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Important Notice: Keep Clear of Emergency Frequencies During the Contest Weekend
Tropical Storm Melissa is nearly stationary in Caribbean on Friday, October, 24, 2025. Forecasters warn it could quickly intensify, impacting Jamaica as a hurricane and causing catastrophic flooding and landslides Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) a group of licensed Amateur Radio Operators trained and organized to provide essential communications support to the Na...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity reached moderate levels this past week, but has now
returned to, and remains at, lower levels. Region 4248 produced an
M1.1 flare on October 20, which was the largest event of the period.
Region 4261 was numbered this period as it rotated into better
viewing conditions.
Region 4262 was numbered this period as well, splitting it from
Region 4257. Additionally, new spots were noted near ...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
Tropical Storm Melissa Update
All eyes and ears are on Tropical Storm Melissa, now in the Caribbean Sea. As of 11:00 AM EDT on Wednesday October 22, 2025, Melissa was drifting west-northwestward in the central Caribbean. Heavy rain and flooding are expected over portions of Hispaniola and Jamaica for the reminder of the week.
A hurricane watch is in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti, from the border with the Dom...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
ANS-292 AMSAT News Service Bulletins
October 19, 2025
In this edition:
* AMSAT Board of Directors Elects Officers
* AMSAT Symposium Held in Phoenix
* AMSAT Releases Draft Educators Guide to Using Satellites in the Classroom
* AMSAT Student Memberships Now Offered at No-Cost
* Is Low Earth Orbit Getting Too Crowded?
* Swarm Reveals Growing Weak Spot in Earth’s Magnetic Field
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* 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 Elects Officers
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
At its annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., the AMSAT Board of Directors elected Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, President. Glasbrenner succeeds Robert Bankston, KE4AL, who had served as AMSAT’s president since 2020 and earlier this year announced his intention to step down.
Glasbrenner had previously served as AMSAT’s Vice President – Operations since 2006, and as a director for many years. As an enthusiastic operator, Glasbrenner earned Satellite DXCC and WAS, AMSAT Gridmaster, and has over 2100 VUCC Satellite grids. He is also a proud father of two young hams, KO4UYE and KQ4SJM.
Additionally, Glasbrenner serves as a member of the International Amateur Radio Union’s (IARU) Satellite Frequency Coordination panel and advises university CubeSat teams on frequency coordination and licensing issues.
The Board of Directors also elected the following officers for the next year:
Executive Vice President: Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
Vice President – Operations: Mark Hammond, N8MH
Vice President – Engineering: Jerry Buxton, N0JY
Treasurer: Steve Belter, N9IP
Secretary: Doug Tabor, N6UA
Additionally, the President appointed the following officers:
Vice President – Educational Relations: Alan Johnston, KU2Y
Vice President – Development: Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors and AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, for the above information]
AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now AvailableYes, These are the Real Thing!
Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a Fox-Plus SatelliteIncludes First Class Postage (Sorry – U.S. Addresses Only)
Order Today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain AMSAT Symposium Held in Phoenix
Approximately 35 AMSAT members gathered at Holiday Inn Phoenix Airport North on Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18, for the 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting. They were joined by more than 50 guests, at any one time, tuning into the livestream online.
Presentations from the AMSAT Engineering teams updated participants on propulsion systems that may be used in the upcoming GOLF (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint) series of satellites, mechanical design of the FoxPlus series of satellites, command and control, power management, and telemetry systems under development.
Presentations from the AMSAT Educational Relations team focused on the CubeSat Sim and its use in the classroom at various grade levels.
Additional presentations were made by AMSAT’s partner organization, ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), tracking software authors, and the AMSAT Youth Initiative.
The symposium culminated with the Banquet on Saturday evening with keynote delivered by Liam Cheney, PMP. Liam is an aerospace consultant and founder of Footstep Aerospace by AG3, LLC.
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]
The 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coins Are Here!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today!
At the 2025 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., AMSAT Vice President – Educational Relations Alan Johnston, KU2Y, announced the availability of a draft version of Educators Guide to Using Satellites in the Classroom, a new guide covering AMSAT’s CubeSatSim and other resources available for utilizing satellites in classroom education.
Johnston emphasizes that this guide is a draft document and will be continuously revised with better formatting and more content.
The draft guide is available at https://cubesatsim.org/EducatorsGuide.
[ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President – Educational Relations for the above information]
AMSAT Student Memberships Now Offered at No-CostAt its annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., the AMSAT Board of Directors unanimously voted to offer student memberships at no-cost.
Free student memberships are offered for individuals under the age of 25 enrolled in an educational program from primary school through a Master’s degree.
The benefits of an AMSAT student membership include a one-year digital subscription to The AMSAT Journal and discounted prices on certain items in the AMSAT store.
