. Grier Rd.
Marana AZ
www.tucsonhamradio.org/hamfest
N1UW

For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information.]

Buying from Ham Radio Outlet?
Add AMSAT’s Getting Started With Amateur Satellites to your order. Available for $29.95 from HRO (free shipping on most orders over $100)
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-019238 Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ NASA’s Parker Solar Probe successfully checked in following its 29th perihelion, transmitting a normal system beacon tone on September 7, 2026. During the close approach on September 4, the spacecraft matched its record-breaking performance, sweeping within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface at a top speed of 430,000 miles per hour. Operating autonomously during the intense nine-day encounter window, the probe trained its cameras on structures near the Sun’s north pole and sampled nearly 40% of the solar circumference while diving deep into the corona. Detailed telemetry transmission begins September 11, with science data downlinks running from September 13 through September 27. Recently extended into 2029 by the Heliophysics Senior Review, the mission continues to capture vital insights into solar wind and space weather as the Sun transitions toward the declining phase of its solar cycle. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information.]

+ Astronomers at MIT and international institutions discovered a brand-new type of astrophysical object in the early universe known as a black hole star, using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Designated MoM-BH*-1 and existing just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, the object resembles a solar-system-sized star but shines 100 billion times brighter than any known star, producing an energy output typically associated with a black hole. Simulations indicate the object consists of a central black hole roughly 100,000 times the mass of the Sun enshrouded by an extremely dense, dust-free cocoon of hydrogen gas, mimicking a stellar appearance through its gaseous pseudo-photosphere rather than being powered by nuclear fusion. Published in Nature, the discovery could solve the mystery of the enigmatic “little red dots” frequently captured in deep-space JWST imagery. [ANS thanks MIT News for the above information.]

+ In a recent study analyzing a sample of about 100 fast radio bursts (FRBs), a Caltech research team led by Kritti Sharma and Professor Vikram Ravi used the data to directly measure the impact of galactic feedback on the clumpiness of intergalactic matter. Because normal matter acts as a scaffolding for dark matter, mapping this distribution enhances experiments tackling major cosmic puzzles, including the nature of dark matter, dark energy, and the mass of ghostly neutrinos. As researchers note, using FRBs as a leading cosmic probe is only just beginning. [ANS thanks Space.com for the above information.]

+ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the advanced Earth observation satellite EOS-05 aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket on September 4, 2026. Blasting off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2:55 a.m., the 19th flight of the GSLV precisely placed the 2,367-kilogram satellite into its intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit about 18 minutes later. Marking India’s first imaging satellite designed to monitor the Earth from a geosynchronous orbit roughly 36,000 kilometers above the surface, the milestone mission represents the 107th launch from the Sriharikota spaceport. [ANS thanks The Hindu for the above information.]

+ The Republic of Djibouti will formally sign the Artemis Accords during an in-person ceremony at NASA Headquarters on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host Djibouti’s Ambassador to the U.S., Mohamed Siad Douale, alongside U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Frank Garcia at the signing, making Djibouti the 72nd nation to join the framework. Established in 2020 by the U.S. and seven founding nations, the Artemis Accords set practical principles for safe, transparent, and cooperative civil space exploration on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Media representatives wishing to cover the event in person must RSVP to hq-media@mail.nasa.gov by 8:00 a.m. EDT on September 14. Further information and details on the accords are available on the NASA Artemis Accords page.  [ANS thanks SciTechDaily for the above information.]

+ Adding to the vast array of new tracking programs now available, Avinstar, LLC announces the general availability of OsTrax, a satellite tracking and operating platform for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu. For more information, please view the OsTrax web site at https://www.ostrax.com or contact Jim McCullers at jmccullers@avinstar.com. [ANS thanks Jim McCullers, WA4CWI, for the above information.]

 

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

• Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
• Students enrolled in at least half-time status are eligible for free membership to age 25.
• Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Vidya Gopalakrishnan, K4VGK

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002
AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will be making a special transmission on 9.11 MHz at 0030-0035 UTC on September 12, 2026 (8:30-8:35 PM eastern time Friday evening). The transmission will consist of a Morse code QST, followed by a slow-scan ...

Educator Everton Henriques, KD2ZZT, shared his experience using amateur radio to inspire students and bring engineering and technology to life in the classroom during his keynote at the 2026 ARRL New England Division Convention, hosted by Northeast HamXposition in Massachusetts on August 15. A video recording is available on ARRL’s YouTube channel.

Everton is an Engineering and Technology Teache...

Ed. Note: Details in this article were culled from the November 2001 QST article, “9/11/01: ‘This is Not a Test’ ” by Rick Lindquist, N1RL, and Diane Ortiz, K2DO. The original article is available here (PDF).

Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, the United States came under attack from al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked passenger planes and flew them into buildings in New York City and Wa...

