Mark Johns

AMSAT News Service

ANS-137 May 17, 2026

In this edition:

* AMSAT “Radio Adventure” at Hamvention
* VUCC Satellite Standing May 2026
* DXCC Satellite Standing May 2026
* AMSAT-DL to Highlight QO-100 at Friedrichshafen
* PaperSat: A Satellite Tracking App for the M5Paper S3 Device
* Launching Satellites with Zero Emissions
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* Receiving DATV From the ISS
* 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 “Radio Adventure” at Hamvention

The theme of this year’s Hamvention is “Radio Adventure,” and AMSAT has been highlighting the adventure of satellite communication for visitors to its large exhibit area. Occupying its usual spot in the northwest corner of Building One at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Event Center in Xenia, Ohio, AMSAT Engineering, Education, Youth Outreach, and User Services provided a rich collection of resources and information to visitors.  

Business was brisk at the “Beginner’s Corner” where new hams and hams new to satellites came to have questions answered and to purchase print copies of the book, Getting Started with Amateur Satellites.

The AMSAT Store was active, supplying shirts, caps, CubesatSIMS, frequency charts, and Arrow Antennas to satellite enthusiasts. Many AMSAT members also stopped by to renew their AMSAT memberships for another year, and a few made donations to join the AMSAT President’s Club.

AMSAT Engineering drew crowds to view the prototype of the GolfTee satellite currently in development, as well as to speak to engineering volunteers on hand about the FoxPlus project and to see a prototype of the SDR Gen 2 transponder board.

AMSAT Education drew considerable interest as live demonstrations of both the CubesatSIM and CubesatSIM Lite were underway.

And youngsters were drawn to the BuzzSat exhibit where they enjoyed coloring pages from the BuzzSat “Satellites in Space” Coloring Book and working through “Satellites in Space Help Us Live a Better Life on Earth” Free Online Courses on laptop computers available in the display.

At the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet, Ray Roberge, WA1CYB, a member of AMSAT’s Engineering team, spoke about progress on AMSAT’s SDR Gen2 project, including what it does and where it can be used.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

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

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

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

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

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DXCC Satellite Standing May 2026

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DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for February 05, 2026 to May 01, 2026.
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Callsign	Feb	May
JE2VVN	206	240
VE6LQ*	New	209
DL2GRC	188	201
MI0ILE	200	201
DF2ET	179	200
DG7RO	104	200
S57NML	175	200
PS8ET	178	193
PY2RN	192	193
SA5IKN	184	193
YO3APJ	173	176
RA3S	164	175
EA2AA	167	172
HB9RYZ	169	171
SV8CS	167	171
YO2KHK	165	168
IK0USO	150	167
PE1L	154	163
LA6OP	159	160
DL2QB	139	154
IK5CBE	143	154
IK7FMQ	141	154
G0IIQ	107	150
YO2RR	145	150
LA0FA	133	138
DK3ZL	100	135
EA2BJM	100	129
SV1FJA	New	128
IK6GZM	124	125
SP3QDM	100	119
TF1A	116	117
ON4IQ	New	107
W2RS*	New	106
IW1CAB	New	105
HB9BIN	New	104
I1YDT	100	101
OH3DP	New	101
EA8JF	New	100
EI3DP	New	100
IK6ZDF	New	100
IN3EQZ	New	100
JE3ENP	New	100
JH8FIH	New	100
JN2QCV	New	100
M5JFS	New	100
SV8CKM	New	100

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Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders! 
EA8JF is first DXCC Satellite holder from Canary Island and
IL38 EI3DP is first DXCC Satellite holder from IO51
M5JFS is first DXCC Satellite holder from IO90
SV8CKM is first DXCC Satellite holder from KM08
SV1FJA is first DXCC Satellite holder from KM17
OH3DP is first DXCC Satellite holder from KP10
JH8FIH is first DXCC Satellite holder from QN14

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

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AMSAT-DL to Highlight QO-100 at Friedrichshafen

As part of the “HAM RADIO 2026” event at Friedrichshafen, Germany in June, AMSAT-Deutschland e. V. (AMSAT-DL) cordially invites all QO-100 users and amateur radio satellite enthusiasts to an open community workshop.

