Mitch Ahrenstorff

AMSAT News Service

ANS-200
July 19, 2026

In this edition:

* Voting Now Underway in 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors Election
* U.S. Space Force Satellite Catalog Reaches Six-Digit Numbers
* NASA’s New Horizons Spacecraft Awakens from Record Hibernation
* Scientists Building Massive Deep Synoptic Array in Nevada Desert
* Updated VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings for July 2026
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 17, 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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Voting Now Underway in 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors Election

The nomination period for the 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors Election concluded on June 15, 2026. The following candidates were nominated, and their official candidate statements are available on the AMSAT 2026 Board of Directors Election website.

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

Three seats on the AMSAT Board of Directors are being filled in this year’s election. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board. The candidates receiving the next highest vote totals will be named First Alternate and Second Alternate, respectively. Voting opened on July 15, 2026, and will conclude on September 15, 2026. Election results will be announced no later than September 30, 2026.

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

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

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U.S. Space Force Satellite Catalog Reaches Six-Digit Numbers

The U.S. Space Force’s authoritative satellite catalog entered a new era on July 11, 2026, when newly assigned catalog numbers advanced from the five-digit sequence ending at 69,999 directly to six-digit catalog number 100,000. Space-Track announced the change and advised users to review its Alpha-5 information and frequently asked questions to ensure that Two-Line Element (TLE) and Three-Line Element (3LE) parsers, along with API queries, remain compatible with the expanded numbering system. The milestone marks the beginning of permanent six-digit catalog numbers for newly cataloged space objects.

The milestone was reached with the cataloging of Saramago, also known as Lusíada 3, one of four Portuguese communications satellites developed by LusoSpace. Named in honor of Nobel Prize-winning author José Saramago, the satellite is part of the Lusíada constellation, which uses Automatic Identification System (AIS) and VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) technology to improve maritime safety, vessel tracking, weather reporting, and ocean data services. The transition occurred one day earlier than CelesTrak had predicted.

Although the traditional TLE format has served the satellite community for decades, its fixed-field design was never intended to accommodate six-digit catalog numbers. Space-Track is maintaining compatibility through its Alpha-5 encoding system, while CelesTrak will distribute General Perturbations (GP) data for catalog numbers 100,000 and above using modern formats such as JSON, XML, CSV, and Key-Value Notation (KVN). These newer formats also eliminate the long-standing two-digit year limitation inherited from the legacy TLE format.

CelesTrak began supporting the modern GP formats in May 2020, giving software developers several years to prepare for the eventual transition. AMSAT likewise anticipated the change by introducing GP data distribution through its Orbital Elements service. Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, announced that AMSAT would provide orbital elements in JSON, XML, and KVN formats while continuing to publish traditional TLE bulletins indefinitely for satellites cataloged before the six-digit transition.

For most amateur satellite operators, the change will be largely transparent when tracking existing satellites. However, software that assumes all catalog numbers contain no more than five numeric digits may require updates before it can process newly cataloged spacecraft. Developers and operators of satellite tracking applications, automated ground stations, and custom scripts are encouraged to verify compatibility with Alpha-5 encoded TLEs or one of the newer GP data formats.

While the transition may appear to be a simple numbering change, it represents one of the most significant updates to satellite orbital data distribution in decades. As launch rates continue to increase and the number of tracked satellites and debris objects grows, six-digit catalog numbers and modern orbital data formats will ensure the U.S. Space Force’s authoritative satellite catalog continues to support both the amateur and professional space communities for years to come.

### For More Information

AMSAT General Perturbations data:
https://newark192.amsat.org/gpdata/current/

CelesTrak General Perturbations data formats:
https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/gp-data-formats.php

Space-Track Alpha-5 information and frequently asked questions:
https://www.space-track.org/

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, Dr. T.S. Kelso of CelesTrak, and Space-Track for the above information]

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NASA’s New Horizons Spacecraft Awakens from Record Hibernation

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has awakened from its longest hibernation period ever and resumed active operations as it continues its pioneering exploration of the Kuiper Belt beyond Pluto. Flight controllers confirmed on June 23 that the spacecraft had safely emerged from a 321-day hibernation that began on Aug. 7, 2025. Now approximately 5.9 billion miles (9.5 billion kilometers) from Earth, New Horizons remains healthy and is preparing to return stored science data collected during its dormant period. The spacecraft continues to operate far beyond Pluto as one of humanity’s most distant active planetary science missions.

The successful wake-up demonstrates the remarkable reliability of autonomous spacecraft operations across the vast distances of the outer solar system. Commands directing the spacecraft to awaken were uploaded nearly a year earlier before New Horizons entered hibernation. Because radio signals now require approximately 8 hours and 52 minutes to travel one way between Earth and the spacecraft, confirmation of the wake-up reached mission controllers through NASA’s Deep Space Network station near Madrid, Spain, nearly nine hours after it was transmitted. Such long communication delays require the spacecraft to perform routine operations independently while awaiting instructions from Earth.

Mission teams periodically place New Horizons into hibernation during extended cruise phases to conserve onboard resources and reduce operational demands while continuing valuable scientific observations. During hibernation, operators do not send routine commands or retrieve stored data, but the spacecraft continues collecting measurements using several science instruments. Throughout the 321-day hibernation period, New Horizons transmitted a weekly health-status beacon indicating that all systems were functioning normally. According to Mission Operations Manager Alice Bowman, every weekly status report received during the hibernation period was “green,” confirming the spacecraft remained in excellent health.

With the spacecraft once again fully operational, engineers will first review spacecraft health and safety data before beginning the download of scientific observations collected during hibernation. The Alice ultraviolet spectrograph will soon begin new observations of hydrogen gas in the outer heliosphere, while the Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument, the Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation (PEPSSI), and the Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter continue monitoring the space environment in the distant reaches of the solar system. The mission team is also completing upgrades to ground-system software that will simplify long-term spacecraft operations.