AMSAT News Service ANS-249
September 6, 2026

In this edition:

* AMSAT Board Election Voting Deadline Approaches
* ARISS Announces New Leadership and Operations Appointments
* July/August 2026 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available
* SatNOGS Rolls Out Major Network and Database Updates
* Updated VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings for September 2026
* Sean Borgerson, KK7OVF, Earns AMSAT Sexagesimal Award
* Eric Olson, KH6WI, Earns AMSAT Rover Award #96
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for September 4, 2026
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts from All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

AMSAT Board Election Voting Deadline Approaches

Voting in the 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors Election will close on September 15, and AMSAT members who have not yet cast their ballots are encouraged to do so before the deadline. As of early September, fewer than 10% of eligible AMSAT members have voted in this year’s election.

Five candidates are seeking election to the Board:

• Rich Gopstein, KD2CQ
• Mark Hammond, N8MH
• Bruce Paige, KK5DO
• Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
• Douglas Tabor, N6UA

Three seats on the AMSAT Board of Directors are being filled this year. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board, while the candidates receiving the next highest vote totals will be named First Alternate and Second Alternate, respectively.

Current AMSAT members may review the official candidate statements and cast their ballots through the AMSAT 2026 Board of Directors Election website. Voting closes September 15, 2026, and election results will be announced no later than September 30.

https://launch.amsat.org/2026-BoD-Election

[ANS thanks Douglas Tabor, N6UA, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information]

ARISS Announces New Leadership and Operations Appointments

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has announced several leadership and operational appointments aimed at strengthening the organization’s technical, educational, and administrative activities. Daryl Young, K4RGK, has been named ARISS-USA Director of Operations, while Ryan Krenzischek, Deborah Lebair, KC3YWM, and Megan Tucker, KQ4MAM, are taking on new or expanded roles within ARISS.

Young is a longtime ARISS-USA Technical Mentor who has supported numerous direct and telebridge amateur radio contacts between astronauts aboard the International Space Station and students on Earth. As Director of Operations, he will lead the ARISS Technical Mentors and oversee other operational activities associated with the organization’s STEM contacts.

Most recently, Young led the ARISS initiative that assembled a worldwide consortium of ground stations to track Artemis II during its journey around the Moon. The AREx Artemis ground station consortium successfully tracked the spacecraft and provided Doppler data to NASA during the mission. ARISS described the effort as an important first step toward expanding its operations beyond low Earth orbit and preparing for future amateur radio activities associated with lunar exploration.

Ryan Krenzischek, who previously served as ARISS-USA Director of Operations, has moved into the newly created position of Chief Information Officer. He and his team will oversee ARISS websites and other backend systems supporting the organization’s information infrastructure. Krenzischek has served as an ARISS-USA Technical Mentor since 2013 and has additional experience with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Navy-Marine Corps Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), and Army MARS.

Deborah Lebair, KC3YWM, currently the ARISS-USA Metrics Lead, will join the ARISS International Board as its secretary while continuing her metrics responsibilities. Lebair began her professional career as an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center before becoming a high school mathematics teacher. Megan Tucker, KQ4MAM, has been named ARISS-USA Logistics Manager and will coordinate the organization’s growing participation in educational conferences, hamfests, and other public events.

ARISS is an international cooperative effort involving amateur radio organizations and space agencies that uses amateur radio contacts with astronauts aboard the ISS to encourage student interest in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. AMSAT is among the U.S. sponsors of the ARISS program. Additional information about ARISS and its educational activities is available at www.ariss.org.

[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, and ARISS for the above information.]

July/August 2026 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available

The July/August 2026 issue of The AMSAT Journal (Volume 49, Number 4) is now available for members to download from the AMSAT member portal at https://launch.amsat.org/.

The Journal staff is always looking for articles, experiences, and photos to share with fellow members. Manuscripts, photos, and story ideas may be sent to journal [at] amsat.org.

The July/August 2026 issue includes the following features:

• Apogee View – AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, reports from a busy week on the road, including a day at the Huntsville Hamfest and two days spreading the AMSAT message at the Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, where the conversations ranged from launch providers to high schools – and included an introduction to the new president of AMSAT-Canada.
• Educational Relations Update – Alan Johnston, KU2Y, on the CubeSatSim’s feature in the September issue of QST, a preview of the upcoming v2.3 software release, and the CubeSatSim loaner program for educators, along with a sidebar Quick Update on FoxPlus-A testing.
• AO-7’s 24-Hour Mode Timer: What the AMSAT Status Reports Reveal During Continuous Sunlight – Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, mines nearly 1,500 AMSAT Satellite Status API reports from this summer’s illumination season to ask a simple question of a 51-year-old spacecraft: how well is its onboard mode timer really behaving?
• Public STEM Events and AMSAT’s “BuzzSat” Resources – AMSAT Ambassador Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, shares his approach to engaging the non-ham public at Dallas’s Moon Day, from CubeSatSim demos and live SSTV to the new BuzzSat.com youth outreach materials, with ready-to-use handouts for other Ambassadors.
• AMSAT Field Day 2026 Results – Bruce Paige, KK5DO, delivers his annual roundup of AMSAT Field Day, complete with the final standings, station stories, and the traditional visits from Murphy, followed by a 20-photo Field Day Gallery with scenes from sites across North America.

