Mitch Ahrenstorff

AMSAT News Service

ANS-060
March 1, 2026

In this edition:

* AMSAT Announces Students On The Air Satellite Activity Beginning March 3
* ISS Amateur Radio Packet System Activated for Temporary APRS Testing
* Launch Planned for NUTSAT-3 with Voice Repeater and APRS Digipeater
* Astro Pi Mission Zero Challenge Offers Youth Chance to Run Code Aboard ISS
* Elon Musk Suggests Moon-Based Mass Driver for Future Satellite Deployment
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for February 27, 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/

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AMSAT Announces Students On The Air Satellite Activity Beginning March 3

AMSAT has announced the launch of Students On The Air (StOTA) Days, a new initiative aimed at encouraging student participation in amateur satellite operations. The activity was inspired by AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, and his son Carsten, KQ4SJM, and is designed to promote regular on-air activity among licensed student operators.

Students are encouraged to get on the air and operate via amateur satellites on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, beginning March 3, 2026. While student-to-student contacts are especially encouraged, all satellite operators are welcome to participate and help make students feel welcome on the air.

To support coordination, AMSAT has created a dedicated #students-on-the-air channel on the AMSAT Discord server where participants can arrange contacts and share activity: https://discord.com/channels/838897908224360498/1476716108198445066

Reports of StOTA activity and contacts are encouraged and may be submitted to Carsten, KQ4SJM, whose contact information is available via QRZ.com. Activity reports will help AMSAT gauge participation and support future student-focused satellite initiatives.

[ANS thanks Mark Hammond, N8MH, AMSAT Vice President – Operations and Director, for the above information]

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ISS Amateur Radio Packet System Activated for Temporary APRS Testing

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) reports that the packet radio in the Zvezda Service Module has been configured for temporary APRS operation on 437.825 MHz. The system is expected to remain active for testing through March 2, 2026, giving stations worldwide an opportunity to receive packet transmissions and attempt limited digipeating through the orbiting station.

Operators wishing to access the ISS digipeater are advised to include ARISS or APRSAT in the PATH field of their transmissions. The Service Module station is operating under the call sign RSØISS using FM packet at 1200 bps. ARISS recommends transmit power of 5 watts or less, preferably with a directional antenna, to improve uplink reliability and help minimize interference.

The current activation follows a prolonged outage of the Service Module amateur radio system that began during ARISS SSTV Series 30 in November 2025. Images were received early in the event, but subsequent passes produced no SSTV transmissions, and the event was ultimately scrubbed. The Service Module radio used for APRS and SSTV was then taken out of service while teams investigated the problem.

Subsequent ARISS updates reported that the primary Kenwood D710GA radio was replaced with an onboard spare D710E while teams continued troubleshooting and preparing reset procedures. Status reports in the following months continued to show the Service Module radio offline while restoration efforts were planned and carried out.

The newly announced APRS configuration suggests the system is now being evaluated through on-orbit testing following these repair activities. Temporary activations such as this allow radio amateurs worldwide to help confirm reception, observe system behavior, and provide useful reports while the station’s amateur radio capability is assessed.

ARISS encourages operators to monitor official status channels for schedule updates and to share reception reports as testing continues. Additional information on ISS amateur radio operations and current station status is available at https://www.ariss.org.

[ANS thanks Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) for the above information]

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Launch Planned for NUTSAT-3 with Voice Repeater and APRS Digipeater

IARU amateur satellite frequency coordination has been completed for NUTSAT-3, a 3U CubeSat dedicated to amateur radio service. The satellite, using the callsign BNØUTC, is operated with support from National Formosa University. NUTSAT-3 is designed to provide voice repeater, APRS, and telemetry services to the global amateur satellite community.

The primary payload is a cross-band FM voice repeater with an uplink on 145.980 MHz using a 67 Hz CTCSS tone and a downlink on 435.250 MHz. Telemetry will be transmitted on 437.850 MHz using 1k2 AFSK with AX.25 protocol. All telemetry is unencrypted and intended for public reception and analysis.

An APRS digipeater will also operate on 145.825 MHz, allowing stations to relay position and status data through the satellite. The digipeater is expected to respond to both its unique callsign and the ARISS alias using standard APRS paths. The open telemetry format and public data distribution are intended to encourage worldwide participation, including monitoring through networks such as SatNOGS.

Beyond communications service, the mission includes a strong educational component. Students will participate in RF design evaluation, mission analysis, and satellite communications performance studies. Public dashboards and shared telemetry are planned to promote transparency and community collaboration.

NUTSAT-3 is manifested for launch aboard a Space One KAIROS rocket from Spaceport Kii in Kushimoto, Japan into a planned 500 km polar orbit. Space One recently postponed the vehicle’s third flight following weather analysis, and the launch window now extends through March 25, 2026. A specific launch date is expected to be announced approximately two days prior to liftoff.

KAIROS conducted two previous launch attempts in March and December 2024, both of which ended in mission failure during early flight. The upcoming mission will mark a return-to-flight opportunity for the Japanese commercial launch provider. Frequency coordination for NUTSAT-3 was requested on December 25, 2025, and completed on January 31, 2026.

[ANS thanks the IARU and Space One for the above information]

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Astro Pi Mission Zero Challenge Offers Youth Chance to Run Code Aboard ISS

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and amateur radio operator Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN, is now aboard the International Space Station following her launch on the SpaceX Crew-12 mission on February 13 and docking on February 14. With about one month remaining before submissions close for the Astro Pi Mission Zero coding challenge on March 23, 2026, her mission highlights ongoing opportunities for young people to run their own code aboard the space station.

Astro Pi Mission Zero, organized by ESA in partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation and the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO), gives young people the chance to have their code run in space. Participants write a short Python program that reads data from the Astro Pi color and luminosity sensor aboard the ISS and uses it to set the background color of a personalized image displayed for astronauts as they go about their daily tasks inside the Columbus laboratory module.

Adenot serves as an ambassador for the Astro Pi initiative, reinforcing the connection between astronaut missions, STEM education, and global outreach. Licensed in amateur radio, she is among the ISS crew members able to support educational engagement activities, including ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), which enables scheduled radio contacts between astronauts and students around the world.