Engineers have also updated the spacecraft’s onboard autonomy software to support operations even farther from the Sun. The improvements account for the gradual decline in electrical power produced by New Horizons’ radioisotope power system and the steadily increasing communications delay as the spacecraft travels deeper into interstellar space. These enhancements will allow the spacecraft to continue conducting scientific observations with minimal intervention from Earth while remaining responsive to changing mission conditions.

Launched in January 2006, New Horizons became the fastest spacecraft ever launched at the time and completed a gravity-assist flyby of Jupiter in 2007 before making humanity’s first close exploration of Pluto in July 2015. The spacecraft later performed the first flyby of a Kuiper Belt object, Arrokoth, on Jan. 1, 2019, and has continued studying the Kuiper Belt, the outer heliosphere, and the space environment beyond the planets. More than two decades after launch, New Horizons continues expanding our understanding of the outer solar system while demonstrating the remarkable capabilities of long-duration deep-space communications and autonomous spacecraft operations.

For more information on NASA’s New Horizons mission, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/new-horizons/

[ANS thanks NASA for the above information]

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Scientists Building Massive Deep Synoptic Array in Nevada Desert

A new radio telescope planned for Nevada could dramatically change how astronomers observe the radio universe. The Deep Synoptic Array (DSA), a project led by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), recently passed its final design review, clearing the way for construction of what researchers describe as the most sensitive radio telescope ever built.

When completed, the array will consist of 1,650 radio dishes spread across an area approximately 12 by 10 miles (20 by 16 kilometers). The telescope is designed to combine the sensitivity normally associated with giant single-dish observatories with the sharp imaging capabilities of large interferometer arrays. Science operations are expected to begin near the end of the decade.

Researchers say the DSA will survey the sky at a pace far beyond existing radio observatories. Current radio telescopes have collectively identified approximately 20 million radio sources, but project scientists estimate the DSA could detect a similar number during its first day of operation. Over the course of its initial survey, the telescope is expected to catalog nearly one billion radio-emitting objects.

Among the telescope’s most ambitious goals is the study of fast radio bursts, pulsars, black holes, and other transient phenomena. The system will continuously monitor large portions of the sky, allowing astronomers to rapidly locate brief events that might otherwise be missed. The telescope is also expected to support follow-up observations of gravitational-wave detections and could discover more than 20,000 previously unknown pulsars.

A key feature of the project is a real-time processing system that developers describe as a “radio camera.” Rather than recording massive quantities of raw data for later analysis, the system will create science-ready radio images as observations are collected. This approach dramatically reduces storage requirements while allowing observations to be shared quickly with researchers around the world.

The Deep Synoptic Array also incorporates several unusual engineering solutions aimed at reducing costs while maintaining performance. Among them is the use of specially modified aluminum cake pans manufactured by the bakeware company Fat Daddio’s as components within the antenna feed system. Combined with room-temperature receivers, GPU-based processing, and a high-speed fiber-optic network, the innovations demonstrate how modern radio astronomy increasingly relies on advances in both computing and manufacturing to explore the universe.

Read the full article at: https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltech-readies-to-build-worlds-most-sensitive-radio-telescope

[ANS thanks Whitney Clavin, Caltech, for the above information]

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Updated VUCC & DXCC Satellite Standings for July 2026

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Changes for June 01, 2026 to July 01, 2026.

Callsign	Previous VUCC Grids	Updated VUCC Grids
DF2ET	1801	1902
DL2GRC	1650	1800
F4BKV	1300	1502
VU2LBW	1000	1111
UW7LL	754	1009
N0GVK	871	899
LU3FCA	684	734
A65BR	701	733
JI5USJ	526	551
SV8CKM	285	417
K5WO	350	365
N8HRZ	343	361
WA8ZID	230	233
KG5IPA	135	201
WB5TX	170	175
M0AQM	New	105
N4ERZ	New	101

Congratulations to MØAQM and N4ERZ on earning their VUCC Satellite Awards! MØAQM is the first VUCC Satellite award holder from Maidenhead grid IO83.

DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Changes for June 01, 2026 to July 01, 2026.

Callsign	Previous DXCC Entities	Updated DXCC Entities
OE9DGV	217	221
DL2GRC	201	203
SP8NR	177	194
I3BUI	180	189
G4GIR	176	185
HB9RYZ	173	175
EA2AA	172	174
F6AOJ	153	162
LA6OP	160	162
IK5CBE	154	160
DL4ZAB	139	159
LA7XK	119	132
K8DP	129	131
I4DOR	113	130
I4MKN	101	130
TF1A	117	119
K8LG	New	116
OH3DP	101	110
SV8CKM	100	109
HB9BIN	104	105
YL2KF	New	100

Congratulations to new DXCC Satellite award holders K8LG and YL2KF!

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

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 17, 2026

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

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

General Perturbations Data Support

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

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

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

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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

Pacific State University, Khabarovsk, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The crewmember was Pyotr Dubrov
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Fri 2026-07-17 09:15 UTC
Congratulations to the Pacific State University students, Pyotr, and ARISS mentor RV3DR!

+ Upcoming Contacts

Planetario de Orizaba, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is VE3TBD
Contact is go for: Thu 2026-07-23 17:07:12 UTC

POIC at Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD
The scheduled crewmember is Williams KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is KI5SDP
Contact is go for: Fri 2026-07-24 17:56:30 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.

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

​HamTV in the Columbus Module (2395.00 MHz) is currently transmitting a test signal. The color bar test generator portion of the system is experiencing technical issues, and troubleshooting is underway. For more information, visit the ARISS Ham TV Live site at https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/.

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

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

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

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

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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

44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting – October 8 thru 11, 2026
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/

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-179
June 28, 2026

In this edition:

* Classic OSCARLOCATOR Returns as Browser-Based Tracking Simulator
* Katalyst Launches Spacecraft to Rescue NASA’s Swift Observatory
* Rocket Lab Launches Spacecraft for Space Force Orbital Exercise
* Researchers Propose StormWall System to Reduce Solar Storm Impacts
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 26, 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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Classic OSCARLOCATOR Returns as Browser-Based Tracking Simulator

A new browser-based recreation of the classic OSCARLOCATOR satellite tracking aid is now online and free for all amateurs to use at: https://oscarlocator.n8hm.radio/

The OSCARLOCATOR Web Simulator is the work of AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, and is modeled on his OrbitDeck desktop application. It runs entirely in a web browser on desktop and mobile devices, with no login, installation, or plug-ins required.