The AMSAT Journal is published bi-monthly as a benefit of AMSAT membership. Not yet a member? Join today at https://launch.amsat.org/ – students join for free.

[ANS thanks Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK, Editor-in-Chief of The AMSAT Journal, for the above information]

Give Your Next Rove a Payload — Put Your Lunch into Orbit! Pack the rover dogs and hit the grid line with an all-new
AMSAT Round Logo Metal Lunchbox. Keep Amateur Radio in Space — and your lunch in the box! https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_round_logo_metal_lunchbox-256761530568368967 SatNOGS Rolls Out Major Network and Database Updates

The SatNOGS project rolled out a series of software updates in late August, including SatNOGS Network versions 1.128, 1.129 and 1.130 along with SatNOGS DB version 1.76. Network 1.128, released August 27, introduced a substantial collection of changes affecting ground station operation, observation scheduling and the project’s application programming interfaces. The release was followed in quick succession by versions 1.129 and 1.130 as developers addressed issues discovered following deployment. SatNOGS is an open-source global network of satellite ground stations developed by the Libre Space Foundation and supported by amateur radio operators and satellite enthusiasts around the world.

One of the most significant changes in Network 1.128 is the first phase of a new multi-vetting system for observations. Previously, only one vetting result could be associated with an observation artifact such as a waterfall, while the new system allows individual users to independently evaluate the same artifact. Future development is expected to extend vetting to additional observation products and could eventually allow automated systems or bots to participate in the process. The change is intended to provide more useful information about the confidence and quality of observations collected by the network. The update also removes an older observation-status field from the API as part of the transition to the new vetting system.

Ground station status handling has also been redesigned. Instead of describing a station simply as online, offline or testing, SatNOGS now separately tracks whether a station is connected, whether it is available for scheduling, and whether it is undergoing testing. Station owners can therefore leave a station connected to the network while making it unavailable for observations, providing greater control over how stations participate in the network. Another new feature separates a station’s minimum horizon from its minimum culmination elevation, allowing operators to independently specify the elevation at which tracking begins and ends and the minimum elevation a pass must reach before it can be scheduled. These limits can also be configured as hard limits when dictated by antenna patterns, local obstructions or other station constraints.

SatNOGS DB 1.76 introduces complementary changes to the way satellites and their transmitters are described. Satellite status values have changed from future, alive, dead and re-entered to future, in-orbit, launch failed and re-entered, separating the orbital status of a spacecraft from whether its transmitters remain active. The database also gains experimental support for structured transmitter parameters, intended eventually to provide SatNOGS Network, Client and Radio with enough information to create dynamic processing flowgraphs. This could improve automatic decoding and support for a wider variety of satellite modes as the feature develops.

The database update also lays groundwork for a new Launches feature intended to organize information about satellites deployed on individual launches. SatNOGS currently relies heavily on community forum threads to coordinate reports following launches, but the new system is intended to provide a central view of deployment, reception and identification status. New reception classifications include Unknown, Unverified, Partially Verified and Verified, with supporting evidence links available for received signals. This could be particularly useful following rideshare missions when observers around the world are attempting to identify numerous newly deployed spacecraft. Network 1.128 also adds support for transmitter parameters supplied by SatNOGS DB, beginning the integration of these new database capabilities with observations.

Deployment of the new Network software was not entirely trouble-free, prompting the rapid release of versions 1.129 and 1.130 following 1.128. Developers worked through database migration and performance issues and made additional corrections as the updated software entered service. Beyond the major features, the releases include numerous user-interface improvements, bug fixes, performance improvements and enhancements for developers. Together, the Network and Database updates establish groundwork for improved observation verification, more flexible ground station operation and better handling of the growing number of satellites and transmitters tracked through SatNOGS.

### For More Information

SatNOGS Network 1.128 breaking and notable changes:
https://community.libre.space/t/upcoming-satnogs-network-release-1-128-breaking-and-notable-changes/15204

SatNOGS Network releases 1.128, 1.129 and 1.130:
https://community.libre.space/t/satnogs-network-release-1-128-1-129-1-130/15231

SatNOGS DB 1.76 breaking and notable changes:
https://community.libre.space/t/upcoming-satnogs-db-release-1-76-breaking-and-notable-changes/14956

[ANS thanks Fredy Damkalis and the Libre Space Community for the above information]