Building on the experiences with Qatar OSCAR 100 (QO-100) and current activities in the future geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) environment, the event invites amateurs to discuss together with the community what a future geostationary amateur radio payload could look like. The aim of the workshop is to gather ideas, requirements and perspectives from the user community and place them in a common context.

As a basis for the discussion, AMSAT-DL will present 2-3 concrete mission and payload concepts that reflect different development directions and are deliberately put up for open discussion:

1. “Enhanced QO 100+” (basic) An evolutionary approach that builds on the success of the QO 100: classic bent-pipe narrowband and wideband transponders, an advanced beacon architecture, multi-band downlinks and additional functions such as text and image transmission, e.g. for emergency and disaster communication, Internet of Things, etc.

2. Digital Innovation Lab (extended) A more experimentally oriented concept with extensive digital signal processing on board. The focus is on flexible, software-defined payload architectures (SDR), regenerative processing and a “digital playground” for new modulation and access methods and user experiments. But with the risk of being very software-heavy.

3. “High Frequency Pathfinder” (optional) An explorative approach with beacons and experiments in very high frequency ranges (mm Wave), supplemented by new antenna concepts, propagation and environmental measurements as well as earth and space imaging.

Open workshop

The workshop is designed to be explicitly open.

These concepts are not intended as ready-made solutions, but as a basis for discussion. The aim is to evaluate together with the participants which approaches are particularly interesting, sensible and sustainable for the amateur radio satellite community. Which aspects should be pursued further or in greater depth, but also the risks and dependencies should be addressed.

Both experienced satellite radio operators and anyone interested in the future development of amateur radio satellites, new technical concepts and possible applications are invited to attend.

Thematic focus:

• Experiences and lessons learned from the operation of QO-100
• User requirements and expectations for future GEO amateur radio payloads
• Discussion of the 2-3 future GEO concepts presented
• Possible technical development directions and areas for experimentation
• Role of the amateur radio community in future missions

The workshop thrives on participation, discussion and the exchange of ideas – it is not a frontal lecture, but an interactive format with an open end.

Organizational data:

• Event: futureGEO Community Workshop
• Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
• Start: 16:00 hrs
• Duration: open end
• Venue: HAM RADIO 2026, Friedrichshafen
• Room: (to be announced and can be found in the lecture program)

Registration is not necessary – just come along and bring your ideas, questions and experiences!

[ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information]

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PaperSat: A Satellite Tracking App for the M5Paper S3 Device

Ever out in the field on a sunny day and struggle to view your satellite tracking application on your phone? Want a refrigerator magnet that tracks satellites? PaperSat is now available for the M5Paper S3, a small ESP32-S3 based e-ink device with capacitive touch and built-in battery. PaperSat downloads and caches the complete AMSAT nasabare.txt TLE collection, parses it locally, and lets users select any satellite via a paginated touch menu (10 satellites per page).

PaperSat on the M5Paper S3

Features

• Advanced Polar Az/El Plot: Large high-contrast sky view with elevation rings, azimuth radials (N/S/E/W labeled), live satellite position (filled square when above the horizon), direction-of-travel arrow, and smart pass trajectory. When the satellite is visible it draws the current AOS-to-LOS path; when below the horizon it automatically shows the next upcoming pass path.
• Precise Pass Predictions: The main screen displays the next three passes with UTC AOS → LOS times (including seconds) and peak elevation.
• Live Tracking: Real-time Azimuth and Elevation readout, adaptive screen refresh (15 seconds when the satellite is visible, 60 seconds otherwise for power efficiency – all-day battery life), UTC clock, battery percentage, and TLE freshness indicator.
• Full On-Device Configuration: Touch keyboard entry for 4- or 6-character Maidenhead grid locators (or manual lat/lon), WiFi setup via built-in WiFiManager captive portal, and manual UTC time/date setting.
• Offline-First Design: The entire TLE database is stored in LittleFS flash memory. The device works 100% offline after the initial download and gracefully falls back to cached data. TLEs auto-refresh every 24 hours when WiFi is available, or can be forced manually with the “Update TLEs” button on the Select Sat screen.