Mission Zero is designed to be accessible to beginners and can typically be completed in a single one-hour session using only a web browser. Young people aged 19 and under may participate individually or in teams of up to four, working under the supervision of a registered mentor such as a teacher, educator, parent, or youth leader, who provides the classroom submission code required to enter programs.

All eligible entries that follow the official guidelines are scheduled to run on the ISS for up to 30 seconds. Each successful team receives a certificate signed by an ESA astronaut showing the exact time their program executed and the station’s orbital position at that moment, providing a lasting record of their software running in space.

Programs such as Astro Pi Mission Zero complement ARISS school contacts by offering multiple ways for students to interact with the International Space Station — whether by speaking directly with astronauts over amateur radio or by running their own code aboard station hardware. Amateur radio clubs and educators are encouraged to share this opportunity while time remains for participation. Eligibility requirements vary by location; readers should consult the official Mission Zero website for full details: https://astro-pi.org/mission-zero

[ANS thanks the ESA, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and the European Space Education Resource Office for the above information]

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Elon Musk Suggests Moon-Based Mass Driver for Future Satellite Deployment

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has suggested building a giant electromagnetic “catapult” on the Moon to launch satellites into space, reviving a concept first explored more than fifty years ago. In early February, Musk told employees at xAI that the company could eventually establish lunar factories to build artificial-intelligence satellites and launch them using an electromagnetic mass driver rather than conventional rockets.

Musk argued that advances in heavy-lift launch capability, particularly SpaceX’s Starship vehicle, could enable delivery of large amounts of cargo to the lunar surface. Once infrastructure exists, he suggested that manufacturing satellites on the Moon and launching them from there could dramatically reduce costs. He also noted that in-space propellant transfer and lunar industrial development could support a permanent scientific and manufacturing presence beyond Earth.

The concept of a lunar electromagnetic launcher is not new. Physicist Gerard O’Neill proposed similar “mass drivers” in the 1970s as a way to fling mined lunar material into space for use in constructing orbital habitats and solar-power satellites. Working with colleagues and student researchers at MIT, O’Neill helped build experimental prototypes demonstrating that electromagnetic acceleration could launch payloads without chemical rockets. Later designs suggested that a system only a few hundred feet long might be sufficient to send material off the Moon.

More recent studies have continued to explore the practicality of lunar launch systems. In a 2023 report to the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, General Atomics researcher Robert Peterkin argued that modern electromagnetic launchers could be powered by abundant solar energy on the Moon, eliminating the need to transport large quantities of rocket fuel from Earth. He suggested that adapting technologies such as the Navy’s electromagnetic aircraft launch system could form the basis of a reliable lunar launch capability.

Such systems could play a role in a broader lunar industrial ecosystem. Early lunar bases would initially depend on machinery and supplies delivered from Earth, but the long-term goal would be to use lunar resources — including silicon, aluminum, titanium, iron, and water ice — to manufacture hardware locally. Launching satellites or raw materials from the Moon’s weaker gravity could make resupply of lunar orbit or deep-space infrastructure far more economical than launching everything from Earth.

While Musk’s timeline and plans remain speculative, the renewed discussion highlights growing interest in lunar manufacturing and infrastructure to support future space activity. For the satellite and amateur-radio community, concepts like lunar mass drivers point toward a future in which large-scale space construction, power generation, and satellite deployment may increasingly take place beyond Earth’s surface.

Read the full article at: https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/elon-musk-wants-to-put-a-satellite-catapult-on-the-moon-its-not-a-new-idea

[ANS thanks Leonard David, Space.com, for the above information]

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

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for February 27, 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]

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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

CityKidz Pre and Primary School, Johannesburg, South Africa, telebridge via AB1OC
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Chris Williams KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor was IN3GHZ
Contact was successful: Wed 2026-02-25 12:40:05 UTC via AB1OC

+ Upcoming Contacts

Escola Naval (Brazilian Navy Academy), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, direct via PY1AA
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is VE3TBD
Contact is go for: Mon 2026-03-02 12:17:25 UTC

St Joseph’s Primary School, Bombala, NSW, Australia, telebridge via VK6MJ
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD
The scheduled crewmember is Jack Hathaway KJ5NIV
The ARISS mentor is VK4KHZ
Contact is go for: Thu 2026-03-05 08:51:56 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 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.

The Kenwood D710E in the Zvezda Service Module is currently running packet operations at 437.825 MHz through March 2, 2026. HamTV in the Columbus Module is configured for scheduled digital amateur television operations on 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]

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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

Irving Amateur Radio Club Hamfest – March 7, 2026
Irving Amateur Radio Club
Betcha Bingo
2420 West Irving Boulevard
Irving, TX 75061
https://irvingarc.org/hamfest-2026/
N5AYP

Midwinter Madness Hamfest 2026 – March 21, 2026
Maple Grove Radio Club
Buffalo Civic Center
1306 County Road 134
Buffalo, Minnesota 55313
https://k0ltc.org/midwinter-madness/
KØJM, ADØHJ, KEØPBR

Tucson Area Spring Hamfest – April 11, 2026
Radio Society of Tucson
Calvary Tucson Church
8711 East Speedway
Tucson, AZ 85710
https://k7rst.club/
N1UW

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

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

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AMSAT News Service

ANS-032
February 1, 2026

In this edition:

* NASA Selects Global Tracking Volunteers for Artemis II Lunar Mission
* Thailand’s KNACKSAT-2 CubeSat Preparing for Deployment from the ISS
* CubeSatSim Satellite Emulator Kits Now Available in the AMSAT Store
* Open.Space Phased Array Project Targets Low-Cost EME for Hams
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 30, 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/

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NASA Selects Global Tracking Volunteers for Artemis II Lunar Mission

NASA has selected 34 volunteer organizations and individuals from around the world to help track the Orion spacecraft during the upcoming crewed Artemis II mission, which will carry four astronauts on a journey around the Moon. The selected participants include commercial service providers, universities, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individual amateur radio operators, reflecting a broad international collaboration supporting humanity’s return to deep space.