Updated VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings for September 2026 VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Changes for August 1, 2026 to September 1, 2026. Callsign Previous VUCC Grids Updated VUCC Grids DL5GAC 1745 1967 EA2AA 1235 1285 HB9AOF 1130 1158 E70A 1023 1126 JL1SAM 1008 1105 G4GIR New 1025 JG6CDH 777 941 KK4YEL 799 812 N9FN 752 753 HB9GWJ 702 741 AC9DX 730 733 LA6OP 700 711 K5TA 600 660 N5EKO 623 624 DJ7NT 510 606 JK6DXD New 602 JI5USJ 551 601 AG4W 524 587 KF2T 505 580 OH3DP 501 551 N8URE 471 488 KF0QS 400 450 W0PR 230 333 JF3MKC 280 325 G4BWP 220 303 PU5DDC 280 289 KG7CW 115 250 PY3YO 160 205 DL1TJ New 198 WB5TX 175 181 DM2RM 115 177 AD4ES New 113 IK2TPX New 101 HJ6MR New 100

Congratulations to new VUCC Satellite award holders G4GIR, JK6DXD, DL1TJ, AD4ES, IK2TPX, and HJ6MR! G4GIR is the first VUCC Satellite award holder from Maidenhead grid IO92, JK6DXD is the first from PM53, and DL1TJ is the first from JN69. HJ6MR is the first VUCC Satellite award holder from Colombia and Maidenhead grid FJ23.

DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Changes for August 1, 2026 to September 1, 2026. Callsign Previous DXCC Entities Updated DXCC Entities YO3APJ 176 178 HB9GWJ 154 160 KB1HY 143 144 I1JQJ New 123 IZ2AMW New 103 UN3G New 100

Congratulations to new DXCC Satellite award holders I1JQJ, IZ2AMW, and UN3G!

[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information]

Sean Borgerson, KK7OVF, Earns AMSAT Sexagesimal Award

Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, has announced that Sean Borgerson, KK7OVF, has earned AMSAT Sexagesimal Award #204, recognizing confirmed satellite contacts with stations in 60 different U.S. states, Canadian call areas, or DXCC entities. In announcing the award, Paige observed that this is one of the AMSAT awards that is “not easy to earn” – and the numbers back him up: in the decades since the award was introduced, only 204 operators have completed the feat.

True to its name – sexagesimal meaning “relating to the number sixty” – the award is the middle rung of AMSAT’s classic operating award ladder. Operators begin with the Satellite Communicators Club for their first satellite QSO and the Oscar Satellite Communications Achievement Award for contacts with 20 different states, provinces, or countries; those same contacts then aggregate toward the 60 required for the Sexagesimal Award and, eventually, the 100 needed for the AMSAT Century Award.

Each contact must be with a station in a different entity – work six stations in British Columbia and only one of them counts – and all contacts must be made from locations within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of one another. For most operators, collecting 60 distinct entities through satellite footprints takes years of patience, with rare DX and hard-to-find states alike surrendering only when pass geometry, timing, and luck all line up.

Sean’s callsign may ring a bell for followers of the AMSAT Satellite Distance Records: operating from grid CN85 in the Pacific Northwest, he set AO-123’s first documented distance record in November 2024, a 1,622 miles (2,610 km) contact that remained the satellite’s listed record until this summer.

Operators chasing awards of their own will find complete rules for the Sexagesimal Award and all of AMSAT’s operating awards at https://www.amsat.org/awards/. Applications require only a report of contacts – no QSL cards needed – sent to KK5DO along with a small fee.

Congratulations, Sean!

[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, for the above information]

Eric Olson, KH6WI, Earns AMSAT Rover Award #96

It was a busy day at the AMSAT awards desk. Alongside Sexagesimal Award #204 (see story elsewhere in this issue), Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, has announced that AMSAT Rover Award #96 has been earned by Eric Olson, KH6WI – the fourth Rover Award issued in roughly a month, following recent recipients in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Colombia.

Eric’s aloha-flavored callsign tells part of the story. A self-described adventurer and sailor, he completed Worked All States via satellite from Hawaii in 2023, crediting the IO-117 GreenCube digipeater, the rover community, and more than a few midnight passes for making it possible. His travels continue to provide plenty of opportunities for portable satellite operating and grid activations.

The Rover Award recognizes exactly that spirit. It is earned by accumulating 25 points from satellite activations in grid squares outside the rover’s home grid – one point per grid on FM transponders, two on linear transponders, and three on digital transponders – plus a bonus point for each grid activated in a state, province, or DX entity other than the rover’s own.

Publicizing an operation at least 24 hours in advance via a public social media post tagging @amsat or #amsat, the AMSAT-BB, or this bulletin adds five points, as does posting photos of the operation afterward. A grid activated maritime mobile is worth ten points and a /MM endorsement on the certificate – a bonus that would seem tailor-made for a sailor.

In announcing the award, Paige offered his congratulations along with his customary encouragement to rovers everywhere to keep on rovin’.

Complete rules and application details for the AMSAT Rover Award are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-rover-award/, and upcoming rover operations may be found – and publicized – at https://hams.at.

Congratulations, Eric – and mahalo for the grids!

[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, for the above information]

The 2026 Coins Are Here! Help Support GOLF-TEE and Fox-Plus.
Annual memberships start at only $120.