For amateurs who came to satellite operating after the era of paper tracking devices, the original OSCARLOCATOR was a circular, azimuthal-equidistant map of one hemisphere paired with a rotating clear overlay. By aligning the overlay to a satellite’s equator crossing, an operator could determine where the spacecraft would appear in the sky and when it would be in range — all without a computer. N8HM’s web version preserves that look and method while adding the convenience of live, on-demand computation.

The simulator renders the familiar polar azimuthal-equidistant map as well as a QTH-centered version, automatically choosing the North or South polar sheet for the operator’s location. It draws the satellite’s ground track with 10-minute time marks, plots a range circle over the operator’s station, and shows the spacecraft’s instantaneous footprint. A live readout reports the sub-satellite point, azimuth and elevation from the station, slant range, and whether the satellite is above the horizon.

Operators can drive the display live in real time, pin an equator crossing to a chosen longitude and step forward minute by minute, or jump directly to the next visible pass over their location. A QTH-centered view places the operator’s station at the center of the map with azimuth bearings and great-circle distance rings — the same geometry used by a physical OSCARLOCATOR card.

A “Next Passes” panel lists the next ten visible passes over the operator’s QTH, with acquisition-of-signal, peak, and loss-of-signal times, pass duration, and maximum elevation and bearing. A single click seeds any listed pass onto the map. A separate reference-orbit table gives equator-crossing times and longitudes suitable for setting a physical OSCARLOCATOR.

The satellite picker is fed from current AMSAT GP (General Perturbations) orbital element data, with a bundled offline snapshot so the tool remains usable if live data cannot be retrieved. The station can be set by Maidenhead grid square, by latitude and longitude, or automatically through the browser’s geolocation. During live tracking the display follows the satellite across the equator, switching between the North and South polar sheets as appropriate.

Position calculations use a from-scratch SGP4/SDP4 propagator validated against the published Vallado reference vectors, with correct deep-space handling so that high-altitude and geosynchronous satellites such as QO-100 are displayed at their true sub-satellite points.

The OSCARLOCATOR Web Simulator is free to use and available online at https://oscarlocator.n8hm.radio. Amateurs new to satellite work may find its visual, hands-on approach a useful way to build intuition for how amateur satellites move and when they can be worked from a given location.

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

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Katalyst Launches Spacecraft to Rescue NASA’s Swift Observatory

Katalyst Space Technologies is preparing to launch its LINK servicing spacecraft aboard Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket no earlier than June 30. The mission will attempt to rendezvous with NASA’s Swift Observatory and raise its orbit, potentially extending the life of the 22-year-old space telescope. The launch is expected to mark one of the first operational attempts to capture and service an unprepared satellite already in orbit.

Swift was launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts, among the most energetic events in the universe. Although the observatory remains scientifically productive, it was built without propulsion capable of maintaining its orbit. Atmospheric drag has gradually reduced Swift’s altitude over the past two decades, and increased solar activity accelerated that decay. NASA determined the spacecraft was at risk of descending too low for safe servicing operations later this year.

To preserve the observatory, NASA selected Katalyst Space Technologies in 2025 to develop a rapid-response rescue mission. The company designed and built the LINK servicing spacecraft in less than one year, an unusually short schedule for a mission of its complexity. LINK carries electric propulsion and a robotic capture system designed to attach itself to satellites that were never intended to be serviced in orbit.

Following launch, LINK will enter orbit and begin initial spacecraft checkout and commissioning activities. In the coming weeks, the spacecraft is expected to perform a series of orbital maneuvers to match Swift’s orbit before attempting a close approach. Once in position, three robotic arms will be used to capture the observatory and establish a secure mechanical connection.

The mission is expected to mark the final flight of Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL launch vehicle. First flown in 1990, Pegasus pioneered commercial air-launched access to space and completed dozens of missions during its 36-year career. The launch will utilize the last Pegasus XL rocket remaining in inventory and will be conducted from the L-1011 carrier aircraft Stargazer, believed to be the last operational Lockheed TriStar aircraft still flying.

If successful, the Swift rescue mission could establish a new model for extending the lives of aging spacecraft. Beyond preserving a valuable scientific observatory, the mission will demonstrate technologies that may one day allow commercial operators and government agencies to service satellites rather than replacing them. The mission is being closely watched as a potential milestone in the growing field of commercial on-orbit satellite servicing.

Read the full article at: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/06/a-bold-satellite-rescue-mission-came-together-in-record-time-but-will-it-work/

[ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, for the above information]

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Rocket Lab Launches Spacecraft for Space Force Orbital Exercise

Rocket Lab successfully launched a spacecraft for the U.S. Space Force’s Victus Haze mission on June 19, lifting off aboard an Electron rocket from the company’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The spacecraft, known as Victus Haze Puma, was placed into a sun-synchronous orbit and will participate in a military demonstration designed to test rapid response capabilities and on-orbit spacecraft operations.

Victus Haze is the fourth mission conducted under the Space Force’s Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program. The initiative seeks to demonstrate how commercial launch providers and spacecraft manufacturers can rapidly deploy satellites when needed. Unlike earlier demonstrations that focused primarily on launch readiness, Victus Haze expands the concept by evaluating spacecraft operations after reaching orbit.

Following launch, the Puma spacecraft entered a commissioning phase before beginning rendezvous and proximity operations with another spacecraft already in orbit. The mission will pair Rocket Lab’s vehicle with True Anomaly’s Jackal-004 spacecraft, which launched in May aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission. During the exercise, the spacecraft will perform a variety of maneuvers intended to demonstrate space domain awareness and the ability to characterize nearby objects in orbit.