While NASA’s Near Space Network and Deep Space Network will provide primary communications and navigation support, the volunteers will passively track radio signals transmitted by Orion during its approximately 10-day mission. Participants were chosen from proposals submitted in August 2025. They will submit tracking data to NASA for analysis, helping the agency evaluate broader aerospace and amateur radio tracking capabilities. No funding is exchanged as part of this collaborative effort.

“This is a real step toward SCaN’s commercial-first vision,” said Kevin Coggins, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN). “By inviting external organizations to demonstrate their capabilities during a human spaceflight mission, we’re strengthening the marketplace we’ll rely on as we explore farther into the solar system. This isn’t about tracking one mission, but about building a resilient, public-private ecosystem that will support the Golden Age of innovation and exploration.”

The initiative builds on a similar effort during Artemis I in 2022, when 10 volunteers successfully tracked Orion and provided valuable lessons on data formatting, quality, and standards compliance. For Artemis II, SCaN now requires all submitted tracking data to meet its system standards. Public interest has increased significantly, with about 47 ground assets across 14 countries expected to support the mission.

Amateur radio organizations and enthusiasts are well represented in the selected group. Participants include AMSAT Argentina, AMSAT Deutschland, the Amateur Radio Exploration Ground Station Consortium, CAMRAS in the Netherlands, the Deep Space Exploration Society in Colorado, and several individual operators, including Scott Tilley of Canada. Their involvement highlights the growing technical capability of the global amateur radio community to contribute meaningfully to deep-space missions.

Although NASA has formally selected a limited group to submit official tracking data, anyone with appropriate equipment can attempt to track Artemis II independently, either by monitoring Orion’s radio emissions or by observing the spacecraft optically with a telescope during its trans-lunar coast. NASA has emphasized that it is simply accepting data from a designated group and is not restricting independent observation. For amateur astronomers and radio operators alike, Artemis II offers a rare opportunity to witness — and participate in — humanity’s return to deep-space exploration.

Read the full article at: https://www.nasa.gov/technology/space-comms/nasa-selects-participants-to-track-artemis-ii-mission/

[ANS thanks Katrina Lee, NASA, and Scott Tilley, VE7TIL, for the above information]

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Thailand’s KNACKSAT-2 CubeSat Preparing for Deployment from the ISS

Thailand’s KNACKSAT-2 satellite is preparing for deployment from the International Space Station, with release currently scheduled for February 3, 2026 at 08:55 UTC (03:55 AM EST). The mission continues Thailand’s university-led CubeSat development program following the earlier KNACKSAT-1 mission. The project is led by King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok in Thailand, working with domestic and international partners to advance satellite engineering, payload integration, and on-orbit operations. The deployment is expected to be viewable live online via the project livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB4PIOS-hSs.

KNACKSAT-2 was transported to the International Space Station in late 2025 and is a 3U CubeSat designed to host multiple payloads. The satellite expands on KNACKSAT-1, which demonstrated Thailand’s ability to design and build a satellite domestically. Development and testing were conducted in cooperation with NBSPACE and other academic and research partners. The mission is intended to help Thailand develop multi-payload CubeSat platforms and prepare for future ride-share launch opportunities.

The satellite carries both educational and research payloads. Non-amateur missions include an Earth imaging camera, a store-and-forward IoT data collection system for remote sensors, ultraviolet radiation measurement instrumentation, and in-orbit evaluation of space-qualified components. These payloads are part of broader national workforce development programs coordinated through the Thai Space Consortium and academic partner networks. The satellite will be operated in orbit using ground stations located in Thailand.

KNACKSAT-2 also supports amateur radio operations through an APRS digipeater payload developed in cooperation with the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand. The amateur payload operates using coordinated frequencies through the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) satellite frequency coordination process. The APRS digipeater system uses 145.825 MHz for uplink and downlink using FSK modulation at 9600 bps with AX.25 framing. The amateur satellite callsign assigned to the mission is HSØK.

In addition to amateur payloads, the spacecraft transmits engineering telemetry on 400.630 MHz using FSK at 9600 bps with AX.25 framing and a one-minute beacon interval. Following deployment, project coordinators have requested assistance from the monitoring community to receive, decode, and submit telemetry reports from the 400.630 MHz downlink, which is outside the amateur radio allocation. Many satellite observers actively search for newly deployed spacecraft and contribute reception reports, helping mission teams verify spacecraft health and early on-orbit performance. The satellite is expected to rotate in orbit, and ground stations are recommended to use circular polarization, with RHCP preferred, to improve reception reliability.

KNACKSAT-2 continues the growing trend of university-driven satellite programs contributing technical capability, education, and operational experience to the global amateur satellite community. University-built satellites are playing an increasing role in expanding access to space while supporting educational outreach and new opportunities for amateur radio experimentation.

For more information:

[ANS thanks Tanan Rangseeprom, HS1JAN, and the IARU for the above information]

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CubeSatSim Satellite Emulator Kits Now Available in the AMSAT Store

CubeSatSim is an educational satellite emulator designed to provide a hands-on introduction to space communications, telemetry, and satellite systems. Kits are now available for purchase through the AMSAT Store (https://www.amsat.org/product/cubesatsim-kit). Priced at $550 with shipping included for U.S. addresses, the CubeSatSim Kit requires no soldering and only minimal assembly, making it ideal for educational use and public demonstrations.

The kit also comes with an instruction sheet, parts inventory, and links to online instructions. Assembly time is estimated to be under two hours, with scissors and the provided mini screwdriver.

The v2.0 CubeSatSim features improvements over v1.2, such as an FM transceiver, Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller, and RF command and control using DTMF or APRS packets. It can also be modified to function as a 500 mW high altitude balloon payload.

For those interested in creating their own CubeSatSim, v2.0 blank PCB sets are available at the AMSAT Store for $35. These require additional components, which can be purchased for approximately $400 using the provided Bill of Materials.

How to Order
Kits are sold exclusively through the AMSAT Store.
Only U.S. shipping addresses are eligible; orders with non-U.S. addresses will be refunded and closed.

About CubeSatSim
CubeSatSim is a low-cost satellite emulator powered by solar panels and batteries. It transmits UHF radio telemetry and can be expanded with additional sensors and modules, making it ideal for educational and public demonstrations.

[ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT Vice President Educational Relations for the above information]

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Open.Space Phased Array Project Targets Low-Cost EME for Hams

An upcoming open-source hardware project called Open.Space aims to lower the barrier to Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communications for amateur radio operators by using a modular, software-defined phased-array system instead of traditional large dish antennas. EME, or moonbounce, involves transmitting a signal toward the Moon, reflecting it off the lunar surface, and receiving it back on Earth. Historically, this has required large high-gain antennas, high-power transmitters, and precise mechanical tracking, putting it out of reach for many amateurs.

Open.Space proposes using electronically steerable phased arrays built from small, low-cost software-defined radio (SDR) tiles. A phased array combines the signals from many small antennas using precise timing delays, allowing radio beams to be steered electronically without motors or moving parts. This enables rapid tracking, improved interference rejection, and compact, low-profile installations. A familiar consumer example of phased-array technology is the flat-panel antenna used by Starlink satellite internet terminals.

At the core of the system is the Open.Space Quad tile, a 4-antenna SDR module covering 4.9 to 6.0 GHz in the C-band. Each tile supports 40 MHz of bandwidth using an 8-bit ADC and delivers about 1 watt of transmit power per antenna. The tiles can operate as standalone 4×4 MIMO SDRs for RF experimentation, direction finding, or digital communications, or they can be combined into larger phased-array structures.

Multiple tiles can be assembled into phased arrays using a modular lattice frame. The “Mini” starter array consists of 18 tiles, totaling 72 antennas. It is expected to provide roughly 34 dBi of gain, about 52.6 dBW of EIRP, and up to 60 degrees of electronic beam steering. While the Mini configuration is not large enough for moonbounce, it is intended for learning, experimentation, satellite downlinks, and long-range directional links.

For full EME capability, Open.Space proposes the “Moon” array, built from 60 tiles and 240 antennas in a one-meter-wide aperture. This configuration is expected to deliver around 39.3 dBi of gain and 63.1 dBW of EIRP, making moonbounce experiments feasible. Additional planned applications include radio astronomy, RF imaging, and advanced phased-array research.

One of the most notable aspects of the project is its proposed cost in U.S. dollars. Individual tiles are expected to sell for approximately $49 to $99 USD. The Mini array is projected at $899 to $1,499 USD, and the Moon array at $2,499 to $4,999 USD—significantly less than traditional EME hardware setups. The Open.Space hardware has not yet been released, but the project website lists March 2026 as the expected shipping date. The developers note that the system is not intended for radar applications due to export-control restrictions. Those interested can sign up on the Open.Space website to receive email updates when the hardware becomes available.

[ANS thanks Open.Space and RTL-SDR.com for the above information]

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

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for January 30, 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/.

An alternate source for TLE for IO-86 has been identified, and it has been re-added to the AMSAT TLE distribution.

The following satellite has been removed from this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:

GHS-01 NORAD Cat ID 65733, Decayed from orbit on or about 20 Jan 2025

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

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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

Conn Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC., direct via K4EB
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Chris Williams KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor was AA6TB
Contact was successful: Fri 2026-01-30 15:10:30 UTC
Watch for Livestream at https://youtube.com/live/tOj-SpbmA30?feature=share and https://live.ariss.org/

+ Upcoming Contacts

Aznakaevsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Mikaev
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for: Mon 2026-02-02 09:55 UTC

School No. 4, Semenov, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Mikaev
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for: Tue 2026-02-03 10:45 UTC

Lyceum No. 23, Kaliningrad, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Mikaev
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for: Thu 2026-02-05 10:45 UTC

Klimop Tongeren, Tongeren-Borgloon, Belgium, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Chris Williams KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is ON6TI
Contact is go for: Thu 2026-02-05 12:21:51 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 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.

The service module IORS is not currently in APRS configuration and is being used only for voice contacts at this time. HamTV in the Columbus Module is configured for scheduled digital amateur television operations on 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]

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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

Hamcation 2026 – February 13 thru 15, 2026
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32808
https://www.hamcation.com/
AMSAT will have a table and many items available for purchase
Contact Dave Jordan, AA4KN to volunteer n4csitwo [at] bellsouth.net

Midwinter Madness Hamfest 2026 – March 21, 2026
Maple Grove Radio Club
Buffalo Civic Center
1306 County Road 134
Buffalo, Minnesota 55313
https://k0ltc.org/midwinter-madness/
KØJM, ADØHJ, KEØPBR

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

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

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AMSAT News Service

ANS-004
January 4, 2026

In this edition:

* AMSAT Membership Now Includes “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Guide
* Soyuz Rideshare Launch Deploys Several New Amateur Radio Satellites in Orbit
* HDMI Converter Installed on ISS HamTV System, Expanding Video Capabilities
* CubeSat Developers Workshop 2026 Opens Call for Abstract Submissions
* GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers January 2026 Rankings
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 2, 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/

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AMSAT Membership Now Includes “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Guide

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. The guide is designed to help radio amateurs understand the fundamentals of satellite operation and serves as a practical reference for both newcomers and operators returning to the hobby. Additional information about AMSAT membership is available at https://launch.amsat.org.

In addition to this limited-time promotion, AMSAT membership includes a subscription to The AMSAT Journal, access to archived issues, discounts on selected items in the AMSAT online store, and opportunities to participate in AMSAT elections, committees, awards programs, and other AMSAT activities and programs. Members may also access archived proceedings from past AMSAT Space Symposiums through the AMSAT member portal.

Beyond these tangible benefits, AMSAT membership supports the development, launch, and operation of amateur radio satellites, along with education and outreach efforts. Joining AMSAT is not just about individual benefits — it is about being part of the community that builds and operates amateur satellites for radio amateurs worldwide. As AMSAT looks ahead to 2026, the promotion helps launch another year of growth and opportunity for amateur radio in space.

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT President and BoD member, for the above information]

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Soyuz Rideshare Launch Deploys Several New Amateur Radio Satellites in Orbit

A Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with a Fregat upper stage launched successfully on December 28 at 13:18 UTC (8:18 a.m. EST), deploying a total of 52 satellites into orbit. The mission was operated by Roscosmos and lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Siberia. The primary payloads were two Aist-2T Earth-observation satellites.