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for September 4, 2026

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

The following satellites have been removed from this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:

HYPERVIEW-1G (RS66S) NORAD Cat ID 61772 Decayed from orbit on or about 18 August 2026
Sparrow NORAD Cat ID 43881 Decayed from orbit on or about 18 August 2026

General Perturbations Data Support

AMSAT is pleased to announce that modern forms of what are called General Perturbations data are being disseminated via modern formats including JSON, XML and KVN at https://newark192.amsat.org/gpdata/current/. The reason this change is being made is that we are running out of 5-digit catalog numbers and the TLE format is not viable for satellites launched after July of this year. See https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/gp-data-formats.php for details.

These data are presently considered in beta test for the next two months while hosted on the test server newark192.amsat.org, and we are very open to community feedback at webmaster [at] amsat.org. Testers may experience outages and errors while we make improvements. We intend to put this into production on our main web server in July as we expect that satellites launched after this summer will require one of the new formats to accommodate longer object numbers. AMSAT will continue to publish TLE bulletins for satellites launched before July 2026 indefinitely.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]

ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Scheduled Contacts

+ Recently Completed

No ARISS educational contacts were completed during the last week.

+ Upcoming Contacts

No school contacts are currently scheduled for the upcoming week.

Many times, a school makes a last-minute decision to do a Livestream or runs into a last-minute glitch requiring a change of the URL, but we at ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication. You can always check https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

+ Schedule of ISS radio power downs and power ups
Mon 2026-09-07 12:10 UTC Service module radio power down
Mon 2026-09-07 12:15 UTC Columbus module radio power down
Mon 2026-09-07 15:16 UTC Progress undocking
Mon 2026-09-07 19:05 UTC Columbus module radio power up
Mon 2026-09-07 19:10 UTC Service module radio power up

The crossband repeater remains configured in the Columbus Module (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If a crewmember decides to pick up the microphone and turn up the volume, you may hear them on the air—so keep listening, as you never know when activity might occur.

Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RS0ISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/.

​HamTV in the Columbus Module (2395.00 MHz) is currently transmitting a test signal. For more information, visit the ARISS Ham TV Live site at https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,

“Think a 75-minute presentation on ‘working the easy satellites’ would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint [at] gmail [dot] com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!”

Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.

Scheduled Events

Greater Louisville Hamfest – September 12, 2026
Paroquet Springs Conference Centre
395 Paroquet Springs Drive
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6007
https://louisvillehamfest.wixsite.com/louisvillehamfest
W4FCL

Bored Net µExpo and ARRL Santa Barbara Section Convention – October 3, 2026
Cal State University Channel Islands
1 University Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
https://www.theborednet.net/index.php/2026/06/22/2026-microexpo-is-on/
K6KH

Tucson Area Autumn Hamfest – October 3, 2026
Radio Society of Tucson
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
9252 East 22nd Street
Tucson, AZ
https://k7rst.club
N1UW

44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting – October 8 thru 11, 2026
Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel and Conference Center
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/

Southern Arizona Fall Hamfest – November 14, 2026
Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club
Marana Middle School
11285 W. Grier Rd.
Marana AZ
www.tucsonhamradio.org/hamfest
N1UW

For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]

Buying from Ham Radio Outlet?
Add AMSAT’s Getting Started With Amateur Satellites to your order. Available for $29.95 from HRO (free shipping on most orders over $100)
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-019238 Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched Sunday, August 30, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The observatory is now beginning a three-month, roughly one-million-mile journey to the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point, where it will conduct wide-field infrared surveys of the universe. Roman will investigate dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets using its 300-megapixel Wide Field Instrument and a technology-demonstration coronagraph capable of directly imaging Jupiter-like planets. Controllers established contact with the spacecraft shortly after launch, and its solar arrays and lower instrument sunshade deployed successfully during the opening hours of the mission. Additional deployments, course corrections, and instrument checkouts will continue during the journey to L2, followed by several months of commissioning and calibration. NASA expects Roman’s first images in early 2027, beginning a mission designed to survey the universe up to 1,000 times faster than the Hubble Space Telescope. (ANS thanks SciTechDaily for the above information)

+ NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has resumed science observations after plans to boost the spacecraft into a higher orbit were abandoned. Swift’s Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope and X-ray Telescope returned to operation on August 26, while its Burst Alert Telescope is expected to resume observations in the coming weeks. Katalyst Space’s LINK spacecraft launched July 3 with plans to rendezvous with, capture, and raise Swift’s orbit, but attitude-control problems prevented the boost attempt from proceeding. LINK may still rendezvous with Swift to demonstrate proximity operations and other technologies for future satellite servicing missions. Launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts and other transient astronomical events, Swift has remained operational far beyond its original two-year prime mission. With increased atmospheric drag from recent solar activity accelerating the decay of Swift’s low Earth orbit, NASA expects the observatory to reenter Earth’s atmosphere later this year. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information)