The mission also showcased the responsiveness of Rocket Lab’s launch system. After receiving a formal launch order from the Space Force, the company launched the Electron rocket within 16 hours and 42 minutes, surpassing the program’s 24-hour launch requirement. Rocket Lab reported that mission planners calculated a final trajectory to a previously undisclosed orbit, updated flight software, and coordinated ground station support within only a few hours of receiving the order.

Victus Haze builds on lessons learned from the Victus Nox mission conducted in 2023. That earlier demonstration proved that commercial providers could rapidly launch a satellite following a short-notice tasking. Victus Haze extends the concept by demonstrating that responsive space operations can continue after launch, including the ability to maneuver spacecraft, inspect nearby objects, and gather information about activities occurring in orbit.

Space Force officials view these capabilities as increasingly important as Earth orbit becomes more crowded and strategically significant. Future military and civil missions may require the rapid deployment of spacecraft to replace damaged satellites, investigate unusual activity, or provide additional sensing capabilities. Through partnerships with commercial companies such as Rocket Lab and True Anomaly, the Victus Haze mission aims to demonstrate that these capabilities can be delivered on operational timelines measured in hours and days rather than months.

Read the full article at: https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-satellite-for-u-s-space-force-victus-haze-responsive-space-exercise/

[ANS thanks Sandra Erwin, SpaceNews, for the above information]

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Researchers Propose StormWall System to Reduce Solar Storm Impacts

Scientists have proposed a new concept called StormWall that could one day help protect satellites, communications systems, and power infrastructure from severe solar storms. The idea, described in a recent paper published in the journal Space Weather, would use a fleet of spacecraft to temporarily strengthen Earth’s natural magnetic defenses when dangerous space weather is approaching.

Earth is normally protected by its magnetosphere, a magnetic field that deflects much of the charged particle radiation emitted by the Sun. During powerful solar eruptions, however, interactions between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field can allow large amounts of energy to enter near-Earth space. These events can disrupt satellite operations, radio communications, navigation systems, and electric power grids.

The proposed StormWall system would deploy six spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit. Each spacecraft would carry stores of material such as barium, lithium, sodium, or calcium. When a major solar storm is detected, the spacecraft would release the material into space, where sunlight would ionize it and create an artificial cloud of plasma.

Researchers believe this plasma cloud could increase the mass density along the sunward boundary of the magnetosphere. Computer simulations suggest that the added material would reduce the efficiency of magnetic reconnection, the process that allows solar storm energy to penetrate Earth’s magnetic shield. By slowing this process, StormWall could lessen the severity of geomagnetic storms reaching Earth.

To evaluate the concept, the research team simulated the effects of the May 2024 “Mother’s Day” geomagnetic storm. Their results indicated that StormWall would not eliminate the storm entirely but could reduce key measures of storm intensity by more than 50 percent. The researchers also concluded that the amount of material required and the launch capabilities needed for the system are within the reach of current technology.

The concept remains a theoretical proposal and no StormWall mission has been approved or funded. Nevertheless, the study represents an unusual approach to space weather mitigation, shifting the focus from forecasting solar storms to actively reducing their impact. As satellite constellations and other orbital infrastructure continue to expand, researchers suggest that large-scale protective systems may become increasingly attractive in the future.

Read the full article at: https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/scientists-propose-spraying-chemicals-into-earths-magnetic-field-to-protect-us-from-powerful-solar-storms

[ANS thanks Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, for the above information]

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

---

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 26, 2026

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

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

General Perturbations Data Support

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

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

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

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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

National STEM Festival, Washington, DC, telebridge via VK6MJ
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Chris Williams, KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor was W4NTR/ KM4YHZ
Contact was successful: Thu 2026-06-25 13:31:42 UTC
Congratulations to the National STEM Festival students, Chris, mentor W4NTR/KM4YHZ, and ground station VK6MJ!

+ Upcoming Contacts

None currently scheduled

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. In support of an upcoming EVA: Power Down June 29 15:15 UTC | Power Up July 1 10:15 UTC

Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RS0ISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/. In support of an upcoming EVA: Power Down June 29 15:20 UTC | Power Up July 1 10:20 UTC

​HamTV in the Columbus Module (2395.00 MHz) is currently transmitting a test signal. The color bar test generator portion of the system is experiencing technical issues, and troubleshooting is underway. For more information, visit the ARISS Ham TV Live site at https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/.

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

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

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

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

---

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

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

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,

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

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

Scheduled Events

Moon Day – July 11, 2026
Frontiers of Flight Museum
6911 Lemmon Avenue
Dallas, TX 75209
https://flightmuseum.com/events/moonday/
N5HYP

44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting – October 8 thru 11, 2026
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/

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-144
May 24, 2026

In this edition:

* OrigamiSat-2 Receives Fuji-OSCAR 126 (FO-126) Designation from AMSAT
* AMSAT Opens Candidate Nominations for 2026 Board of Directors Election
* AMSAT Forum Covers Education, Operations, and Future Satellite Projects
* Bird Chaser Bingo Summer 2026 Adds New Twist to Satellite Operating
* Hamvention 2026 Brings Estimated $35 Million Impact to Xenia Region
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 22, 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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OrigamiSat-2 Receives Fuji-OSCAR 126 (FO-126) Designation from AMSAT

OrigamiSat-2, one of eight satellites launched aboard Rocket Lab’s Kakushin Rising mission for JAXA on April 23, 2026, has now received an official OSCAR designation from AMSAT. Developed by the Institute of Science Tokyo, the satellite has been assigned the designation Fuji-OSCAR 126 (FO-126) following a request submitted through the Japan Amateur Satellite Association (JAMSAT). The announcement came after satellite teams confirmed successful deployment and initial on-orbit operations.

The 3U CubeSat was designed to demonstrate lightweight deployable membrane antenna technology and promote amateur use of the 5.8 GHz band. Mission goals include testing a high-gain deployable reflector array antenna, demonstrating its performance in orbit, and helping establish methods for future advanced satellite systems. OrigamiSat-2 carries both UHF and C-band transmitters and aims to expand amateur radio experimentation beyond traditional VHF and UHF operations.