Among the secondary payloads were at least eight satellites using amateur radio frequencies, including several that received coordination through the International Amateur Radio Union. Initial on-orbit checkout and commissioning activities are underway, with beacon reports and operational activity continuing to be reported.

QMR-KWT-2 (Moon of Kuwait) is a 1U CubeSat carrying an amateur radio mission led by Oleg Razin, R3AOR, in cooperation with the Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics. The satellite features an FM amateur radio transponder intended to encourage participation by students and new operators, along with a miniature camera capable of transmitting SSTV images. The mission operates under IARU coordination, with a downlink on 436.950 MHz and a transponder uplink on 145.920 MHz.

Lobachevsky (RS83S) is a 16U CubeSat developed by the National Research State University of Nizhny Novgorod as part of Russia’s Space-π educational program. The spacecraft carries an amateur radio digital repeater supporting message exchange between radio amateurs worldwide, along with imaging payloads transmitting SSDV and SSTV pictures. IARU-coordinated frequencies include a repeater uplink on 435.500 MHz, repeater downlink on 145.910 MHz, a telemetry and image downlink on 436.320 MHz, and an experimental X-band downlink on 10.470 GHz.

SAKHACUBE-CHOLBON (RS-18S) is a 1U CubeSat developed by the Sakha Science Academy as the first satellite of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The spacecraft uses a single UHF amateur radio transceiver for telemetry, command, and educational payload data, including digital transmissions and SSTV images. The satellite operates with IARU coordination, including a downlink on 437.350 MHz.

Several additional satellites on the mission are reported to use amateur radio frequencies without IARU coordination, including Polytech Universe-6, Scorpion, Luca-1, and Galapagos-UTE. In addition to the amateur-frequency spacecraft, the mission also deployed three Iranian Earth-observation satellites — Paya, Zafar-2, and Kowsar — intended for monitoring agriculture, mapping natural resources, and studying environmental conditions.

Follow ongoing tracking, decoding activity, and discussion of this launch in the LibreSpace community at: https://community.libre.space/t/soyuz-2-1b-fregat-vostochny-launch-2025-12-28-1305-utc/14152/21

[ANS thanks AMSAT-Francophone, the IARU, and the LibreSpace community for the above information]

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HDMI Converter Installed on ISS HamTV System, Expanding Video Capabilities

Amateur Television operations aboard the International Space Station received a significant upgrade on December 22, when an HDMI converter was installed on the ARISS HamTV system. The new hardware expands video capabilities for HamTV and supports the use of a broader range of onboard cameras during future educational contacts. The installation was performed during scheduled maintenance activities by NASA astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW. ARISS reported that the HDMI converter can generate a video test signal when the system is in standby mode, providing a clear visual indication of system readiness and video-path functionality.

The December upgrade builds on HamTV’s return to operation earlier in the year. The HamTV unit was installed aboard the ISS on July 29 by astronaut Jonny Kim, KJ5HKP, after several years offline for repairs. Following installation, ARISS confirmed acquisition of signal reports from amateur stations as the system began transmitting a carrier on 2395 MHz, with continued testing through August confirming stable carrier operation.

Those efforts led to successful video use during an educational contact on October 18 with scouts in the United Kingdom. During that event, Jonny Kim, KJ5HKP, answered student questions while appearing live on station via HamTV. Pre-contact testing included tone and color-bar transmissions, followed by a successful live video downlink from the ISS.

In the days following the December 22 maintenance activity, amateur observers again reported reception of color-bar test signals, confirming proper operation of the updated video chain. On December 23, amateur operator Scott Chapman, K4KDR, reported successful reception of HamTV test video during an ISS pass over North America, documenting decoding of a video test pattern using a one-meter S-band dish.

HamTV uses DVB-S digital amateur television transmitted on 2395 MHz, and reception typically requires a 2.4-GHz-capable antenna, a low-noise amplifier, and a compatible DVB-S receiver or software-defined radio. With the HDMI converter installed and testing completed, ARISS has indicated that further HamTV activity is expected during educational contacts in 2026.

For those interested in receiving HamTV, Scott Chapman, K4KDR, has published a community guide describing one method of decoding and recording HamTV test video using SatDump and VLC Media Player: https://www.qsl.net/k/k4kdr/how-to/HamTV_SatDump_VLC.pdf. Additional technical background, reception reports, and ground-station information are maintained by the British Amateur Television Club (BATC): https://wiki.batc.org.uk/HAMTV_from_the_ISS.

[ANS thanks ARISS, the British Amateur Television Club, and Scott Chapman, K4KDR for the above information]

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CubeSat Developers Workshop 2026 Opens Call for Abstract Submissions

The CubeSat Developers Workshop (CDW) team has opened the call for abstracts for the 2026 workshop, inviting members of the CubeSat and small-satellite community to submit presentations covering mission concepts, technical developments, and operational results.

The CubeSat Developers Workshop is an annual three-day global small-satellite conference hosted at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. The event brings together students, researchers, educators, and industry professionals from around the world to share experience and lessons learned across the CubeSat mission lifecycle. In recent years, the workshop has attracted more than 600 participants representing over 50 countries.

The 2026 workshop will include both oral presentations and poster sessions. Poster sessions provide an interactive forum well suited to early-stage mission concepts, subsystem development, and student projects, while oral presentations focus on more mature missions, flight results, and in-depth technical analyses.

Abstracts are welcomed on topics spanning the full CubeSat mission lifecycle, including mission design, hardware and software development, integration and testing, operations, and on-orbit performance. Submissions that emphasize lessons learned, innovative approaches, or practical operational experience are particularly encouraged.

The CubeSat Developers Workshop 2026 will take place April 14–16, 2026, in San Luis Obispo, California. Abstract submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, January 5, 2026. Participant registration is now open, with early-bird pricing available through February 1, 2026. Professional early-bird registration begins at $200 for a one-day pass or $500 for a three-day pass, while student pricing starts at $125 for one day or $225 for three days.