Interested students may sign up for their no-cost membership at https://launch.amsat.org/Membership
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information]
Is Low Earth Orbit Getting Too Crowded?Hundreds of satellites may soon be flying in orbital regions that are already too packed to allow safe and long-term operations, a new study suggests.
The study found that, while in 2019 only 0.2% of satellites in Earth orbit were forced to perform more than 10 collision-avoidance maneuvers per month, that percentage had risen sevenfold by early 2025, to 1.4%. That number might still seem low, but it means that some 340 satellites spend a lot of time dodging debris and other spacecraft.
Moreover, the satellite population is set to keep growing. While in 2019 about 13,700 objects (including space junk) zoomed around the planet in low Earth orbit (LEO), at altitudes below 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers), that number has since risen to 24,185 objects in 2025, an increase of 76%, according to the study. By the end of this decade, some 70,000 satellites may reside in LEO, according to industry growth predictions, representing a more than fivefold increase compared to the 2019 situation.
Artist’s rendering of space junk in orbit
[Image: European Space Agency]
The study, conducted by William E. Parker, Maya Harris, Giovanni Lavezzi, and Richard Linares of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was published September 26 in the journal, Acta Astronautica. The research was sponsored by the Department of the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator.
The authors selected 10 collision-avoidance maneuvers per month as a threshold at which satellite operation may become too complicated to be beneficial. Different operators choose a different threshold to perform collision-avoidance maneuvers. NASA spacecraft mostly maneuver when the collision risk is greater than 1 in 10,000. SpaceX — the world’s biggest satellite operator, with its Starlink broadband megaconstellation — is more cautious, using its autonomous space dodging system to avoid an object posing a risk greater than 1 in 3.3 million. Frequent maneuvers present a disruption to operations that some satellite handlers are better able to absorb than others.
[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/is-low-earth-orbit-getting-too-crowded-new-study-rings-an-alarm-bell. See the complete academic paper at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576525006332?dgcid=author.]
Swarm Reveals Growing Weak Spot in Earth’s Magnetic Field
Using 11 years of magnetic field measurements from the European Space Agency’s Swarm satellite constellation, scientists have discovered that the weak region in Earth’s magnetic field over the South Atlantic – known as the South Atlantic Anomaly – has expanded by an area nearly half the size of continental Europe since 2014.
Earth’s magnetic field is vital to life on our planet. It is a complex and dynamic force that protects us from cosmic radiation and charged particles from the Sun.
It is largely generated by a global ocean of molten, swirling liquid iron that makes up the outer core around 3000 km beneath our feet. Acting like a spinning conductor in a bicycle dynamo, it creates electrical currents, which in turn, generate our continuously changing electromagnetic field – but in reality the processes that generate the field are far more complex.
Swarm, an Earth Explorer mission developed under ESA’s Earth Observation FutureEO programme, comprises a constellation of three identical satellites that precisely measure the magnetic signals that stem from Earth’s core, mantle, crust and oceans, as well as from the ionosphere and magnetosphere.
Thanks to this exceptional mission, scientists are gaining more insight into the different sources of magnetism to help understand how and why the magnetic field is weakening in some places and strengthening in others.
The weak field South Atlantic Anomaly was first identified southeast of South America back in the 19th century.
Today, the South Atlantic Anomaly is of particular interest for space safety, as satellites passing over the region are faced with higher doses of incoming radiation. This can lead to malfunctions or damage to critical hardware, and even blackouts.
Published this month in Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, the latest results from the Swarm mission reveal that while the South Atlantic Anomaly expanded steadily between 2014 and 2025, a region of the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Africa has experienced an even faster weakening of Earth’s magnetic field since 2020.
“The South Atlantic Anomaly is not just a single block,” says lead author Chris Finlay, Professor of Geomagnetism at the Technical University of Denmark. “It’s changing differently towards Africa than it is near South America. There’s something special happening in this region that is causing the field to weaken in a more intense way.”
This behaviour is linked to strange patterns in the magnetic field at the boundary between Earth’s liquid outer core and its rocky mantle, known as reverse flux patches.
Prof. Finlay explains, “Normally we’d expect to see magnetic field lines coming out of the core in the southern hemisphere. But beneath the South Atlantic Anomaly we see unexpected areas where the magnetic field, instead of coming out of the core, goes back into the core. Thanks to the Swarm data we can see one of these areas moving westward over Africa, which contributes to the weakening of the South Atlantic Anomaly in this region.”
Swarm’s record-breaking 11 years
The latest model of Earth’s core-generated magnetic field marks a new milestone for ESA’s Swarm satellites, which have now provided the longest continuous record of magnetic field measurements from space.
The satellites were launched on 22 November 2013 as the fourth Earth Explorer mission, pioneering satellites that form a key component of ESA’s forward-looking FutureEO programme.
Conceived as demonstrators of innovative Earth observation technologies, these missions have long outlived their original design lifetime, become integral to long-term records, provided data for critical operational services, and have paved the way for future generations of satellites.