IARU coordination lists downlinks on 437.505 MHz and 5840.000 MHz. The satellite supports CW and digital modes, including higher-speed data experiments over its 5.8 GHz link. Project information released by the team indicates a desire to openly share reception techniques and operational status with amateur operators, encouraging wider participation in receiving and decoding signals from the spacecraft.

Reports from the satellite team indicate the 5.8 GHz downlink has already been confirmed operational. Amateur satellite observers have expressed interest in monitoring activity from outside Japan as additional operational details become available. OrigamiSat-2 now joins the long-running OSCAR satellite tradition under its new designation, Fuji-OSCAR 126, continuing the international partnership between satellite developers and the amateur radio community.

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT President / OSCAR Number Administrator, and Shiro Sakai, JH4PHW, JAMSAT President, for the above information]

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AMSAT Opens Candidate Nominations for 2026 Board of Directors Election

AMSAT has officially opened the nomination period for its 2026 Board of Directors election, which will take place during the third quarter of the year.

Three director positions are set to expire in 2026. The current board members whose seats are up for election are:

• Mark Hammond, N8MH
• Bruce Paige, KK5DO
• Paul Stoetzer, N8HM

In addition to these three full Director roles, up to two Alternate Directors may also be elected to serve one-year terms.

To nominate a candidate, a written submission is required. Nominations must include the nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, along with the same details for either five AMSAT members in good standing or one Member Society endorsing the candidate.

Nominations should be directed to the AMSAT Secretary:

Douglas Tabor, N6UA
1133 Verlan Way
Cheyenne, WY 82009

Per AMSAT’s bylaws, all nominations must follow the format specified by the Secretary. Doug Tabor has indicated that nominations will be accepted in both hard copy (via postal mail) and digital formats (including email or scanned documents). However, fax submissions are not permitted.

Email nominations should be sent to: dtabor [at] amsat [dot] org

All nomination petitions must be received by the Secretary no later than June 15. After the submission deadline, the Secretary will confirm the eligibility of each candidate and the supporting members or societies, with final notification to candidates provided by the end of June.

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

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AMSAT Forum Covers Education, Operations, and Future Satellite Projects

AMSAT presented its annual Hamvention forum on Saturday afternoon at Dayton Hamvention 2026, providing attendees with updates on educational outreach efforts, satellite operations, ongoing engineering projects, and future spacecraft development. AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, opened the session and noted a packed program schedule covering topics ranging from youth initiatives and CubeSat education tools to next-generation satellite hardware and the GOLF-TEE mission.

AMSAT Vice President for Development Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, highlighted AMSAT’s BuzzSat youth initiative, a community-based outreach program designed to introduce younger audiences to satellites and space technology through accessible educational materials. Rather than focusing initially on amateur radio itself, BuzzSat uses topics such as weather satellites, agriculture, climate monitoring, and space exploration to engage students before introducing amateur radio concepts. The initiative includes a downloadable coloring book and a growing collection of interactive educational courses for middle and high school students.

AMSAT Vice President for Educational Relations Alan Johnston, KU2Y, provided updates on the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator project, a low-cost educational satellite emulator designed for STEM instruction and amateur radio training. The CubeSatSim transmits actual telemetry and can emulate several on-orbit satellites while removing complexities such as Doppler shift and satellite tracking. Johnston demonstrated command and control functions including telemetry mode changes and crossband repeater operation and noted that complete systems, classroom loaner kits, and simplified CubeSatSim Lite versions are now available.

AMSAT Vice President for Operations Mark Hammond, N8MH, reviewed currently active amateur satellites and encouraged operators to use AMSAT’s satellite status resources to determine operational modes and activity. Hammond also promoted the new Students on the Air (StOTA) activity created by Carsten Glasbrenner, KQ4SJM, intended to encourage student participation on amateur satellites. He also discussed renewed development of PACSAT store-and-forward communications payloads, which revisit packet satellite concepts first popularized during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

AMSAT Flight Software Team Lead Burns Fisher, WB1FJ, and AMSAT Engineering Team member Ray Roberge, WA1CYB, outlined several engineering efforts including AMSAT’s Linear Transponder Module (LTM), FoxPlus satellites, and SDR Gen 2 development. The LTM project continues AMSAT partnerships with universities by providing communications hardware in exchange for future amateur radio access after mission completion. SDR Gen 2 development expands microwave capabilities and is designed to support multiple modes while preparing operators for future high-bandwidth satellite communications.

AMSAT Vice President of Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, concluded the session with a status update on the GOLF-TEE mission. Engineering work remains underway using a full system engineering model while a newly arrived metal space frame advances development toward a planned critical design review currently targeted for May 2027. Additional discussion included AMSAT participation in the FutureGEO proposal and announcements regarding the 2026 AMSAT Symposium scheduled for October in Jacksonville, Florida.

The full AMSAT Forum presentation can be viewed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRDAQx-VgCc&t=19341s

[ANS thanks AMSAT and the Dayton Amateur Radio Association for the above information]

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Add AMSAT’s Getting Started With Amateur Satellites to your order.Available for $30 from DX Engineering (free shipping on most orders over $99)
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Bird Chaser Bingo Summer 2026 Adds New Twist to Satellite Operating

A new community challenge called Bird Chaser Bingo Summer 2026 is inviting amateur radio satellite operators to add a playful twist to their on-air activities. Organized by Sean Borgerson, KK7OVF, the event is now underway and invites operators to participate throughout the summer. Operators can participate from anywhere and compete by completing satellite-themed bingo objectives based on contacts, locations, satellites, and operating challenges.

Bird Chaser Bingo draws inspiration from other lighthearted amateur radio satellite activities such as WMPLOTA (Walmart Parking Lots on the Air) and ADØ Squared. Organizers describe it as a friendly competition intended to encourage operating activity and create opportunities for satellite operators to connect while pursuing unusual goals. There are no entry fees, sponsors, or geographic limitations, and participation is open to satellite operators worldwide.