PaperSat was “vibe-coded” by Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, utilizing Grok 4.3. The next enhancement, coming soon, will be to switch the source of orbital elements from the soon to be deprecated TLE format to AMSAT’s modern General Perturbations data, likely via JSON. Feedback and suggestions are welcome.

Source code and binary releases are available at https://github.com/prstoetzer/papersat

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

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Launching Satellites With Zero Emissions

Most rockets burn thousands of litres of fuel before they even clear the launch pad. SpinLaunch aims to skip that phase. Using a vacuum sealed centrifuge at Spaceport America, the California based company spins payloads to 8,000 kilometres per hour before releasing them skyward. A small rocket motor handles only the final orbital insertion, bypassing the most fuel intensive part of the journey.

By September 2022, SpinLaunch completed ten successful suborbital tests, carrying hardware for NASA, Airbus, and Cornell University. While the flights themselves are less intense, the company’s lab qualification in Long Beach proved that satellite components could survive 10,000 G of centrifugal force, the exact environment required for a kinetic launch. NASA’s data confirmed the system is compatible with standard satellite hardware, clearing the first major hurdle for the technology.

The Orbital Accelerator will accelerate a launch vehicle containing satellites up to 8,000 kph using a rotating carbon fiber arm within a 100-meter diameter steel vacuum chamber. (Image credit: https://www.spinlaunch.com/)

A conventional rocket’s fuel requirement increases exponentially with its payload. By providing 70% of the initial velocity on the ground, SpinLaunch’s kinetic approach drastically reduces propellant needs. This puts projected launch costs between $1,250 and $2,500 per kilogram, less than half the price point of a SpaceX Falcon 9. Beyond cost, the system produces zero combustion emissions during the acceleration phase and minimizes orbital debris by eliminating expendable booster stages.

The transition from suborbital prototypes to a full orbital accelerator remains the project’s greatest challenge. At orbital speeds, atmospheric drag becomes a violent engineering obstacle. While suborbital tests validated the physics at a smaller scale, the orbital class centrifuge remains in an exploratory phase as of May 2026. The question isn’t whether the centrifuge can spin; it’s whether a vehicle can survive the transition from a vacuum chamber to the thick atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.

[ANS thanks Futura for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.futura-sciences.com/en/no-more-rockets-the-wild-new-tech-launching-satellites-with-zero-emissions_31307/.]

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 15, 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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AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available
Yes, These are the Real Thing!

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Receiving DATV From the ISS

Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS?  Please note that the HamTV system is back on board but awaiting re-installation. Please monitor ARISS-EU or ARISS-ON for the very latest news on the troubleshooting efforts. 

If interested, then go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details.  Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video: http://www.ariss-eu.org/

For assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight.  Contact Kerry at [email protected]

The HamTV webpage:  https://www.amsat-on.be/hamtv-summary/

[ANS thanks ARISS 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.

RECENTLY COMPLETED
Tobe Junior High School, Tobe, Japan, direct via JR5YED
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was 7M3TJZ/ JA1CJP/ MØXTD
Contact was successful: Tue 2026-05-12 09:30:56 UTC 73 degrees maximum elevation
Congratulations to the Tobe Junior High School students, Sophie, mentors 7M3TJZ/ JA1CJP/ MØXTD, and ground station JR5YED!

UPCOMING
“Memorial Complex of Soviet Pilot-Cosmonaut A.G. Nikolaev”, Chuvashia, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Mon 2026-05-18 17:25 UTC

N.I. Lobachevsky Lyceum and School No. 132, Kazan, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Wed 2026-05-20 15:50 UTC

Pedagogical Lyceum of Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University, Blagoveshchensk, 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 Thu 2026-05-21 08:50 UTC

Colegio San Lucas, Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is VE6JBJ
Contact is go for: Thu 2026-05-21 14:57:34 UTC 41 degrees maximum elevation

POIC at Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Chris Williams, KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is KI5SDP
Contact is go for: Fri 2026-05-22 15:46:38 UTC 55 degrees maximum elevation

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.

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

ARISS is still in the process of troubleshooting and testing the APRS system. It is currently active on 145.825 MHz up & down.