Swarm data underpin the global magnetic models used for navigation, monitor space weather hazards, and allow unprecedented insights into our Earth system from its core through to the outer reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.
Earth’s magnetic field strengthens over Siberia
The latest Swarm results highlight the dynamic nature of Earth’s magnetism. For example, in the southern hemisphere there is one point where the magnetic field is particularly strong, and in the northern hemisphere there are two – one around Canada and the other around Siberia.
“When you’re trying to understand Earth’s magnetic field, it’s important to remember that it’s not just a simple dipole, like a bar magnet. It’s only by having satellites like Swarm that we can fully map this structure and see it changing,” said Prof. Finlay.
However, since Swarm has been in orbit the magnetic field over Siberia has strengthened while it has weakened over Canada. The Canadian strong field region has shrunk by 0.65% of Earth’s surface area, which is almost the size of India, while the Siberian region has grown by 0.42% of Earth’s surface area, which is comparable to the size of Greenland.
This shift, which is caused by complex processes going on in Earth’s turbulent core, is associated with the northern magnetic pole moving towards Siberia in recent years. This shift is important for navigation, which is affected by the dance between these two areas of strong magnetic field.
ESA’s Swarm Mission Manager, Anja Stromme, said, “It’s really wonderful to see the big picture of our dynamic Earth thanks to Swarm’s extended timeseries. The satellites are all healthy and providing excellent data, so we can hopefully extend that record beyond 2030, when the solar minimum will allow more unprecedented insights into our planet.”
[ANS thanks the European Space Agency (ESA) for the above information.]
Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for October 17, 2025Two 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.]
ARISS NewsAmateurs 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.
Completed Contacts1st Radford Semele Scout Group, Radford Semele, United Kingdom, Direct via GB4RSS
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Jonathan (Jonny) Kim, KJ5HKP
The ARISS mentor was MØXTD
Contact was successful: Sat 2025-10-18 09:51:59 UTC degrees maximum elevation
Congratulations to the 1st Radford Semele Scout Group students, Jonny, mentor MØXTD, and ground station GB4RSS!
Colegio de Cultura Popular, Bogotá, Colombia, telebridge via AB1OC
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Zena Cardman, KJ5CMN
The ARISS mentor is VE6JBJ
Contact is go for: Thu 2025-10-23 13:46:10 UTC 63 deg
18th Primary School of Larissa, Larissa, Greece, Telebridge via K6DUE
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Mike Fincke, KE5AIT
The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF
Contact is go for: Fri 2025-10-24 08:04:47 UTC 33 deg
Terre Haute Children’s Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana, direct via W9UUU
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Jonathan (Jonny) Kim, KJ5HKP
The ARISS mentor is KD8COJ
Contact is go for: Sat 2025-10-25 13:45:00 UTC 52 deg
Watch for Livestream at https://youtube.com/live/kULT9EvbPwc?feature=share or https://live.ariss.org
Many times a school may make a last minute decision to do a Livestream or run 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 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.
Packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down) is ACTIVE.
Ham TV is CONFIGURED. Default mode is for scheduled digital amateur television operations (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.]
Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.
No events are currently scheduled.
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+ SpaceX closed a chapter in its Starship saga on October 13. It launched what appeared to be a nearly flawless suborbital mission with its Version 2 Starship-Super Heavy rocket, the final flight for this iteration of the launch vehicle. This was the final Starship launch of the year and the last mission that will fly from Pad A in its current configuration. SpaceX now turns its attention to completing and testing Version 3 of Starship-Super Heavy, which will begin launch from Pad B. It’s this iteration of the rocket that SpaceX intends to use for launching payloads to orbit and eventually flying missions to the Moon and Mars. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information. Read the full article at https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/10/14/spacex-launches-final-version-2-starship-super-heavy-rocket/.)
+ Approximately 550 employees of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will be laid off, according to an announcement made on the agency’s website on October 13. The news comes in the midst of an ongoing U.S. government shutdown and the looming threat of the single largest funding reduction in NASA’s 66-year history. Due to those potential cuts, NASA has been forced to reshape many of its science and space exploration efforts. Scientists at NASA’S JPL oversee a fleet of flagship science missions designed to unravel the mysteries of our solar system. They include the Psyche asteroid probe, the Europa Clipper, the dark-matter-hunting Euclid Space Telescope, the Perseverance Mars rover and, of course, the Deep Space Network — the international array of antennas used to communicate with humanity’s spacefaring robotic explorers. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/nasa-lays-off-550-employees-at-jet-propulsion-laboratory-in-sweeping-realignment-of-workforce.)