+ Europe’s second Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite, MTG-I2, was launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana on August 27. The satellite completes the first three-spacecraft family of Europe’s new Meteosat Third Generation weather satellite system. Once commissioned in geostationary orbit, MTG-I2 will provide rapid weather imagery over Europe and northern Africa, with new observations available every 2.5 minutes. Its instruments include the Flexible Combined Imager and Lightning Imager, allowing forecasters to follow rapidly developing storms and detect lightning during both day and night. Data from the satellite will also support wildfire monitoring, atmospheric pollution tracking, climate research, and improved early warnings for severe weather. MTG-I2 joins the first MTG Imager launched in 2022 and the MTG Sounder launched last year, allowing the new generation of Meteosat satellites to begin operating at full capacity. (ANS thanks ESA for the above information)

+ SpaceMD, a subsidiary of Redwire Corporation, has signed an agreement to fly a commercial pharmaceutical research mission aboard SpaceX’s new Starfall spacecraft in 2028. Starfall is an uncrewed reentry vehicle designed to provide routine access to microgravity for research, manufacturing, and testing, with experiments and other payloads returned to Earth after their time in orbit. SpaceX conducted the first demonstration flight of Starfall in June 2026, launching the spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and testing technology intended for future return missions. SpaceMD plans to fly as many as 32 of its Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory, or PIL-BOX, systems on the 2028 mission, which the company says would make it the largest dedicated commercial microgravity research mission to date. The PIL-BOX systems allow researchers to crystallize pharmaceutical compounds in microgravity, where conditions can produce crystals useful in developing improved drug formulations and new therapies. Since November 2023, 54 PIL-BOX systems have flown to the International Space Station and have been used to crystallize 45 compounds, including insulin and molecules targeting cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. (ANS thanks Redwire for the above information)

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

• Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
• Students enrolled in at least half-time status are eligible for free membership to age 25.
• Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
mahrenstorff [at] amsat.org

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002
AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

Former ARRL Chief Operating Officer (COO) Harold Robert Kramer, WJ1B, of Cheshire, Connecticut, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026, at age 78. Kramer served as COO and QST Publisher from 2005 to 2016, following a career in broadcasting. He was an ARRL Life Member and donor, supporting the Diamond Club, the Second Century Campaign, and the ARRL Lab.

Former ARRL CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, recalled...

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has announced that the candidates for the 2026 ARRL Division elections are now official. ARRL members will choose between two candidates for Director in the Delta, Great Lakes, and Midwest Divisions, and two candidates for Vice Director in the Midwest Division. The Director positions in the Atlantic and Dakota Divisions are unopposed, as are the ...

August 30,2026

In this edition:

• ARISS Proposal Window Open Now through September 30, 2026
• AMSAT Board of Directors Voting Ends Soon
• European Astro Pi Challenge 2026/27 Registration Opens September 14, 2026
• Call for Presentations: 44th AMSAT Space Symposium
• How Cell-Phone Technology Revolutionized Amateur Satellites
• Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for August 28, 2026
• SpaceX Plans Massive New Launch Facility in Louisiana
• Ambassador Events
• ARISS News
• Satellite Shorts from All Over

The AMSAT(R) News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat [dot] org .

Sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List. Join this list at: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

ARISS Proposal Window Open Now through September 30, 2026

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2027 – June 30, 2027. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.

Photo courtesy NASA.

The Opportunity
Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.

An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS.

Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.

Proposals are due to ARISS by September 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. To help you get started, an informative video is available at youtube.com/arisslive. Detailed guidelines and expectations can be found at ariss.org, and the proposal form is available via the online ARISS Contact Application.

[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR for the above information.]

The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Now Here!
Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.

Annual memberships start at only $120
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

AMSAT Board of Directors Voting Ends Soon

AMSAT members who have not yet voted for the 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors election should note that voting ends on September 15, 2026.. Three seats on the Board are being filled this year. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board, while the candidates receiving the next highest vote totals will be named First Alternate and Second Alternate, respectively.

Current AMSAT members may review the official candidate statements and cast their ballots on the AMSAT 2026 Board of Directors Election website at https://launch.amsat.org/2026-BoD-Election .

Members are encouraged to take a few minutes to review the candidates’ statements and cast their ballots. Your participation helps shape the future of AMSAT and its mission to Keep Amateur Radio in Space.

Election results will be announced no later than September 30, 2026.

Current AMSAT members may review the official candidate statements and cast their ballots on the AMSAT 2026 Board of Directors Election website at https://launch.amsat.org/2026-BoD-Election

Members are encouraged to take a few minutes to review the candidates’ statements and cast their ballots. Your participation helps shape the future of AMSAT and its mission to Keep Amateur Radio in Space.

[ANS thanks Douglas Tabor, N6UA, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information]

European Astro Pi Challenge 2026/27 Registration Opens September 14, 2026

Mission Space Lab invites young people to run their own code on the International Space Station (ISS), giving them an opportunity to conduct science in space. Teams write a Python program that captures sensor data from Raspberry Pi computers on board the ISS to use in space science projects.