Ham TV is currently transmitting a test signal at 2395.00 MHz.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. Powering down in support of payloads operations:
Power Down – 2026/133 (May 13) at 12:10:00 UTC
Power Up – 2026/140 (May 20) at 14:55:00 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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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!

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AMSAT 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.

May 15-17, 2026
Dayton Hamvention
Greene County Fair and Expo Center
210 Fairground Road
Xenia 45385
https://hamvention.org/

October 8-11, 2026 44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting
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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Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ We are sorry that the M2 Leo Pack antennas are not currently available from the AMSAT Store. They are on back order with M2 and there is no estimated date for resumption of filling orders. Please watch the AMSAT online store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/. When available, they will be back in stock in the store. (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Board member and manager of the AMSAT Store.)

+ NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover got a rock stuck to the drill on the end of its robotic arm and, after waving the arm and running the drill a few times, finally detached the rock. On April 25, 2026 Curiosity drilled a sample from a rock nicknamed “Atacama,” which is an estimated 1.5 feet in diameter at its base, 6 inches thick and weighs roughly 28.6 pounds (13 kilograms). When the rover retracted its arm, the entire rock lifted out of the ground, suspended by the fixed sleeve that surrounds the rotating drill bit. Drilling has fractured or separated the upper layers of rocks in the past, but a rock has never remained attached to the drill sleeve. The team initially tried vibrating the drill to shake off the rock, but saw no change. Then, on April 29, they tried reorienting Curiosity’s robotic arm and vibrating the drill again. Finally, on May 1, Curiosity’s team tried again, tilting the drill more, rotating and vibrating the drill, and spinning the drill bit. The team planned to perform these actions multiple times but the rock came off on the first round, fracturing as it hit the ground. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information.)

+ NASA this week released thousands of pictures captured during last month’s Artemis II mission around the moon. You can find them all at https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/Collections/Artemis/Artemis2/. (ANS thanks Engadget.com and NASA for the above information.)

+ Russian company Bureau 1440 has brought into low orbit the first 16 broadband internet satellites of the new Rassvet constellation, already dubbed by observers and local media the Russian answer to SpaceX’s Starlink. It’s an ambitious global internet project that experts say could conceal much broader strategic goals, with functions including military and communications control. The launch took place on March 23 at 17:24 UTC from the military’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome using the Soyuz-2.1B launcher, and marked the first step in building an infrastructure that is expected to have at least 300 satellites by 2030. (ANS thanks Wired for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.wired.com/story/meet-rassvet-russias-answer-to-starlink/#intcid=_wired-verso-hp-trending-bktb_107f2a63-5476-4752-bbb4-bd42c943c4f1_cygnus-personalized.)

+ A mission to prevent a $500 million NASA space observatory from meeting a fiery demise just passed a notable prelaunch testing milestone. The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a spacecraft launched in 2004, is at risk of falling back through the atmosphere and burning up without intervention. On May 8, NASA announced that the Link spacecraft, manufactured by Katalyst Space Technologies to intervene before Swift’s fate is sealed, completed its slate of environmental testing at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Swift doesn’t have its own onboard propulsion system and would naturally decay in orbit over time. However, increased solar activity in recent years accelerated the lowering timeline for the observatory, dropping it from about 600 km to 400 km, with anticipated reentry in late 2026 without intervention. That’s why in September 2025, NASA awarded Katalyst a $30 million contract to develop a spacecraft capable of docking with Swift and boosting its orbit. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information. Read the full article at https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/05/08/rescue-mission-for-nasas-500-million-space-telescope-passes-key-testing-milestone/.)

+ SpaceX announced that it is planning a launch of the first Starship version 3 vehicle as soon as May 19 from its Starbase facility in South Texas. Liftoff is planned for 22:30 UTC. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information.)

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM
mjohns [at] amsat.org

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

AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

AMSAT News Service

ANS-123 May 3, 2026

In this edition:

* Reminder: AMSAT at Hamvention
* FO-29 Update
* FCC Approves Limited Emergency Use of 70cm Band by AST SpaceMobile Satellites Outside the U.S.
* Saudi Amateur Radio Society Sponsors Satthon_2
* Request For Collecting CW Data of ARICA-2
* NASA Completes Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
* SpaceX Rocket Debris to Impact The Moon
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* Artemis 2 Moon Astronauts Visit the White House
* 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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Reminder: AMSAT at Hamvention

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 p.m. 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.