Players receive a bingo card filled with summer-themed operating tasks and satellite-related objectives. Participants can earn a traditional bingo by completing a row, column, or diagonal. Those seeking an additional challenge can attempt a “Full Eclipse,” the event’s term for completing every square on the card. Organizers say a single contact may count for multiple squares if it satisfies more than one requirement, creating opportunities for memorable “one QSO bingo wonder” moments when several conditions align at once.

Operators submitting completed cards will receive recognition, and printable certificates will be emailed for completed bingo achievements. Participants who complete a Full Eclipse card are also expected to receive commemorative QSL cards. Event organizers note that QSL distribution outside the United States may be limited by mailing costs and available resources.

Activity for Bird Chaser Bingo runs from May 15 through August 31, 2026, using UTC dates. Completed card submissions are requested by September 15, 2026. Participants are encouraged to use online tools such as hams.at to identify portable operators and satellite activations. Organizers suggest rovers include notes such as “Bingo Campground” or “Bingo Festival” in activation announcements to help other participants locate qualifying activity.

Bird Chaser Bingo organizers say the event is intended as a relaxed summer operating activity rather than a race. Participants are encouraged to enjoy portable operations, unusual activation locations, and the occasional unexpected contact that checks multiple boxes at once. Organizers also encourage operators to share activation details through online tools and social media to help other participants locate activity. The event runs on the honor system and jokingly warns that any funny business may result in “QRM.”

Additional information, sign-up details, and Bird Chaser Bingo cards are available at: http://borgersons.com

[ANS thanks Sean Borgerson, KK7OVF, and the Bird Chaser Bingo organizers for the above information]

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Hamvention 2026 Brings Estimated $35 Million Impact to Xenia Region

Hamvention 2026 recently concluded in Xenia, Ohio, after once again drawing amateur radio operators and enthusiasts from around the world. Held at the Greene County Fairgrounds since 2017, Hamvention remains the world’s largest gathering devoted to amateur radio. Participants ranged from newcomers entering the hobby to experienced operators, technical experts, and international visitors. The annual event wrapped up on May 17 following three days of activities, exhibits, demonstrations, and presentations.

Local television coverage highlighted the event’s significance beyond the amateur radio community itself. Hamvention spokesperson Michael Kalter, W8CI, said the gathering generates an estimated economic impact of more than $35 million for southwest Ohio. Kalter noted that Xenia has a population of approximately 26,000 residents, while Hamvention attendance rivals and often exceeds that number. Hotels, restaurants, and businesses throughout the region benefit from the annual influx of visitors.

Kalter also emphasized amateur radio’s worldwide reach and continuing growth. He noted that amateur radio operators are licensed in approximately 160 countries around the globe and that the United States alone now has more than 750,000 licensed operators. Hamvention continues serving as a central meeting place where operators can discover new technology, exchange ideas, and connect with the broader amateur radio community. Kalter described the event as a “living, breathing community” rather than simply a trade show.

The television report also included several views of AMSAT activities during Hamvention 2026, including amateur satellite operating demonstrations outside the AMSAT exhibit area. Video coverage showed AMSAT volunteers demonstrating handheld satellite communications and interacting with visitors attending the event. Additional scenes highlighted the AMSAT booth inside the exhibition area, where attendees explored satellite operating equipment, antennas, and educational displays. The demonstrations offered visitors a practical introduction to amateur satellite operations and AMSAT’s continuing outreach efforts at Hamvention.

Beyond technology and equipment, Kalter highlighted the international friendships and cultural connections amateur radio can create. He reflected on opportunities to travel and meet amateur radio operators around the world through the shared interests of communication and experimentation. Organizers also noted continuing growth in interest from both new and experienced operators. Hamvention 2026 concluded after another year celebrating amateur radio’s technical, educational, and global community spirit.

The complete Dayton 24/7 Now report, including the original article and video coverage, is available at: https://dayton247now.com/news/local/worlds-largest-amateur-radio-gathering-returns-to-xenia-bringing-35m-plus-impact

[ANS thanks Jeff Schrock and Dayton 24/7 Now for the above information]

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

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 22, 2026

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

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

General Perturbations Data Support

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

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

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

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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

D.V. Skobeltsyn Research Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, direct via R4UAB
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Mon 2026-05-18 17:27 UTC
Congratulations to the Moscow State University students, Sergey, mentor RV3DR, and ground station R4UAB

N.I. Lobachevsky Lyceum and School No. 132, Kazan, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Wed 2026-05-20 15:50 UTC
Congratulations to the N.I. Lobachevsky Lyceum and School No. 132 students, Sergey, and mentor RV3DR

Pedagogical Lyceum of Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign was RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Andrey Fedyaev
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful: Thu 2026-05-21 08:50 UTC
Congratulations to the Pedagogical Lyceum of Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University students, Andrey, and mentor RV3DR

Colegio San Lucas, Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was VE6JBJ
Contact was successful: Fri 2026-05-22 17:19 UTC
Congratulations to the Colegio San Lucas students, Sophie, mentor VE6JBJ, and ground station ON4ISS

+ Upcoming Contacts

Siksika High School, Siksika, Alberta, Canada telebridge via AB1OC
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is VE6JBJ
Contact is go for: Mon 2026-05-25 17:58 UTC

Minamigaoka Elementary School, Tsu, Japan, direct via JJ2YJC
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Jack Hathaway KJ5NIV
The ARISS mentor is 7M3TJZ/ JA1CJP/ MØXTD
Contact is go for: Thu 2026-05-28 11:22 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. In support of Russian EVA: Power Down May 27 07:45 UTC | Power Up May 28 11:10 UTC

​Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RSØISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/. In support of Russian EVA: Power Down May 27 07:50 UTC | Power Up May 28 11:05 UTC

HamTV in the Columbus Module (2395.00 MHz) is powered down in support of payload operations. The power up is scheduled for May 25 at 13:40 UTC.