Additional information on abstract submission, registration, sponsorship, and exhibitor opportunities is available on the workshop website: https://www.cubesatdw.org.

[ANS thanks the CubeSat Developers Workshop for the above information]

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GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers January 2026 Rankings

The January 2026 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: 2026-01-01

1	ND9M	26	KX9X	51	WD5GRW	76	N8RO
2	NJ7H	27	KG5CCI	52	KE0PBR	77	SP5XSD
3	UT1FG	28	DJ8MS	53	XE3DX	78	N6UTC
4	JA9KRO	29	N5BO	54	W7WGC	79	N4UFO
5	N5UC	30	ON4AUC	55	PR8KW	80	VE7PTN
6	F5VMJ	31	K8BL	56	JK2XXK	81	BA8AFK
7	DL6AP	32	KE4AL	57	LU4JVE	82	PT2AP
8	DP0POL	33	KB5FHK	58	EB1AO	83	VE1VOX
9	WI7P	34	AC0RA	59	XE1ET	84	AA8CH
10	K5ZM	35	PA3GAN	60	EA4NF	85	KB2YSI
11	OE3SEU	36	KI0KB	61	N6DNM	86	KI7UXT
12	WY7AA	37	JO2ASQ	62	W8LR	87	AF5CC
13	LU5ILA	38	F4BKV	63	W1AW	88	KJ7NDY
14	N6UA	39	KI7UNJ	64	KI7QEK	89	BI1MHK
15	HA3FOK	40	VA3VGR	65	SM3NRY	90	PT9BM
16	W5PFG	41	VE3HLS	66	KE9AJ	91	FG8OJ
17	AK8CW	42	BG7QIW	67	F4DXV	92	BG5CZD
18	N9IP	43	LA9XGA	68	VE1CWJ	93	YU0W
19	AD0DX	44	HJ5LVR	69	AA5PK	94	PU4CEB
20	AD0HJ	45	VK5DG	70	AD7DB	95	W8MTB
21	N4AKV	46	N7AGF	71	KM4LAO	96	N4DCW
22	DL2GRC	47	DF2ET	72	M1DDD	97	WA9JBQ
23	ND0C	48	K7TAB	73	HB9GWJ	98	PS8BR
24	WD9EWK	49	JL3RNZ	74	VA7LM	99	VE3GOP
25	BA1PK	50	KE0WPA	75	DL4EA	100	JM1CAX

[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information]

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AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available
Yes, These are the Real Thing!

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for January 2, 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]

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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 International Space Station school contacts were completed during this reporting period, as many schools were closed for the holiday break.

+ Upcoming Contacts

No upcoming school contacts are currently scheduled; scheduling will resume once schools return from the holidays.

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 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.

The service module IORS is not currently in APRS configuration and is being used only for voice contacts at this time. HamTV in the Columbus Module is configured for scheduled digital amateur television operations on 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]

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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

None currently scheduled.

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

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

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!

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AMSAT News Service

ANS-341
December 7, 2025

In this edition:

* KSLV-II Mission Deploys 13 Satellites, Including New Amateur Radio Payloads
* ISS Deployment Added Five New Education-Focused Amateur Radio Missions
* ARISS Moves Series 30 SSTV Transmissions to RS-38S After Equipment Issue
* GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers December 2025 Rankings
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 5, 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/

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KSLV-II Mission Deploys 13 Satellites, Including New Amateur Radio Payloads

South Korea recorded another significant achievement in its growing domestic space program with the successful nighttime launch of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II (KSLV-II), also known as Nuri, from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Korea. Liftoff occurred at 16:13 UTC on 26 November 2025 after a brief delay caused by an abnormal pressure-sensor signal in the rocket’s umbilical system. After the anomaly was resolved, Nuri ascended smoothly and became South Korea’s first orbital launch conducted during nighttime operations.

The vehicle performed nominally throughout ascent, completing stage separations on schedule and surpassing the 500 km mark roughly seven minutes after liftoff. Orbit insertion occurred approximately twelve minutes into the flight, followed one minute later by the deployment of CAS500-3, a 500-kilogram scientific satellite designed for highly light-sensitive Earth-observation missions. Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) officials confirmed multiple ground-station contacts with CAS500-3 during its first day on orbit, including passes over the King Sejong Station in Antarctica.

Following the primary payload, Nuri deployed twelve CubeSats, nine of which operate in the amateur UHF bands. Of these, three satellites were fully IARU-coordinated. The twin SNUGLITE-III CubeSats—HANA (436.460 MHz) and DURI (436.788 MHz)—developed by Seoul National University, each carry a 9600-bps GMSK AX.25 digipeater, UHF beacons, and an S-band imaging payload at 2405.000 MHz. These spacecraft support amateur-radio training, GPS-RO technology demonstrations, and formation-flying experiments. The third coordinated payload, SPIRONE (436.650 MHz / 2425.100 MHz) from Sejong University, combines an environmental mission to detect marine plastic with a GMSK beacon and an S-band transponder intended for amateur-radio experimentation.

Six additional CubeSats on the mission also used amateur-band downlinks but were not coordinated through the IARU. These include JACK-003, JACK-004 (both 436.300 MHz), BEE-1000 (436.500 MHz), PERSAT01 (437.125 MHz), K-HERO (437.165 MHz), and INHA-RoSAT (437.665 MHz). While uncoordinated, they remain of interest to amateur-radio satellite observers, particularly during early beacon activity and commissioning efforts as teams work to establish first contact.

This launch also reflects South Korea’s broader strategy of strengthening its commercial aerospace ecosystem. For the first time, primary launch-operation responsibility was handled by Hanwha Aerospace, marking a transition toward greater private-sector involvement in national space access. Despite a two-and-a-half-year gap since the previous Nuri flight, Hanwha and its partners maintained launch readiness and executed the mission successfully—an encouraging sign for Korea’s long-term space-industry development.

KASA plans at least two additional Nuri launches through 2027, with the goal of supporting annual flights thereafter and ultimately developing a next-generation booster capable of heavier payloads and deep-space missions. For the amateur-satellite community worldwide, the KSLV-II program’s demonstrated ability to deploy large numbers of small spacecraft—including coordinated amateur payloads—is a promising development, expanding future rideshare opportunities and adding new signals to monitor across UHF and S-band.