Ray Roberge, WA1CYB, will be the speaker at the 17th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet. Roberge, a member of AMSAT’s Engineering team, will speak about progress on AMSAT’s SDR Gen2 project, including what it does and where it can be used.

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 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 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 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. EDT in Forum Room 2.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Hamvention team for the above information.]

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LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

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

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

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The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Here! Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.
Annual memberships start at only $120

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

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FCC Approves Limited Emergency Use of 70cm Band by AST SpaceMobile Satellites Outside the U.S.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted AST SpaceMobile limited authorization when not over the United States to use five 50-kHz channels in the 430–440 MHz secondary amateur band for emergency Telemetry, Tracking, and Control (TT&C) operations for its planned satellite constellation (DA-26-391 Docket No. 25-201). The authorization, granted on April 21, 2026, applies only for communication with five specified earth stations, each located well outside of the United States and for which the foreign administration with jurisdiction also must separately authorize the communications.

More than 2,500 comments were filed during the proceeding including filings from ARRL and other member societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), AMSAT, and individual radio amateurs worldwide.

After considering the filed comments, the FCC narrowed the requested authorization to emergency TT&C only and further provided that:

• Use of these frequencies is permitted only in emergencies when no other spectrum is available
• Each emergency event is limited to no more than 24 hours
• Transmissions are restricted to five specific center frequencies (430.5, 432.3, 434.1, 435.9, and 439.5 MHz), each with no more than 50 kHz bandwidth

In an April 29, 2026 statement, the IARU expressed concern with the FCC’s use of Article 4.4 of the ITU Radio Regulations, which allows administrations to authorize non-standard frequency use under certain conditions. The IARU stated that other frequency bands allocated for satellite TT&C should have been used instead of amateur spectrum and encouraged amateurs to report any interference to their national regulators.

ARRL filed comments (see ARRL News) in July (PDF) and August 2025 (PDF) opposing the application, arguing that:

• The request represented an unprecedented use of secondary amateur spectrum for an unallocated use by a large commercial satellite constellation
• Such operations could cause harmful interference, particularly to amateur satellites in the 435–438 MHz subband
• The FCC should avoid authorizing non-allocated uses that could impact primary allocations for amateur services in other countries

While the FCC ultimately granted the authorization, it imposed the above significant limitations in response to these concerns that reduce the likelihood of interference.

In the U.S., reports of suspected interference to amateur spectrum can be shared with the ARRL Regulatory Information Manager, email [email protected].

ARRL will oppose any similar unallocated uses of spectrum used by amateurs that might cause harmful interference to amateur services and in particular will monitor this situation.

[ANS thanks ARRL News for the above information.]

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Saudi Amateur Radio Society Sponsors Satthon_2

The Saudi Amateur Radio Society, in collaboration with AMSAT-HZ, has announced the launch of the second edition of Satthon_2, as part of its national initiatives specialized in satellite communications. The competition aims to develop national talent in satellite communication technologies through hands-on training in receiving, analyzing, and decoding satellite signals across various formats. It also focuses on empowering university students by bridging academic knowledge with real-world application, while fostering innovation and teamwork skills. The competition will take place from May 8 to 10, 2026, in a team-based format, and includes two categories:

• University Students
• Professionals and Amateur Radio Operators

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners in each category, in addition to participation certificates and volunteer hours. Registration: https://lnkd.in/d2PfhbUh [ANS thanks Samir Khayat, HZ1SK, Saudi Amateur Radio Society, for the above information.]

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

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

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Request For Collecting CW Data of ARICA-2

ARICA-2, a 2U cubesat developed by Sakamoto Laboratory at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, was launched on April 23 by Rocket Lab in New Zealand.

The non-amateur mission goal of ARICA-2 is to demonstrate the real-time alert system of transient astronomical sources, such as gamma-ray bursts, using commercial satellite network services and to collect the images of the earth, and hopefully, aurora with a camera utilizing machine learning capability.

The amateur mission is to provide a “store and forward” capability using a 4k8 GMSK in AX25 format transceiver for communication among amateurs. The alert and housekeeping data are also broadcast through the amateur CW transmitter.