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

44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting – October 8 thru 11, 2026
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218

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-116
April 26, 2026

In this edition:

* AMSAT Update from 2026 CubeSat Developers Workshop Available Online
* AMSAT-HB Announces Results of 2026 HB9RG Trophy Distance Competition
* Rocket Lab Launches Eight JAXA Satellites on Kakushin Rising Mission
* KrakenRF Discovery Drive Rotator Campaign Exceeds $314k Funding Goal
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for April 24, 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 Update Presented at 2026 CubeSat Developers Workshop Available Online

An update presented by AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, at the 2026 CubeSat Developers Workshop is now available for viewing on YouTube. The presentation provides an overview of AMSAT’s current satellite development programs and future mission plans, along with its ongoing efforts to support amateur radio in space. The recorded session offers those unable to attend the workshop an opportunity to review AMSAT’s activities within the broader small satellite community.

The CubeSat Developers Workshop, held April 14–16, 2026, at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, is an annual three-day conference focused on small satellite development. Now in its 23rd year, the workshop brings together participants from academia, industry, and government to share knowledge, research, and practical experience in CubeSat missions, with an emphasis on hands-on learning and collaboration.

During his presentation, Glasbrenner provided an overview of AMSAT’s mission as a volunteer, educational organization dedicated to building and operating amateur radio satellites. He noted the organization’s long history dating back to 1969 and highlighted the continued operation of early satellites such as AO-7, which remains functional more than five decades after launch when illuminated by the sun.

Glasbrenner then outlined AMSAT’s current satellite development efforts, focusing on the GOLF-TEE mission, a 3U CubeSat expected to be completed later this year or early next year. The satellite is designed to carry a 30 kHz linear transponder for amateur communications, along with a 10 GHz high-speed experimental downlink and improved three-axis attitude control. He also described the follow-on Fox-Plus series of CubeSats, which incorporate a mix of commercial hardware and AMSAT-developed radio payloads.

Additional work includes AMSAT’s development of linear transponder modules and other payloads designed for integration into university CubeSat missions. These systems allow partner institutions to use the hardware for mission communications while also providing access to amateur radio operators when not in use. Glasbrenner also highlighted educational initiatives such as the CubeSat Simulator and youth outreach programs aimed at expanding student participation in amateur satellite operations.

The full presentation can be viewed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/live/p5GHRMOr8tk

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT President, and the CubeSat Developers Workshop for the above information]

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AMSAT-HB Announces Results of 2026 HB9RG Trophy Distance Competition

AMSAT-HB has released the results of the 2026 HB9RG Trophy Distance competition, held during the first two weeks of March to honor the legacy of Hans Rudolf Lauber, HB9RG, a pioneer in VHF and UHF communications and early satellite experimentation. The event challenges operators to achieve the greatest possible distances using amateur satellites in Earth orbit. Unlike traditional contests, scoring is based on the sum of each participant’s ten longest satellite QSOs rather than the total number of contacts. This format emphasizes technical skill, station optimization, and operating strategy. The results shown in the table reflect the combined distance of those ten longest contacts for each operator. The 2026 competition drew participants from multiple countries across three operating categories.

Category 1, designed for portable handheld stations using whip or telescopic antennas, had a single participant, DF2ET, who achieved a total distance of 8,920.65 kilometers (5,542.43 miles). The operator recorded a maximum single contact of 1,843.41 kilometers (1,145.19 miles) between grid JO31 and KN56. In Category 2, which includes portable and more capable stations, KE9AJ placed first with a total distance of 71,581.90 kilometers (44,472.62 miles), followed by VU3YFD and VA3VGR. The longest single contact in this category measured 7,480.98 kilometers (4,648.52 miles) between KE9AJ in EL99 and F4AZF in JN39 via AO-7. KE9AJ also recorded the highest average distance at 7,158 kilometers (4,447.30 miles). Category 2 drew ten participants from seven countries.

Category	Rank	Call	Distance (kilometers)	Distance (miles)
Portable Whip/Telescope	1	DF2ET	8920.65	5542.43
Portable Stations	1	KE9AJ	71581.90	44472.62
	2	VU3YFD	42783.01	26584.98
	3	VA3VGR	39565.91	24584.35
	4	M5JFS	33729.30	20957.59
	5	ER1KW	24384.47	15152.51
	6	YC8RPK	20475.35	12722.06
	7	YD9IPB	17098.10	10624.07
	8	DG7RO	13330.27	8282.03
	9	DF2ET	11818.67	7343.52
	10	R2SCN	3562.93	2213.98
Fixed Stations	1	PA3GAN	66405.74	41262.68
	2	DL4KCA	38062.50	23650.48
	3	F0GOW	35609.15	22126.03
	4	F6KRK	28737.33	17856.45
	5	F1EFW	28356.55	17619.88

In Category 3 for fixed stations, PA3GAN placed first with a total distance of 66,405.74 kilometers (41,262.68 miles), followed by DL4KCA and F0GOW. The longest single contact reached 7,177.64 kilometers (4,459.41 miles) between PA3GAN in JO21 and KE9AJ in EL99 via AO-7. Five participants from three countries competed in this category. Results demonstrate the performance advantage of fixed stations while still requiring strong operating skill. The category showed consistent long-distance capability across multiple operators. Results highlight that both portable and fixed stations can achieve strong performance when combined with effective operating strategy.

Across all categories, the results highlight the continued importance of linear transponder satellites such as AO-7, FO-29, and RS-44 for long-distance QSOs. These platforms enabled many of the longest contacts recorded during the event. Operators demonstrated strong understanding of satellite passes, polarization effects, and station configuration. The competition also reinforced the value of portable operation in achieving unique grid combinations. Overall participation reflects a technically engaged satellite community. The HB9RG Trophy remains a meaningful tribute to early satellite communication achievements while encouraging continued innovation and participation in amateur satellite operations.