+ The Federal Communications Commission, which issues Amateur Radio Service licenses, issued a Public Notice on Tuesday, September 30, indicating that it would suspend most operations following a shutdown. ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said the FCC systems appeared to go off-line around 1 PM Eastern time on Wednesday, and are redirecting to the Public Notice. This means the FCC will not be processing any amateur radio license applications during the shutdown, which includes individual, club, and exam session (new and upgrade) applications. However, Somma urged that Volunteer Examiners continue to promptly forward session results from their exams to the ARRL VEC. ARRL VEC will promptly resume submitting applications to the FCC for processing. (ANS thanks ARRL for the above information.)
+ A constellation of classified defense satellites built by SpaceX is emitting a mysterious signal that may violate international standards. Satellites associated with the Starshield satellite network appear to be transmitting to the Earth on frequencies normally used for sending commands from Earth to satellites in space. The use of those frequencies to “downlink” data runs counter to standards set by the International Telecommunication Union. Starshield’s unusual transmissions have the potential to interfere with other scientific and commercial satellites, warns Scott Tilley, VA7LF, an amateur satellite tracker in Canada who first spotted the signals. (ANS thanks National Public Radio for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.npr.org/2025/10/17/nx-s1-5575254/spacex-starshield-starlink-signal.)
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
- Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
- Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
- Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
- 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.
Categories: Amateur Radio News
The ARRL Solar Update
Region AR4246 underwent significant evolution, growing in overall
size while gaining multiple new spots. Subsequently, AR4246 was the
main provider of activity which included an M1.2 flare on October
13. Several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) with potential
Earth-directed components are in the mix at this time.
Additional modeling efforts are underway to perhaps confirm those
suspicions. The largest f...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
FCC Announces Intent to Delete Minor Part 97 Provisions
As part of a much larger overhaul focused on deleting almost 400 obsolete wireless regulations, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced plans to delete or modify four minor provisions of Part 97.
ARRL’s Washington Counsel has reviewed the proposal and agrees that the deletions are to obsolete rules and will have no impact on today’s modern Amateur Radio Service. One of the del...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
Amateur Radio Runs with the Chicago Marathon
Amateur radio operators serve their communities across the United States in many ways, before and When All Else Fails®. Using their skills as communicators, their personal equipment, and the Amateur Radio Service, the “hams” provide a needed boost to public safety radio systems.
The 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, held on October 12, 2025, featured 55,000 runners from around the world. An...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Livestream Available
October 16, 2025
In this edition:
- AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Livestream Available
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 Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Livestream AvailableThe 2025 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting begins at 1:00pm MST / 2000 UTC on October 17, 2025. A livestream will be made available of the presentations on AMSAT’s YouTube channel.
Day 1 will be streamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAC9_Uh2ys4
Day 2 will be streamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0K9cHCz9Fw
The schedule of presentations is below:
Friday, October 17*
Start Speaker Topic 1:00 PM Introduction/Announcements 1:05 PM AMSAT President Welcome 1:15 PM Cameron Castillo, KJ7ILB ASCENT Team Propulsion 1:45 PM Jim McCullers, WA4CWI Oscar to OsTrax 2:15 PM Andrew Robinson, KA3WDW FoxPlus Mechanical Layout & Design 3:00 PM Heimir Thor Sverrisson, W1ANT Extending Command and Control for GOLF 3:30 PM Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS 4:00 PM Frank Karnauskas, N1UW Youth Initiative 4:30 PM Jim White, WD0E ARDC
Saturday, October 18*
Start Speaker Topic 8:00 AM Alan Johnston, KU2Y CubeSatSim Update & Demonstration 9:00 AM Agastya Bose, KJ5MSH CubeSatSim 9:15 AM Larry Ryan, W7DGP CubeSatSim 9:30 AM Frederic Raab, KK6NOW Bridging Orbit and Classroom: SatNOGS/CubeSatSim 10:15 AM Burns Fisher, WB1FJ Telemetry for FoxPlus & GOLF CubeSats 10:45 AM Burns Fisher, WB1FJ A New Use for Fox & MESAT-1 Whole Orbit Data Algorithm 11:15 AM Kipton Moravec, AE5IB GOLF-TEE Electrical Power Supply (EPS) 1:00 PM Jerry Buxton, N0JY Engineering / GOLF-TEE Update 2:00 PM Mike Moore, K4MVM FoxPlus Update 2:30 PM AMSAT President Annual General Meeting
* All times are Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7). Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Symposium Team 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).
- Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
- Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
- 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 Contributing Editor,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm [at] arrl.net
ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002
Categories: Amateur Radio News
Ed Hare, W1RFI, Long time ARRL Lab Engineer, Passes Away
Edward F. “Ed” Hare, Jr., W1RFI, who spent decades as an employee of the ARRL Laboratory, has become a Silent Key. He died on October 10, 2025, at the age of 74 after an illness.