ARICA-2 is operating very stably, with no issues in its batteries or onboard equipment. Thanks to reception reports from amateurs worldwide, the Lab has been able to successfully receive CW signals from ARICA-2 every day, as well as GMSK signals triggered by uplinks from the Aoyama Gakuin university’s ground station.

At present, ARICA-2 is still undergoing satellite checkout procedures, and the amateur mission that will allow communication using GMSK has not yet started. Once the timing is appropriate to begin the amateur mission, the ARICA-2 team will announce it through amsat-bb and on X.

Until then, Sakamoto Laboratory would greatly appreciate the continued cooperation of amateurs in receiving the CW data, which contains housekeeping (HK) information from the satellite.

Here is the info about ARICA-2.

1. Preliminary TLE

ARICA-2 1 99999U 27001A 26113.16829861 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0
9999 2 99999 97.5133 263.8390 0010953 206.3608 199.1146 15.08588350 03

2. Frequency: 436.830 MHz (20 wpm CW)

3. The contents of the CW data and transmitting time are described at: https://sakamotolab.phys.aoyama.ac.jp/research/future_space/ARICA-2_en/cw_beacon.
Please also report the received CW data on that page.

Collection of the CW data of ARICA-2 is greatly appreciated!.

[ANS thanks Taka Sakamoto, JA6NWC, Sakamoto Laboratory, for the above information.]

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NASA Completes Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

NASA has completed assembly of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a next-generation observatory designed to map the universe on an unprecedented scale. Engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center are finishing prelaunch testing before the spacecraft is shipped to Kennedy Space Center. Launch preparation is underway with a target as early as September, placing the mission ahead of its original schedule. Once deployed, Roman will operate from a distant orbit approximately one million miles from Earth.

The new telescope is designed to complement existing observatories such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. While those missions focus on detailed observations of individual targets, Roman will conduct wide-field surveys, capturing images with similar resolution across areas roughly 100 times larger. This capability will allow astronomers to transition from isolated observations to large-scale mapping of cosmic structure. The result is expected to provide a broader context for many of the discoveries made by earlier space telescopes.

Artist’s rendering of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. CREDITS: NASA, GSFC

At the core of the mission is an eight-foot primary mirror paired with a powerful infrared imaging system. Roman’s wide field of view allows it to observe large regions of the sky in far fewer pointings than previous telescopes. For example, imaging the Andromeda Galaxy would require hundreds of individual exposures with Hubble but only a handful with Roman. This efficiency makes the observatory particularly well suited for large survey missions and time-domain astronomy.

One of Roman’s primary science goals is to study dark matter and dark energy, which together make up the majority of the universe. By mapping hundreds of millions of galaxies and measuring subtle distortions in their shapes, scientists can trace how invisible mass influences the structure of the cosmos. Observations of Type Ia supernovae will also help refine measurements of cosmic expansion. These combined datasets are expected to improve our understanding of the universe’s evolution and underlying physical laws.

The telescope will also expand the search for exoplanets using gravitational microlensing techniques. By monitoring dense star fields in the Milky Way’s central region, Roman can detect planets that orbit far from their host stars, including free-floating worlds. This approach complements earlier missions that focused on planets closer to their stars. In addition, Roman will test advanced coronagraph technology capable of blocking starlight to directly observe faint planetary companions.

Roman’s wide-field imaging capability will also support time-domain astronomy by repeatedly scanning large areas of the sky. These observations will capture transient events such as supernovae, black hole activity, and other short-lived phenomena. The resulting datasets will serve as a long-term reference for future discoveries, enabling astronomers to compare “before” and “after” views of dynamic regions of space.

Read the full article at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/nasas-incredible-new-telescope-will-offer-an-atlas-of-the-universe/ar-AA21skN5

[ANS thanks Elisha Sauers, Mashable.com and NASA for the above information.]

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SpaceX Rocket Debris to Impact The Moon

Earth’s moon is to be on the receiving end of a spent rocket stage in early August – the leftovers from a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch last year.

Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, named Ghost Riders in the Sky, launched on Jan. 15, 2025 and performed the first fully successful commercial lunar landing on March 2 at the moon’s Mare Crisium. That lander went on to mark the longest commercial operation on the moon to date.

Meanwhile, the Falcon 9’s leftover upper stage, labeled 2025-010D, that lobbed the two private spacecraft into space, is now headed for a run in with the moon. “We’ve been tracking it since launch. The orbit has changed a bit over the last year or so, and is now headed for a lunar impact,” said Bill Gray of Project Pluto.

Project Pluto provides software tools useful for astronomers to identify satellites in their data, and has published a page of data about the Falcon 9 upper stage.

He recalls that NASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission back years ago did something very similar.

“We now have another upper stage due to hit the moon, this one on Aug. 5 and (just barely) on the near side of the moon,” Gray said.

A SpaceX photo of one of the company’s Falcon 9 second stages, taken in 2022. (Image credit: SpaceX)

Gray said he doesn’t expect this particular object to cause any trouble.

“It doesn’t present any danger to anyone,” said Gray, “though it does highlight a certain carelessness about how leftover space hardware is disposed of.”

The chance that rubble kicked up by the impact would hit a moon-circling spacecraft is quite small, said Gray, but he would factor that into any planned maneuvers.

“In a few years, things may be different,” Gray said, given humans tromping about on the lunar surface.

“That raises the stakes considerably. If I were sending an upper stage to high orbit, I would think about where it was going,” said Gray. You might launch an upper stage today, and then years later see a real problem, he said.

[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/a-stray-spacex-rocket-stage-could-slam-into-the-moon-this-august-amateur-astronomer-says]

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 1, 2026

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

The following satellites have been added to this week’s AMSAT TLE Distribution:

MAGNARO-II-Piscis is object 68798 (2026-088G). Frequency: 436.326 MHz.
ARICA 2 is object 68796 (2026-088E). Frequency: 436.830 MHz.
FSI-SAT 2 is object 68792 (2026-088A). Frequency: 437.176 MHz.
WASEDA-SAT-ZERO-II is object 68797 (2026-088F). Frequency: 437.205 MHz.
OrigamiSat 2 is object 68795 (2026-088D). Frequency: 437.506 MHz.

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

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Artemis 2 Moon Astronauts Visit the White House

President Trump invited the Artemis 2 quartet and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to the Oval Office today (April 29), for a livestreamed press event that the White House described as a “greeting.”

“It takes people like this to make our country great,” Trump said of the crew. “We’re very proud of these people. They have unbelievable courage.”

President Donald Trump welcomed the four Artemis 2 astronauts (in blue flight suits) and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (in dark suit, in front of American flag) to the Oval Office on April 29, 2026. (Image credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Artemis 2 launched on April 1 and returned to Earth on April 10. The mission sent Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT, Victor Glover, KI5BKC, Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, KF5LKU, on an epic journey around the moon and back. They were the first people to leave Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972, and they got farther from their home planet than anyone ever has before, breaking the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/trump-invited-the-artemis-2-moon-astronauts-to-the-oval-office-heres-what-happened]

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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.

RECENTLY COMPLETED

Scouts Australia, Victorian Branch, Wodonga Scouts Groups – Wireless Institute of Australia AGM and Technical Expo event 2026, The Albury Wodonga ARC, NSW, Australia and Wireless Institute of Australia, Thurgoona, New South Wales, Australia, telebridge via VK6MJ
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Chris Williams, KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor was VK4KHZ
Contact was successful: Sat 2026-05-02 10:43:04 UTC 73 degrees maximum elevation.

UPCOMING

Universidad Tecnologica Nacional Facultad Regional San Rafael, San Rafael, Argentina, direct via LU9MAB
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: Tue 2026-05-05 14:12:15 UTC 50 degrees maximum elevation.

NANO-Potsdam NANO Wissenschaft begreifen, Potsdam, Germany, telebridge via ZS6JON
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Chris Williams, KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ
Contact is go for: Thu 2026-05-07 14:36:13 UTC 50 degrees maximum elevation.

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; all ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

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

APRS is currently active on 145.825 MHz. Please note that ARISS is still in the process of troubleshooting and testing the Kenwood D710GA radio in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RSØISS. Feel free to check out status reports here.