Read the full article at: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10624440 and Libre Space discussion at: https://community.libre.space/t/kslv-2-cas500-3-mission-2025-11-26-16-13-utc/14043

[ANS thanks Kan Hyeong-woo, The Korea Herald, and the Libre Space community, for the above information]

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ISS Deployment Added Five New Education-Focused Amateur Radio Missions

Seven satellites were deployed from the International Space Station on December 2, 2025, with release times spanning 08:10 UTC to 09:50 UTC in three batches using the Voyager Space NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) system. Five of the deployed spacecraft—SilverSat, RHOK-SAT, Content-Cube, EagleSat-2, and Foras Promineo—operate on amateur radio frequencies and represent a broad collection of university, student-led, and educational missions. SatNOGS stations scheduled more than 700 observations during the first 24 hours as the satellites drifted away from the ISS to form their initial orbits, requiring careful Doppler evaluation and coordinated tracking during the early identification phase.

The first release at 08:10 UTC deployed the 6U DUPLEX satellite, which does not carry an amateur-radio payload. A second deployment window at 08:20 UTC released four 1U spacecraft: SilverSat, RHOK-SAT, Content-Cube, and CU-Alpha. Of these, CU-Alpha operates outside the amateur bands using LoRa at 915 MHz. The final release at 09:50 UTC deployed the two 3U amateur missions, EagleSat-2 and Foras Promineo, completing the NRCSD-29 sequence.

SilverSat, a 1U open-source CubeSat designed to inspire student interest in space science and engineering, was the first amateur satellite from NRCSD-29 to be positively heard on orbit. The spacecraft automatically relays images and telemetry to its ground network, which posts them to social-media platforms whenever a pass is received. European stations reported early carrier traces shortly after deployment, and the first confirmed CW beacon—sent at 16 WPM under the callsign “WP2XGW”—was received at approximately 14:46 UTC. SilverSat uses a UHF turnstile antenna oriented perpendicular to its magnetically stabilized axis, producing LHCP reception for most northern observers.

The 08:20 UTC deployment batch also included RHOK-SAT, Content-Cube, and a 1U CubeSat from Cornell University carrying a brief-duration light-sail experiment designed by students at the Space Systems Design Studio. The sail will be released during a later activation sequence following the CubeSat’s deployment and carries several ChipSat flight computers intended to transmit LoRa telemetry in the 70 cm amateur band during a short operational period. Because the timing of the sail’s release depends on mission conditions, additional details about the project and its ChipSat technology are available at alphacubesat.cornell.edu. Telemetry downlinks for this group include 435.425 MHz for RHOK-SAT (9600 FSK), 437.020 MHz for Content-Cube (9600 GMSK), and 437.400 MHz for the ChipSats, which may remain active only for hours to a few days before re-entry.

The two 3U satellites, EagleSat-2 and Foras Promineo, completed the deployments at 09:50 UTC. EagleSat-2, developed by undergraduate students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, carries two scientific experiments: the Cosmic Ray Payload, designed to track high-energy particle interactions across three observation phases, and the Memory Degradation Experiment, which compares radiation-induced error rates in several CMOS memory technologies. EagleSat-2 transmits on 437.165 MHz using 19k2 2-GFSK. Foras Promineo supports a public-outreach mission based on an interactive robotic-arm game that operates autonomously or under real-time command during ground passes, transmitting LoRa telemetry on 437.400 MHz.

As of the first day of operations, SatNOGS contributors reported active tracking of all five amateur satellites using preliminary TLEs derived from ISS deployment vectors. With the objects initially clustered closely together, early identification required coordinated Doppler measurements and community-supported observation campaigns. As tracking continues to refine and the satellites separate further, operators can expect more reliable beacon reception and additional opportunities for amateur participation as the missions begin their operational phases.

Read the NRCSD29 ISS Satellites Deployment Libre Space discussion at: https://community.libre.space/t/nrcsd29-iss-satellites-deployment-2025-12-02-08-28-utc/14045

[ANS thanks AMSAT-Francophone and the Libre Space community for the above information]

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Only 3 Weeks Left to Get Your Coin!
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
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/

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ARISS Moves Series 30 SSTV Transmissions to RS-38S After Equipment Issue

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has released final scheduling details for the Series 30 Slow-Scan Television retransmission event, which will take place using the RS-38S satellite rather than the ISS. Transmissions are scheduled to begin on 5 December at 00:01 UTC (4 December at 7:01 PM ET) and continue through 13 December at 23:59 UTC. The images will be broadcast from RS-38S, also known as VIZARD-meteo and listed under NORAD 57189, on a downlink of 437.825 MHz with normal Doppler adjustments. Each image will be sent in Robot 36 mode for approximately 36 seconds, followed by a silence period of two to three minutes. Operators may upload their received images to the ARISS SSTV gallery to obtain a new Series 30-1 certificate tailored for the RS-38S event. The satellite can be monitored on amsat.org/status under its VIZARD-meteo entry, and pass-prediction tools are available at amsat.org/pass-prediction for those planning reception attempts.

The RS-38S retransmission provides amateurs an opportunity to receive all 12 Series 30 images after the ISS-based event in November was interrupted by a hardware issue. ARISS announced on 29 November that the RS-38S spacecraft would transmit the same Series 30 imagery during the period of 5–13 December, offering a complete replacement opportunity. This announcement was well received by participants who were unable to capture images during the short ISS transmission window on 12 November. As with previous SSTV events, stations may submit their best frames to the ARISS gallery and request corresponding certificates. The retransmission preserves the commemorative nature of Series 30 while operating entirely independent of ISS hardware. ARISS encourages operators worldwide to monitor its official channels for updates throughout the event period.