What is Mission Space Lab?
Working in teams, young people will write a program to collect data from the Astro Pi computer’s sensors or camera, logging the results to a file. By analyzing atmospheric readings or capturing images of Earth from 400km above, they can investigate everything from life on our planet to the mechanics of orbital space flight.

Photo courtesy raspberrypi.org.

What can a team investigate? Teams can design an entirely original space science project or follow one of our ready-made project guides to get started.

Every eligible program is given a 10-minute slot on the ISS. Once the mission is complete, successful teams will receive official certificates showing the exact time and geo-coordinates when their code ran. They’ll also receive their own data and image sets to download, keep, and analyze!

Who Can Take Part?
Mission Space Lab is designed for young people who have some basic coding experience. We recommend this mission for young people aged between 12 and 19. They will use their knowledge to investigate real space science using a program they write themselves. Project guides are available to support teams in creating their program.

Why take part?
Participating in Astro Pi Mission Space Lab empowers young people to learn about life on the ISS, discover how to gather and utilize data in space, and master the art of creating and troubleshooting a computer program. Best of all, teams have the opportunity to capture unique Earth observation images and space data to keep forever!

Registration is open from Monday 14 September 2026 to Monday 22 February 2027, 12:00 CET.

Astro Pi is an ESA Education project run in collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

Read the full article at https://astro-pi.org/mission-space-lab .

[ANS thanks raspberrypi.org for the above information.]

Call for Presentations: 44th AMSAT Space Symposium

Do you have a story to tell the amateur satellite community? AMSAT invites proposals for presentations at the 44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting, to be held October 8-11, 2026, at the Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel & Conference Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

Presentations are welcome on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. Suggested subjects include current and future satellite projects such as the GOLF program and the CubeSatSim; ARISS and human spaceflight activities; ground station, antenna, and portable station design; software-defined radio; telemetry collection and analysis; satellite operating techniques and achievements; educational programs and youth outreach; and reports from DXpeditions and roving operations. Whether you have built it, flown it, coded it, taught it, or worked it through a satellite, your fellow attendees want to hear about it.

Prospective presenters should email a tentative presentation title and a brief abstract to symposium [at] amsat.org as soon as possible. Presentation time slots are limited, so early submissions are encouraged, and information on submitting final papers and presentation materials for inclusion in the Symposium Proceedings will be provided to presenters. A digital copy of the Proceedings is included with every Symposium registration.

Symposium presentations begin Friday afternoon, October 9, and continue through Saturday, October 10, leading into the Annual General Meeting. Live streaming will bring the sessions to members unable to attend in person – all the more reason to make sure your work is on the program.

Registration for the Symposium is now open at https://launch.amsat.org/event-6789663, with early bird pricing available through September 8. Hotel reservations at the Wyndham Jacksonville – the property formerly known as the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport/I-95 – may be made through the booking link at https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/ or by phone at 1-800-227-6963 using group code AMS.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Symposium Team for the above information.]

Need new satellite antennas? Purchase M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store.

When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/

How Cell-Phone Technology Revolutionized Amateur Satellites

Cell-phone technology has played a major role in the development of today’s small satellites and CubeSats. Smartphones require components that are small, lightweight, inexpensive and power-efficient—the same qualities satellite designers need.

Because billions of phones and other portable devices are manufactured, sophisticated electronic components that once were extremely expensive are now available as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products.

Smartphone-class processors give small satellites substantial computing power for controlling experiments, processing images and compressing data. Miniature CMOS cameras can provide Earth imagery, while MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes help determine a spacecraft’s movement and orientation. Compact GPS receivers provide position and timing information, and inexpensive flash memory can store large quantities of images and scientific data for later transmission.

Advances in compact radio-frequency electronics and digital signal processing have also allowed sophisticated communications systems to fit inside CubeSats. Meanwhile, improvements in lithium-ion batteries provide lightweight rechargeable energy storage.

Traditional spacecraft often use expensive radiation-hardened electronics designed specifically for space. CubeSat builders can sometimes substitute commercial components, reducing costs dramatically while using shielding, redundancy and software to compensate for increased risk.

NASA demonstrated the potential of consumer electronics with its PhoneSat program. Beginning in 2013, PhoneSat spacecraft used Android smartphones as important parts of their onboard systems, taking advantage of their processors, cameras and sensors.

The greatest contribution of the smartphone industry may therefore be the philosophy of packing tremendous capability into very little space while consuming minimal power.

For amateur-radio and university satellite builders, this has been especially important. A modern CubeSat can combine a computer, radio, GPS receiver, cameras, sensors and telemetry system in a spacecraft small enough to hold in your hands.

[This article was compiled from ChatGPT.]

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for August 28, 2026

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the above information.]

SpaceX Plans Massive New Launch Facility in Louisiana

SpaceX has announced plans to build what could become the world’s largest commercial space launch facility along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. The proposed $100 billion development, known as Starbase Louisiana, would be located on approximately 125,000 acres near Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish.