Official 2026 HB9RG Trophy Results: https://www.amsat-hb.org/hb9rg_trophy/hb9rg_trophy_2026/result_2026

[ANS thanks AMSAT-HB for the above information]

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Written by experienced AMSAT satellite operators, Getting Started With Amateur Satellites is a complete guide to working amateur satellites, covering tracking, antennas, radio selection, and step-by-step operation for FM, SSB, and digital modes.

Join or renew your AMSAT membership and download a free PDF copy for a limited time
https://www.amsat.org/membership-specials/

Or purchase the digital download or printed copy from the AMSAT Store
https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-books-and-dvds/

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Rocket Lab Launches Eight JAXA Satellites on Kakushin Rising Mission

Rocket Lab successfully launched eight satellites for Japan late Wednesday night as part of its Kakushin Rising mission, supporting the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program. Liftoff occurred at 11:09 PM EDT Wednesday, April 22 (0309 UTC Thursday, April 23) from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The mission carried a diverse set of small satellites designed to test new technologies and expand capabilities in low Earth orbit. The launch continues Rocket Lab’s steady cadence of dedicated smallsat missions.

The Electron rocket deployed all eight spacecraft into low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 336 miles (540 kilometers). Deployment occurred less than one hour after liftoff, in line with mission expectations. Rocket Lab confirmed successful separation of all payloads shortly after the event. The mission marked the 79th launch of the Electron launch vehicle.

Kakushin Rising represents the second of two contracted launches for JAXA’s technology demonstration program. The first mission, RAISE and Shine, launched in December 2025 and carried the RAISE-4 satellite to orbit. Together, the missions highlight Japan’s continued investment in rapid, cost-effective access to space for experimental payloads. These efforts support the development of new satellite technologies and operational concepts.

The eight satellites on this mission include MAGNARO-II, KOSEN-2R, WASEDA-SAT-ZERO-II, FSI-SAT2, OrigamiSat-2, ARICA-2, Mono-Nikko, and PRELUDE. The payloads range from educational CubeSats to advanced technology demonstrators, including systems for remote sensing, communications, and deployable structures. One satellite features an antenna that can expand to many times its stowed size using origami-inspired techniques. These missions provide valuable on-orbit validation for emerging technologies.

Several of the satellites are IARU-coordinated, including MAGNARO-II, KOSEN-2R, WASEDA-SAT-ZERO-II, and ARICA-2, with amateur radio downlinks in the VHF and UHF bands. Early reports from the SatNOGS network indicate that multiple satellites are already transmitting, with CW beacon signals received from MAGNARO-II, ARICA-2, WASEDA-SAT-ZERO-II, FSI-SAT2, and OrigamiSat-2 within hours of launch. These initial receptions confirm successful early operations and provide immediate opportunities for amateur radio operators to monitor and decode signals.

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, a 59 foot tall (18 meters) launch vehicle, is designed to provide responsive and dedicated access to space for small payloads. The company continues to support commercial, government, and research missions with frequent launches. Rocket Lab also operates a suborbital variant known as HASTE for hypersonic testing applications. The Kakushin Rising mission further demonstrates the growing role of small launch providers in enabling international space missions.

Read the full Space.com article at: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/rocket-lab-launch-eight-japanese-satellites-kakushin-rising-mission

Follow satellite observations and tracking reports for the Kakushin Rising mission on the Libre Space Community: https://community.libre.space/t/kakushin-rising-mission-jaxa-rideshare-electron-2026-04-23-03-09-utc/14593

[ANS thanks Mike Wall, Space.com and the IARU for the above information]

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KrakenRF Discovery Drive Rotator Campaign Exceeds $314k Funding Goal

KrakenRF’s Discovery Drive motorized azimuth/elevation antenna rotator crowdfunding campaign has concluded successfully on Crowd Supply. The project raised $334,282, exceeding its $314,550 goal and reaching 106 percent funding with support from 254 backers.

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 supports a range of satellite operations, including polar-orbiting weather satellites such as METEOR-M2, MetOp, and FengYun, as well as CubeSat and amateur radio satellite tracking. KrakenRF also highlighted additional experimental applications, including hydrogen line radio astronomy using compatible dish systems and software such as Stellarium.

During the campaign, KrakenRF shared multiple updates detailing development progress, software compatibility, and community testing, including video demonstrations of the system tracking weather satellites and operating with directional antennas such as handheld Yagis.

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, while a browser-based web interface provides direct manual control and system configuration.

Following the conclusion of the campaign, Discovery Drive is available for pre-order through Crowd Supply at a post-campaign price of $799. KrakenRF has indicated a manufacturing timeline of approximately two months, followed by an additional one to two months for fulfillment and delivery.

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

[ANS thanks KrakenRF for the above information]

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

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for April 24, 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

University of Bordeaux (IUT de Bordeaux), GEII department, Gradignan, France, direct via F5KBW
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was F6ICS
Contact was successful: Mon 2026-04-20 08:12:45 UTC
Congratulations to the University of Bordeaux students, Sophie, mentor F6ICS, and ground station F5KBW!
Watch HamTV and Livestream at http://live.ariss.org/hamtv http://live.ariss.org

Diamond Harbour School, Christchurch, New Zealand, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Jack Hathaway KJ5NIV
The ARISS mentor was VK4KHZ
Contact was successful: Mon 2026-04-20 09:51:10 UTC
Congratulations to the Diamond Harbour School students, Jack, mentor VK4KHZ, and telebridge IK1SLD!

ASU Preparatory STEM Academy, Mesa, AZ, direct via WB7TJD
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be NA1ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Chris Williams KJ5GE
The ARISS mentor was K4RGK and KM4YHZ
Contact was successful: Thu 2026-04-23 16:52:04 UTC
Congratulations to the ASU Preparatory STEM Academy students, Chris, and mentors K4RGK and KM4YHZ!
Watch the Livestream at https://live.ariss.org/

+ Upcoming Contacts

None currently scheduled.

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

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

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

​Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign 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

Dayton Hamvention – May 15 thru May 17, 2026
Greene County Fair and Expo Center
120 Fairground Road
Xenia, OH 45385
https://hamvention.org/

44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting – October 8 thru 11, 2026
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218

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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