Mitch Ahrenstorff

AMSAT News Service

ANS-088
March 29, 2026

In this edition:

* AMSAT Announces Full Lineup of Events and Activities for Hamvention 2026
* AMSAT CubeSatSim Lite Available Again for Purchase Through AMSAT Store
* New “Ground Station” Software Streamlines Satellite Tracking and Decoding
* KrakenRF Announces Discovery Drive Az/El Rotator for Satellite Operations
* Artemis II to Deploy International CubeSats into High Earth Orbit
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for March 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 Full Lineup of Events and Activities for Hamvention 2026

The 2026 Dayton Hamvention will be held Friday through Sunday, May 15–17, 2026, at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio. AMSAT will once again have a strong presence throughout the event, including booth activities, social gatherings, and the annual AMSAT Forum.

The 17th annual TAPR/AMSAT Banquet will be held Friday, May 15 at 6:30 PM EDT (18:30 EDT) at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio 45429, located approximately 20 minutes from the Greene County Fairgrounds. This dinner is a highlight of the TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) and AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) activities during Hamvention. The banquet speaker will be announced at a later date.

Tickets are $75 each and may be purchased through the AMSAT store. The deadline to purchase banquet tickets is Monday, May 11 at 17:00 EDT (21:00 UTC). Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth or at the door. There will be no tickets available for pickup at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased online will be maintained on a list, with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on ticket sales by the deadline.

The annual AMSAT “Dinner at Tickets” gathering will take place Thursday, May 14 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT at Tickets Pub & Eatery, 7 W. Main Street, Fairborn, Ohio 45324. Telephone (937) 878-9022. This informal event features no program or speaker, offering an opportunity for conversation and camaraderie. All are welcome, regardless of participation in booth setup or operations. Food may be ordered from the menu, and drinks, including beer, wine, sodas, and iced tea, are available at the bar. No reservations are required.

AMSAT is seeking volunteers to assist at the AMSAT booth, located in Building 1, booths 1007–1010 and 1107–1110. Volunteers are encouraged to contribute as much time as they are able, whether for a few hours or the entire weekend. In 2025, approximately 20 volunteers supported AMSAT’s activities and engagement with attendees.

Those interested in volunteering or requesting additional information may contact Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader, via email at w1eme [at] astrocom.net. Volunteer participation plays an important role in supporting AMSAT’s presence and outreach within the amateur radio community.

The AMSAT Forum will be held Saturday, May 16 from 1:50 PM to 3:10 PM EDT in Forum Room 2.

Additional details, including the banquet speaker announcement, will be provided as they become available.

[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, Executive Vice President for the above information]

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AMSAT CubeSatSim Lite Available Again for Purchase Through AMSAT Store

The AMSAT CubeSatSim Lite, a low-cost, fully assembled satellite simulator, is once again available for purchase through the AMSAT Store. The device is designed to help users learn about satellite communications by transmitting simulated telemetry signals that can be received with common amateur radio equipment.

Operating on the 70 cm amateur band at 434.900 MHz, the CubeSatSim Lite allows users to receive and decode signals using a wide range of radios and software-defined radio (SDR) setups. Digital telemetry and images can be decoded using software such as FoxTelem, APRS decoders, or SSTV applications.

Once powered, the unit immediately begins transmitting simulated telemetry in seven different modes, including FUNcube and a cross-band repeater mode.

The CubeSatSim Lite comes fully assembled and includes:

• Raspberry Pi Zero 2W with preloaded microSD card
• SMA antennas
• USB sound card
• Pi Camera
• USB power cable and power supply

The unit includes a pushbutton and LED indicators for control and status. Users can also connect the CubeSatSim Lite to a network via the built-in Wi-Fi capability of the Raspberry Pi, allowing for configuration changes, mode selection, and further customization.

The CubeSatSim Lite is priced at $150, including shipping to U.S. addresses. Additional information, including documentation and operating details, is available through the CubeSatSim Wiki and README resources.