Hare was first licensed as a teenager in 1963 as KN1CV (later KA1CV) and was an active ham throughout his life. He was an avid QRP operator, earning his Worked All States certificate with 250 milliwatts on CW. In his pr...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
ANS-285 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
October 12, 2025
In this edition:
- 2025 AMSAT Symposium Takes Place October 17-19, Livestream Available
- AMSAT-UK Colloquium Continues
- Japanese CubeSats Deployed from ISS
- Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for October 10, 2025
- 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/
2025 AMSAT Symposium Takes Place October 17-19, Livestream AvailableThe 2025 AMSAT Symposium will take Place October 17-19, 2025 in Phoenix, AZ. Registration for the Symposium is still available, but banquet registration has closed.
For those of you who are unable to attend in person, a livestream of Symposium presentations will be available.
The tentative schedule of presentations follows:
Friday, October 17*
Start Speaker Topic 1:00 PM Introduction/Announcements 1:05 PM AMSAT President Welcome 1:15 PM Cameron Castillo, KJ7ILB ASCENT Team Propulsion 1:45 PM Jim McCullers, WA4CWI Oscar to OsTrax 2:15 PM Andrew Robinson, KA3WDW FoxPlus Mechanical Layout & Design 3:00 PM Heimir Thor Sverrisson, W1ANT Extending Command and Control for GOLF 3:30 PM Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS 4:00 PM Frank Karnauskas, N1UW Youth Initiative 4:30 PM Jim White, WD0E ARDCSaturday, October 18*
Start Speaker Topic 8:00 AM Alan Johnston, KU2Y CubeSatSim Update & Demonstration 9:00 AM Agastya Bose, KJ5MSH CubeSatSim 9:15 AM Larry Ryan, W7DGP CubeSatSim 9:30 AM Frederic Raab, KK6NOW Bridging Orbit and Classroom: SatNOGS/CubeSatSim 10:15 AM Burns Fisher, WB1FJ Telemetry for FoxPlus & GOLF CubeSats 10:45 AM Burns Fisher, WB1FJ A New Use for Fox & MESAT-1 Whole Orbit Data Algorithm 11:15 AM Kipton Moravec, AE5IB GOLF-TEE Electrical Power Supply (EPS) 1:00 PM Jerry Buxton, N0JY Engineering / GOLF-TEE Update 2:00 PM Mike Moore, K4MVM FoxPlus Update 2:30 PM AMSAT President Annual General Meeting* All times are Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7). Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
The presentations will be live streamed on AMSAT’s YouTube Channel, recorded and made available for viewing at a later time.
You can view the complete Symposium schedule at https://www.amsat.org/43rd-amsat-space-symposium-and-annual-general-meeting/ .
[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]
AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now AvailableYes, These are the Real Thing!
Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a Fox-Plus SatelliteIncludes First Class Postage (Sorry – U.S. Addresses Only)
Order Today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain AMSAT-UK Colloquium Continues
As of publication, he AMSAT-UK Colloquium continues. A livestream of Sunday’s proceedings can be found at https://youtube.com/live/RC1p6iS-zwE
Videos of talks will be added to AMSAT-UK’s YouTube channel.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
The 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coins Are Here!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today!
Three Japanese CubeSats were deployed from the ISS using the Japanese J-SSOD on October 10, 2025. Two of the satlelites transmit in the amateur radio bands.
e-kagaku-1
CW, DigiTalker, 1.2kbps AFSK, 9.6kbps GMSK 145.840MHz
https://ekagaku-sat.net/ This web site is in Japanese
https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/finished_detail.php?serialnum=888
BOTAN
APRS 145.825MHz
Digital 437.375MHz
https://sites.google.com/p.chibakoudai.jp/gardens-04/
https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/finished_detail.php?serialnum=938
[ANS thanks JAXA and Masahiro Arai, JN1GKZ, for the above information]
Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for October 10, 2025
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 satellite has been added to this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:
CSS (TIANHE-1) NORAD Cat ID: 48274 Chinese space station, possible ham gear aboard
We recognize that the entire space station is referred to as “Tiangong”, but use the same identifier as the US Space Force for consistency with other sources of orbital information.
[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]
Need new satellite antennas?Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack from the AMSAT Store! When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
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 Contacts1st Radford Semele Scout Group, Radford Semele, United Kingdom, Direct via GB4RSS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz
The scheduled crewmember is Jonathan (Jonny) Kim KJ5HKP
The ARISS mentor is MØXTD
Contact is go for: Sat 2025-10-18 08:12:55 UTC 81 deg (test pass with color bars)
Contact is go for: Sat 2025-10-18 09:49:40 UTC 43 deg (actual school event pass)
Many times a school may make a last minute decision to do a Livestream or run 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 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.
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]
Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
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 Events43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting – October 16 thru 19, 2025
Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport North
1515 North 44th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Details at https://www.amsat.org/2025-symposium/
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+ October 8, 2025 was the 10th anniversary of the launch of AMSAT’s first Fox-1 satellite, AO-85. Although it suffered from a slightly deaf receiver, AO-85 provided amateur service for four years before succumbing to battery failure, supporting thousands of QSOs. Additionally, the satellite returned 6,411,349 frames of telemetry over its lifetime, including experimental data for Vanderbilt University.