The new spaceport would become SpaceX’s fourth and largest U.S. launch site and would primarily support the company’s enormous Starship rocket. At full development, plans call for five launch complexes, each containing two launch pads and associated propellant facilities. The site would also include rocket processing facilities, power generation, methane propellant production, employee housing and deep-water shipping capabilities.

Image courtesy SpaceX.

SpaceX ultimately envisions launching Starships from Louisiana thousands of times each year. Starship is being developed as a fully reusable transportation system capable of carrying satellites, cargo and people into Earth orbit and eventually to the Moon and Mars. The Louisiana location provides several advantages, including extensive undeveloped land, access to Gulf shipping routes and abundant natural gas resources that could support power generation and methane production.

Louisiana officials estimate that the project will create about 3,000 direct jobs during its first decade, with an average annual salary of approximately $92,600. Another 8,100 indirect jobs could be generated throughout the Acadiana region. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first launch possible as early as 2029.

The ambitious project will also face environmental scrutiny. The proposed site contains sensitive coastal wetlands and important migratory-bird habitat. Environmental organizations have called for careful permitting and public review. SpaceX says much of the property will remain undeveloped and that it intends to work with government agencies on marsh restoration, shoreline protection and wildlife conservation.

If completed as planned, Starbase Louisiana could transform the state into one of the most important centers of commercial spaceflight in the world.

[This article was compiled from ChatGPT.]

ARISS NEWS

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

• Contacts
  No contacts scheduled at this time.
• Radio Power Ups and Downs
  COL=Columbus module
  SM=Service Module

Monday, August 31, 2026 09:25 UTC – COL radio power down
Monday, August 31, 2026 19:30 UTC – SM radio power down
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – USOS EVA

• Egress: 12:35-13:05 UTC
• Ingress 18:35-19:05 UTC
  Wednesday, September 2,2026 11:55 UTC – COL radio power up
  Wednesday, September 2, 2026 12:00 UTC – SM radio power up

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.]

LIMITED TIME OFFER!
AMSAT is offering a limited-time promotion for new and renewing members that includes a free digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites. The promotion is being offered as AMSAT begins the 2026 membership year.

Anyone who joins or renews their AMSAT membership during the promotional period will receive a download link for the latest edition of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites in their membership confirmation email.
JOIN TODAY at https://launch.amsat.org/
(Remember! Students join for FREE!)

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

September 12, 2026
Greater Louisville Hamfest
Paroquet Springs Conference Centre
395 Paroquet Springs Drive
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6007
https://louisvillehamfest.wixsite.com/louisvillehamfest
W4FCL

October 3, 2026
Bored Net µExpo and ARRL Santa Barbara Section Convention
Cal State University Channel Islands
1 University Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
https://www.theborednet.net/index.php/2026/06/22/2026-microexpo-is-on/
K6KH

October 3, 2026
Tucson Area Autumn Hamfest
Radio Society of Tucson
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
9252 E. 22nd St.
Tucson, AZ
https://k7rst.club
N1UW

October 8-11, 2026
44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting
Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel and Conference Center
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/

November 14, 2026
Southern Arizona Fall Hamfest
Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club
Marana Middle School
11285 W. Grier Rd.
Marana AZ
www.tucsonhamradio.org/hamfest
N1UW

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information.]

Satellite Shorts From All Over

• VibeSDR Jr is a standalone Apple Watch software-defined radio client. It runs directly on the watch and does not require an iPhone. It can connect to VibeServer and many compatible remote SDR servers. Its developer, Stuart, has launched a live demonstration at demo.vibesdr.net featuring RTL-SDR V4C, SDRplay RSP1B, and AirSpy HF receivers connected to an AirSpy YouLoop and LNA setup. Users can test VibeSDR’s DSP functions, built-in decoders, and advanced RDS tools on the site. VibeSDR Jr is available for download at the Apple App store. An Android version is also awaiting approval on the Google Play Store. [ANS thanks rtl-sdr.com for the above information.]
  
• NASA launched its Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce Hubs initiative to create pathways into aerospace careers that do not necessarily require a four-year engineering degree. NASA awarded about $10.5 million to seven institutions in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Texas and Utah. The hubs connect high schools, community colleges, employers, apprenticeships and workforce-development organizations. The program focuses on occupations such as machinists, electricians, welders and other highly skilled aerospace technicians. That represents an important expansion of NASA education beyond its traditional emphasis on scientists and engineers. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information.]

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
Students are eligible for FREE membership up to age 25.
Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW.
f.karnauskas [at] amsat [dot] org

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002.
AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

Solar activity reached moderate levels this week. Region 4513 was responsible for an M2.2/1B flare that reached its peak on August 26. This event was accompanied by a 10.7-centimeter radio burst that reached 140 solar flux units (SFU) and a type II radio sweep with an estimated shock speed of 930 km/s despite its relatively impulsive nature. No resulting coronal mass ejection (CME) has been obs...