The satellite-based activity follows a series of technical difficulties that prevented completion of the original Series 30 event aboard the International Space Station. The ISS transmissions began on 12 November with approximately two hours of successful downlink activity, during which several stations worldwide decoded and uploaded clean images. Soon afterward, SSTV activity on 145.800 MHz FM abruptly stopped, prompting ARISS to acknowledge the outage and begin checking the system status with operations teams on the ground. Crew schedules and limited immediate access to the Service Module hardware initially slowed the troubleshooting process. Operators monitored the downlink throughout the day, but no additional frames were received. ARISS provided real-time updates confirming the outage and advising listeners that further checks were underway.

By 15 November, ARISS reported that the SSTV system had remained offline since the initial interruption and that ongoing solar activity added complexity to assessments of the Service Module equipment. U.S. teams awaited additional information, and only the early decodes from the opening hours of the event appeared in the official SSTV gallery. ARISS thanked operators for their continued patience and reminded them that certificates would still be issued for the initial images. Amateur radio stations worldwide continued to submit signal reports and monitor each ISS pass in hopes of renewed activity. Despite broad interest, no additional transmissions were detected. ARISS stated it would continue providing updates as new information became available.

On 16 November, after three days of analysis, ARISS confirmed that the ISS-based Series 30 event could not continue. The Kenwood D710GA transceiver in the Zvezda Service Module, which supports SSTV operations, appeared to have failed and was taken offline for further review. ARISS reported that the radio functioned normally for approximately two hours before the issue occurred, ending downlink activity for the remainder of the planned 12–20 November window. Operators who received images early in the event were encouraged to upload their frames before the submission deadline to qualify for Series 30 certificates. ARISS emphasized that those certificates would still be honored despite the shortened schedule. No additional transmissions were expected until testing of the affected hardware could be completed.

A follow-on update on 21 November clarified the status of the Service Module radio system. ARISS reported that the faulty Kenwood D710GA had been replaced with the onboard spare Kenwood D710E, which is now supporting scheduled Russian school contacts and required backup communications. Additional in-orbit testing of the original D710GA is planned to determine the cause of the failure and evaluate when APRS or SSTV capabilities might be restored. ARISS also confirmed that the Columbus module radio systems, including the cross-band FM repeater and HamTV equipment, continue to operate normally. Restoration of SSTV service from the ISS will depend on the results of continued hardware assessments. Until those evaluations are complete, ISS-based SSTV remains offline, and the RS-38S retransmission provides the primary means for operators to receive the full Series 30 imagery.

[ANS thanks Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) for the above information]

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GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers December 2025 Rankings

The December 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: 2025-12-02

1	ND9M	26	KX9X	51	KE0PBR	76	SP5XSD
2	NJ7H	27	KG5CCI	52	WD5GRW	77	DL4EA
3	UT1FG	28	DJ8MS	53	XE3DX	78	N6UTC
4	JA9KRO	29	N5BO	54	W7WGC	79	N4UFO
5	N5UC	30	ON4AUC	55	LU4JVE	80	VE7PTN
6	F5VMJ	31	K8BL	56	JK2XXK	81	PT2AP
7	DL6AP	32	KE4AL	57	PR8KW	82	VE1VOX
8	WI7P	33	KB5FHK	58	EB1AO	83	AA8CH
9	K5ZM	34	AC0RA	59	XE1ET	84	KB2YSI
10	DP0POL	35	PA3GAN	60	EA4NF	85	KI7UXT
11	OE3SEU	36	KI0KB	61	N6DNM	86	AF5CC
12	WY7AA	37	F4BKV	62	W8LR	87	KJ7NDY
13	N6UA	38	KI7UNJ	63	W1AW	88	BI1MHK
14	HA3FOK	39	VA3VGR	64	KI7QEK	89	PT9BM
15	LU5ILA	40	JO2ASQ	65	SM3NRY	90	FG8OJ
16	W5PFG	41	VE3HLS	66	KE9AJ	91	YU0W
17	AK8CW	42	BG7QIW	67	F4DXV	92	BG5CZD
18	N9IP	43	HJ5LVR	68	VE1CWJ	93	PU4CEB
19	AD0DX	44	LA9XGA	69	AA5PK	94	W8MTB
20	AD0HJ	45	VK5DG	70	AD7DB	95	N4DCW
21	DL2GRC	46	N7AGF	71	KM4LAO	96	WA9JBQ
22	N4AKV	47	K7TAB	72	M1DDD	97	BA8AFK
23	ND0C	48	DF2ET	73	HB9GWJ	98	VE3GOP
24	WD9EWK	49	JL3RNZ	74	VA7LM	99	JM1CAX
25	BA1PK	50	KE0WPA	75	N8RO	100	PS8BR

[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information]

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AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available
Yes, These are the Real Thing!

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for December 5, 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 satellites have been added to this week’s AMSAT TLE Bulletin:
SPIRONE NORAD Cat ID 66657
K-HERO NORAD Cat ID 66660

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

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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

Istituto Di Istruzione Superiore “Il Tagliamento” Di Spilimbergo / Istituto Comprensivo “G. Mazzini”, Spilimbergo, Italy, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Zena Cardman KJ5CMN
The ARISS mentors were IZ2GOJ and IKØWGF
Contact was successful: Fri 2025-11-28 11:40:17 UTC
Congratulations to the Istituto Di Istruzione Superiore “Il Tagliamento” Di Spilimbergo (Pn) and Istituto Comprensivo “G. Mazzini” students, Zena, mentors IZ2GOJ and IKØWGF, and telebridge via IK1SLD!
Watch the Livestream at https://www.ariotti.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/live/MgG7kcYvxWM

Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, Moscow, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Fri 2025-12-05 11:00 UTC
Congratulations to the students of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and mentor RV3DR on a successful contact!

Lincoln Magnet School, Springfield, Illinois, direct via K9OK
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Jonathan (Jonny) Kim KJ5HKP
The ARISS mentor was AJ9N
Contact was successful: Fri 2025-12-05 15:29:41 UTC
Congratulations to the students of Lincoln Magnet School, Jonathan (Jonny) Kim KJ5HKP, and mentor AJ9N on a successful contact!

+ Upcoming Contacts

None currently scheduled

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 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.

The service module IORS is not currently in APRS configuration and is being used only for voice contacts at this time. HamTV in the Columbus Module is configured for scheduled digital amateur television operations on 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.]

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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

None currently scheduled.

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

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

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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!

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