+ ARISS’s SSTV Series 29 highlighting World Space Week concluded last week with over 3,200 people submitting more than 8,000 image decodes so far. To receive a digital certificate, submit your decodes by 23:59 UTC on Sunday, October 12th to https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ (Thanks to ARISS)
+ A rumor circulated that CAMSAT’s CAS-11 satellite would launch yesterday on the Gravity-1 rocket from a sea launch platform off the coast of Haiyang. Although the launch was successful and the orbital parameters and launch information match the IARU filing for CAS-11, it appears that the satellite was not on board.
Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
- Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
- Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
- Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
- 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,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm [at] arrl.net
ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002
Categories: Amateur Radio News
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity has been at moderate levels for the past 24 hours. Solar
activity is expected to be low with a chance for M class flares. Solar wind
speed reached a peak of 1124 km/s.
Solar activity reached moderate levels following an M2.0 flare (R1-Minor) at
from a region just around the Northwestern limb. Only low-level C-class
activity was observed from the remaining spotted regions on the visibl...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
ARRL Foundation Accepting Grant Applications in October
The ARRL Foundation is accepting grant applications from amateur radio organizations for eligible amateur radio-related projects and initiatives, particularly those focused on educating, licensing, and supporting amateur radio activities. To grow amateur radio's future, youth-based projects and initiatives are especially encouraged.
The ARRL Foundation grants program accepts proposals on a cycli...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
ANS-278 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
October 5, 2025
In this edition:
- AMSAT 43rd Space Symposium Banquet Reservations Close Thursday, October 9, 2025
- ARISS Announces SSTV Event Begins October 3, 2025
- 43rd Annual AMSAT Symposium Speakers List Announced
- Four US Schools/Organizations Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process
- A Review of the futureGEO Workshop 2025 in Bochum
- VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings October 2025
- GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers October 2025 Rankings
- Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for October 3, 2025
- ARISS News
- AMSAT Ambassador Activities
- 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/
AMSAT 43rd Space Symposium Banquet Reservations Close Thursday, October 9, 2025Those planning to attend the banquet at the 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting must have their reservation made no later than Thursday, October 9, 2025.
The banquet menu offers the following buffet features:
- Tossed Garden Salad
- Herb Encrusted Chicken Breast
- Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Ginger Crust
- Grilled Sirloin with Wild Mushrooms
- Rice Pilaf
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Roasted Seasonal Vegetables
- Seasonal Cheesecake
- Flourless Chocolate Cake
- Coffee and Tea
The keynote speaker for the banquet is Liam Cheney, PMP. Liam is an aerospace consultant and founder of Footstep Aerospace by AG3, LLC, where he supports mission integration, strategy, and business development for the space industry. Over the past decade, he has contributed to the successful launch and deployment of numerous CubeSat missions, including many flown through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI), where he previously served as a Mission Manager. He has helped launch multiple AMSAT-supported missions during his time at NASA, Tyvak, and SRI International. Liam also served as the launch services Mission Manager for PREFIRE, which launched in 2024 on back-to-back Rocket Lab Electron flights to study polar heat loss and improve climate modeling.
Keynote Speaker Liam Cheney (Photo courtesy Liam Cheney.)
He holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he authored a thesis on safety standards for CubeSat propulsion systems and contributed to the university’s CubeSat Program. A member of AMSAT, Liam lives in Kansas City with his wife and two children and enjoys astrophotography and craft coffee.
Regrettably, walk-in registrations for the banquet cannot be accepted at the Symposium.
Make your reservation today at https://launch.amsat.org/Events .
[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Board of Directors, for the above information.]
Your 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coin Is Waiting!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and Fox-Plus.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
The ARISS team is working towards two short SSTV activations for October 2025. Both of these are expected to start on a Friday and end on the following Monday.
The first event is ARISS’ traditional celebration of the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite in 1957. The SSTV activation started on Friday, October 3 and will run to end on Monday, October 6. SSTV will be paused for a short time (~ 60 minutes) on Saturday October 4 for a special student voice contact.
The second SSTV campaign is tentatively scheduled to start on Friday, October 17, with a short pause (~60 minutes) for a special student contact on Saturday, October 18, and resume until completion on Monday, October 20.
This interval roughly coincides with the International Scouting Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and the SSTV image theme is expected to deal with Scouting.
ARISS expects to offer separate electronic award diplomas for participants who receive at least one image from a campaign and submit it to the SSTV gallery.
Tentative times for the first event are:
2025-10-03 1140 UTC start
2025-10-04 1000 UTC pause for a school event
2025-10-04 1100 UTC resume
2025-10-06 TBD UTC stop
[ANS thanks ARISS for the above information.]