For more information or to purchase the CubeSatSim Lite, visit:
https://www.amsat.org/product/cubesatsim-lite-complete/

Additional documentation is available at:
https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/wiki/CubeSatSim-Lite
https://cubesatsim.org/download/cubesatsim-lite-readme.pdf

[ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, for the above information]

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New “Ground Station” Software Streamlines Satellite Tracking and Decoding

A new open-source software project called “Ground Station” is gaining attention among amateur satellite operators as a unified platform for tracking, receiving, and decoding satellite signals. The software combines multiple functions typically handled by separate tools into a single system, offering a more streamlined approach to satellite operations.

Tracking programs, SDR control software, recording tools, and decoding utilities are often used together, sometimes requiring manual setup for each pass. “Ground Station” aims to simplify this process by automating the workflow from pass prediction through signal reception and decoding.

At its core, the software provides real-time satellite tracking using orbital data, along with automatic updates of satellite elements. It supports a variety of software-defined radios, allowing users to monitor and record signals from multiple satellites. The system also includes automated antenna rotator control and Doppler correction, helping keep signals centered during a pass.

The platform is capable of scheduling and executing satellite observations automatically, reducing the need for operator intervention. During a pass, it can record IQ or audio data and process common digital modes, including telemetry formats used by many amateur satellites. This is useful for operators interested in telemetry collection, CubeSat monitoring, and general satellite experimentation.

In addition to amateur radio satellites, the software integrates with tools such as SatDump to decode weather satellite transmissions, including NOAA APT and other imaging formats. This expands its usefulness beyond traditional amateur satellites to include weather satellite reception and other downlink services commonly monitored by the amateur community.

“Ground Station” is an early-stage, actively developed open-source project available on GitHub at https://github.com/sgoudelis/ground-station. Users can learn more about the software and access installation instructions there. As development continues, it offers a path toward more fully integrated ground stations, lowering the barrier to entry for satellite reception while providing experienced operators with a flexible new tool to explore.

[ANS thanks RTL-SDR.com, Efstratios Goudelis, and Jacob Seman for the above information]

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KrakenRF Announces Discovery Drive Az/El Rotator for Satellite Operations

KrakenRF has announced its Discovery Drive, a motorized azimuth/elevation antenna rotator now in a crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Supply. As of late March, the project has raised more than $117,000 toward its $314,550 goal, reaching approximately 37 percent of its funding goal with several weeks remaining in the campaign.

Discovery Drive is designed as a turnkey solution for satellite tracking using directional antennas such as dishes and Yagis. The unit arrives fully assembled and weatherproof, eliminating the need for mechanical assembly or custom controller integration. Setup consists of mounting the rotator to a mast or tripod, applying 12 V power, connecting via Wi-Fi or USB, and aligning the system to true north.

The rotator is intended to support a range of satellite operations, including polar-orbiting weather satellites such as METEOR-M2 and MetOp, as well as CubeSat and amateur radio satellite tracking. KrakenRF also highlights additional experimental applications, including hydrogen line radio astronomy using compatible dish systems and software such as Stellarium.

A recent video review from the SaveItForParts YouTube channel demonstrates a prototype unit in operation, including setup with a Discovery Dish and reception of multiple weather satellites. The video also shows use with a handheld Yagi antenna, with future testing of amateur radio satellites anticipated. The review is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7FiVWaXuXE.

Discovery Drive integrates with commonly used satellite tracking software through a rotctl-compatible network interface, allowing automatic control from applications such as SatDump, GPredict, and Look4Sat. It also supports USB serial control using the EasyComm II protocol via Hamlib. A browser-based web interface provides direct manual control and system configuration.

According to published specifications, the unit provides approximately ±1.5 degrees of pointing accuracy, with an azimuth range of ±360 degrees and elevation from 0 to 90 degrees. The system delivers up to 108 lb-in (12.25 N·m) of torque, supporting antennas up to approximately 11 pounds (5 kilograms). During the campaign, Discovery Drive is priced at $699, with a planned increase to at least $799 following the funding period. KrakenRF estimates a manufacturing timeline of approximately two months, followed by one to two months for fulfillment and delivery to backers.

Additional information is available at https://www.crowdsupply.com/krakenrf/discovery-drive.

[ANS thanks RTL-SDR.com, KrakenRF, and SaveItForParts for the above information]

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Artemis II to Deploy International CubeSats into High Earth Orbit

When Artemis II lifts off on NASA’s Space Launch System in early April, four international CubeSats will be carried into space inside the Orion stage adapter. The satellites will be deployed into High Earth Orbit approximately five hours after launch, following separation from the upper stage and the Orion spacecraft.

The CubeSats will ride within a ring-shaped adapter structure that connects NASA’s Orion spacecraft to the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage. After Orion separates and establishes a safe distance, an onboard avionics unit inside the adapter will control deployment, releasing each CubeSat at one-minute intervals. This system ensures the satellites are deployed safely and without interference as the stage continues on its trajectory.

Although Artemis II’s primary objective is to send four astronauts on a crewed lunar flyby, the CubeSats will carry out independent scientific and technology demonstration missions. By flying as secondary payloads, these satellites provide additional research opportunities without affecting the main objectives of the mission.

Participating space agencies include the German Aerospace Center, the Korea Aerospace Administration, the Saudi Space Agency, and Argentina’s National Commission on Space Activities. The four CubeSats are named TACHELES from Germany, K-RadCube from South Korea, Space Weather CubeSat-1 from Saudi Arabia, and ATENEA from Argentina.

Each satellite is designed to carry out a unique mission. Germany’s TACHELES will study the effects of the space environment on electrical components, helping inform future deep-space systems. Other payloads will focus on radiation measurements, space weather monitoring, and validation of new technologies in a High Earth Orbit environment.

NASA officials note that CubeSats offer a relatively low-cost method for testing new technologies, though their small size presents challenges for long-duration missions. The Artemis II CubeSat program highlights the growing role of international cooperation under the Artemis Accords, while expanding access to space and enabling new scientific investigations beyond Earth orbit.

[ANS thanks NASA 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 March 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

Vauban, Ecole et Lycée français de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, direct via LX26LV
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was ON6TI
Contact was successful: Wed 2026-03-25 15:47:34 UTC

Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Andrey Fedyaev
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Thu 2026-03-26 08:50 UTC

MOBU, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Thu 2026-03-26 13:30 UTC

Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Kaliningrad, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sergey Mikaev
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Fri 2026-03-27 15:50 UTC

+ Upcoming Contacts

Aznakaevsky District, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Andrey Fedyaev
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for: Mon 2026-03-30 11:55 UTC

Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys The Langton, Canterbury, United Kingdom, direct via GB4SLS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Jack Hathaway KJ5NIV
The ARISS mentor is MØXTD
Contact is go for: Mon 2026-03-30 13:28:38 UTC
Watch for Livestream at https://live.ariss.org/ AND watch HamTV at https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/

Istituto Comprensivo “Gabriele D’Annunzio” Lanciano, Chieti, Italy, direct via IQ6LN
Istituto Comprensivo “Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi”, Pontedera, Italy, telebridge via IQ6LN
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF
Contact is go for: Wed 2026-04-01 11:55:45 UTC
Watch for Livestream at:
Lanciano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUtvnVa2NBo
Pontedera: http://www.youtube.com/live/KrEtbdTEAfA

Walnut Grove Elementary School, Suwanee, GA, direct via KR4HPC
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Chris Williams KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is K4RGK
Contact is go for: Thu 2026-04-02 15:40:55 UTC
Watch for Livestream at https://youtube.com/live/J1XJHvr4UlU? and/or https://live.ariss.org/

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.

ARISS has announced that SSTV Series 31 is being planned for April 10–14, 2026, on 437.55 MHz (± Doppler shift). Transmissions are expected to use Robot 36 mode with approximately 10 watts of transmit power, operating on a schedule of 36 seconds on and 2 minutes off. The SSTV Series 31 images are expected to include tributes to Cosmonautics Day, the 100th anniversary of liquid-fueled rockets, the inaugural Space Shuttle launch, and SuitSat. Additional details and confirmation of the event schedule are expected as planning continues.

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

​Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RS0ISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. 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

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

Southeastern VHF Society Conference – April 17-19, 2026
Holiday Inn Macon North
3953 River Place Drive
Macon, Georgia 31201
https://svhfs.org/wp/2026-2/
W4FCL

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-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.

---

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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