43rd Annual AMSAT Symposium Speakers List AnnouncedThe 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium has an impressive list of presentations scheduled for October 17 and October 18.
Credit: Holiday Inn Suites Phoenix Airport North
Friday, October 17*
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Saturday, October 18*
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Start Speaker Topic 8:00 AM Alan Johnston, KU2Y CubeSatSim Update & Demonstration 9:00 AM Agastya Bose, KJ5MSH CubeSatSim 9:15 AM Larry Ryan, W7DGP CubeSatSim 9:30 AM Frederic Raab, KK6NOW Bridging Orbit and Classroom: SatNOGS/CubeSatSim 10:15 AM Burns Fisher, WB1FJ A New Use for Fox & MESAT-1 Whole Orbit Data Algorithm 10:45 AM Burns Fisher, WB1FJ Telemetry for FoxPlus & GOLF CubeSats 11:15 AM Kipton Moravec, AE5IB GOLF-TEE Electrical Power Supply (EPS) 1:00 PM Jerry Buxton, N0JY Engineering / GOLF-TEE Update 2:00 PM Mike Moore, K4MVM FoxPlus Update 2:30 PM AMSAT President Annual General Meeting* All times are Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7). Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
The presentations will be live streamed on AMSAT’s You Tube Channel, recorded and made available for viewing at a later time.
You can view the complete Symposium schedule at https://www.amsat.org/43rd-amsat-space-symposium-and-annual-general-meeting/ .
[ANS thanks Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Board of Directors, for the above information.]
Four US Schools/Organizations Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the US schools/host organizations newly selected for 2026 ARISS contacts. A total of 4 of the submitted proposals during the recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS.
The ARISS program anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for the 4 US host organizations during the Jan 2026 – June 2026 time period. 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/organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities offered by NASA.
The schools and host organizations are:
- ASU STEM Preparatory Academy Mesa, AZ
- Conn Magnet Elementary School Raleigh, NC
- The Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Discovery Providence, UT
- EcoTarium Worcester, MA
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.
[ANS thanks ARISS 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/
A Review of the futureGEO Workshop 2025 in Bochum
On September 19, 2025, the futureGEO workshop took place under the radome of the Bochum Observatory. Organized by AMSAT-DL with the support of ESA, the event brought together international experts, representatives of amateur radio organizations and dedicated radio amateurs who had previously declared their active participation in an appeal and submitted corresponding proposals. In the spring, AMSAT-DL had invited potential interested parties as part of an RFEI. The aim was to build on the experience gained with QO-100 and to jointly define the first concrete mission ideas for a future amateur radio payload in geostationary orbit.
(Photo courtesy AMSAT-DL)
The workshop was held as a hybrid event. The group was made up of one half who were present on site and the other half who took part online via ZOOM. Andrew Glasbrenner, K04MA, AMSAT VP – Operations represented AMSAT-USA at the meeting.
The purpose of the workshop was to collect, cluster and prioritize ideas:
- Mission & Services – Which communication services and experiments should a new GEO payload enable?
- Payload & antennas – What technical solutions are conceivable?
- Ground station & operation – How can control and operation be organized?
- User segment – Who should have access and how?
In a concluding reflection among the participants, it became clear how much QO-100 has revitalized and enriched the amateur radio community:
- Affordable entry into microwave communication with low-cost SDRs and LNBs.
- Development of open source software such as DVB-S2 encoders and decoders.
- Educational projects from schools to schools contacts with Antarctica and other events.
The participants hope that radio amateurs can be even more involved in the construction of the hardware of a futureGEO with appropriate personal contribution, transparency and participation than was possible with QO-100 due to NDAs with the manufacturers and owners of the parent satellite.
The next steps are clear: The mission ideas developed in the workshop will be further concretized and should be available by the end of 2025 in the form of 1-3 consolidated mission concepts that are both technically exciting and attractive to the international amateur radio community and must also be technically feasible.
Read the entire story at https://amsat-dl.org/en/review-futuregeo-workshop-2025-in-bochum/ .
[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.]
VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings October 2025
VUCC Satellite Standings for October 2025
VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for September 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025
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Congratulations to the new VUCC Satellite holders.
AA6DY New 167
S21DX New 128
KM6HB New 104
W5QZ New 102
S21DX is first VUCC Satellite holder from NL51
DXCC Satellite Standings for October 2025
DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for September 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025.
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OE9DGV 215 217 HB9RYZ 164 166 LA6OP 154 159 HB9GWJ 143 150 G4BWP 110 134 F6EXV New 114 I4DOR 109 113 US0SY New 101 9A1CAL New 100 KQ4DO New 100
Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders.
F6EXV New 114
US0SY New 101
9A1CAL New 100
KQ4DO New 100
9A1CAL is first DXCC Satellite holder from Croatia and JN86
[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information.]
GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers October 2025 Rankings
The October 2025 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data.
Updated: 2025-10-02
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[ANS thanks Mitch Ahrenstorff, AD0HJ ANS Rotating Editor and @GridMasterMap for the above information.]
[ANS thanks _ for the above information.]
Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for October 3, 2025
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.]
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
Paterson P-Tech High School/ Paterson Public Schools, Paterson, New Jersey, direct via W2NPT
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1S .
The scheduled crewmember is Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH.
The ARISS mentor is AB1OC.
Contact is go for Monday, October 6. 2025 at 14:24:46 UTC.
Namibia Scientific Society, Windhoek, Namibia, telebridge via ON4ISS.
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS.
The scheduled crewmember is Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH.
The ARISS mentor is KA3HDO.
Contact is go for Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 10:37:18 UTC.
Completed Contacts
Pobeda schools, Aznakaevsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via RC4P.
The ISS callsign was RSØISS.
The crewmember was Sergey Ryzhikov.
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR.
Contact was successful on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 1 10:45 UTC.
Instituto Politecnico Nacional: Planetario “Luis Enrique Erro”, Mexico City (Gustavo A. Madero), Mexico, Direct via XE2L.
The ISS callsign was NA1SS.
The crewmember was Zena Cardman, KJ5CMN.
The ARISS mentor was VE3TBD.
Contact was successful on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 16:40:40 UTC.
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.
The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).
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.]
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 11, 2025
North Star Radio Convention
Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Boulevard
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
https://northstarradio.org/
ADØHJ
October 16, 17, 18, 19, 2025
AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting and 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport North
1515 North 44th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Details at https://www.amsat.org/2025-symposium/ .
[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information.]
Satellite Shorts From All Over
- Suryono Adisoemarta, YD0NXX/N5SNN, Amateur Radio Organization of Indonesia, reports “September 28, 2025, was the 10th anniversary of IO-86 (Indonesia OSCAR 86) Satellite. The host vehicle, LAPAN A2 satellite, was launched from India using a PSLV rocket. This 10 years of almost problem-free satellite is beyond imagination, as the service year was designed only for 2 years. Currently the FM voice repeater payload is still working good , only the APRS digipeater is showing reduced sensitivity . The same digipeater box, a Tracker2, that was purchased at the same time in 2008 currently on my bench is also showing the same symptom. Hopefully we can have another 10 years of service from this satellite.” [ANS thanks Suryono Adisoemarta, YD0NXX/N5SNN, Amateur Radio Organization of Indonesia for the above information.]
- M2 Antenna Systems Sales Manager Robert Brown, KR7O reports that LEO Pack antenna systems are back in stock and once again available in the AMSAT Store Despite the factory working nearly around the clock, the LEO Pack had been out-of-stock for several months due to a suddden increase in commercial and government orders. The good news is, at this time, there is no price increase. [ANS thanks M2 Antenna Systems Sales Manager Robert Brown, KR7O, 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).
- Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
- Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
- 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.
Categories: Amateur Radio News
The ARRL Solar Update
Solar activity, which has been at low levels, has returned to
moderate levels. Region AR4232 produced the largest event of the
period, an impulsive M3.6 flare (R1-minor) on October 1, 2025.
An associated Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) was observed in subsequent
SOHO LASCO/C2 coronagraph imagery that began on September 29.
Analysis and modelling of the ejecta is ongoing.
Newly numbered Region AR4237 rema...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
Amateur Radio Licensing Update During US Government Shutdown
A bulletin sent to members of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® included information about the impact of the US Government shutdown on licensing for the Amateur Radio Service.
The government shutdown began at 12:01 Eastern time on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, when Congress had not passed an appropriations bill or other plan to keep the government funded for the new fiscal year (beg...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
FCC Issues Notice of Violation for Unauthorized One-Way Transmissions and Denial of Inspection
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a Notice of Violation (NoV) to Mike F. Conte of Naples, Florida, citing alleged rule violations related to unauthorized transmissions and refusal to allow station inspection. The FCC notice by the Regional Director, Region One, Enforcement Bureau, was released on September 29, 2025, and includes that Conte holds an Amateur Radio Service lic...
Categories: Amateur Radio News
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Ohio News
- Whitehall man accused of sexually assaulting Columbus teenager
- Central Ohio fentanyl dealers plead guilty, face over 40 years in prison
- Deputies believe hidden camera found in Hocking Hills rental cabin violated dozens of victims
- 1 injured in west Columbus shooting
- Where Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland rank in list of safest cities in U.S.
Other News
- 115th Assembly District candidates make their case to North Country voters
- What's up with all the write-in campaigns in Essex County?
- Plattsburgh native advances to Knockout round of "The Voice"
- AG James pleads not guilty to mortgage fraud, says justice system is being used as "revenge"
- This Weekend in the Adirondacks: Last weekend of October