Ham TV in the Columbus European Laboratory is currently transmitting a test signal at 2395.00 MHz. For more information, visit the ARISS Ham TV Live site here.

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

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AMSAT 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.

May 15-17, 2026
Dayton Hamvention
Greene County Fair and Expo Center
210 Fairground Road Xenia 45385
https://hamvention.org/

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

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

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

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Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ The Iowa State University Campus Amateur Radio Club (WØISU) will be launching a 10 kHz wide non-inverting linear transponder on May 2nd at 1300z on a high altitude balloon. All info for this flight can be found at this website: https://stuorgs.engineering.iastate.edu/carc/balloon-lauch/. The transponder will have a 10m uplink and a 2m downlink. NOTE: There is always a chance that the balloon launch may be cancelled due to weather. The backup launch day will be Sunday, May 3rd. Please see the linked website for updates regarding cancellation of the launch. Please contact me if you have any questions. (ANS thanks Kees Van Oosbree, WØAAE, for the above information.)

+ The hatches are open between the International Space Station and the new Progress 95 cargo spacecraft following the delivery of about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies on Monday. Expedition 74 commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and flight engineer Sergei Mikaev, both from Roscosmos, finalized leak and pressure checks between Progress 95 and the Zvezda service module’s rear port on Tuesday. Afterward, the duo installed air ducts and began unpacking the spacecraft beginning seven months of cargo activities in the resupply ship. (ANS thanks NASA for the above information.)

+ AST SpaceMobile has received the green light to operate satellite-to-phone services in the US, setting the stage for the company to compete against SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile. On April 21, AST secured FCC approval to operate the entirety of its 248-satellite constellation and offer “supplemental coverage from space,” including outside the U.S. (ANS thanks PC Magazine for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.pcmag.com/news/ast-spacemobile-secures-fcc-nod-to-compete-with-starlink-mobile)

+ SpaceX’s most powerful operational rocket, the Falcon Heavy, lifted off Wednesday carrying a massive communications satellite on its 12th flight since 2018. The 27 Merlin engines of the three Falcon boosters roared to life at 1413 UTC and the 70-meter-tall (229.6 ft) rocket thundered away from Launch Complex 39A propelled by 5 million pounds of thrust. Deployment of the satellite came at nearly five hours after liftoff. The upper stage featured an additional thermal protection layer to ensure the fuel, a rocket-grade kerosene, does not freeze during the roughly four-hour coasting phase between the second and third engine ignitions. The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite is the second in the series to be launched onboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket and the third and final member of this constellation. The first satellite, ViaSat-3 Americas, launched on a Falcon Heavy rocket in 2023. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information. Read the full article at https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/04/29/spacex-launches-6-ton-viasat-3-f3-satellite-on-falcon-heavy-rocket/)  

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM
mjohns [at] amsat.org

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

AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

AMSAT News Service

ANS-081 March 22, 2026

In this edition:

* Digital Modes on FO-29 Not Permitted per Licensing Restrictions
* Ten-Koh 2 Satellite With Linear Transponder Update
* Catsat Request for Activation
* SpaceX Plan For 1 Million Centers Poses Dangerous Risk
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* Astronauts Complete Prep For New ISS Solar Array
* 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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Digital Modes on FO-29 Not Permitted per Licensing Restrictions

Fuji-OSCAR 29 (FO-29 / JAS-2), the Japanese amateur radio satellite launched in August 1996, has entered a period of full sunlight, resulting in renewed and more frequent transponder activity. The inverting analog transponder operates with an uplink passband of 145.900–146.000 MHz (LSB) and a downlink of 435.800–435.900 MHz (USB), along with a CW beacon at 435.795 MHz. The satellite’s 1-watt PEP output is shared across the 100 kHz bandwidth, making careful power management essential for all users.

Although the FO-29 linear transponder is technically capable of passing narrowband digital signals such as FT8, FT4, PSK31, or Olivia, such operations are not permitted under the satellite’s original licensing from Japanese authorities. The transponder is explicitly licensed for SSB and CW modes only. This restriction stems from the satellite’s operational permit issued by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), which does not authorize digital emissions on the linear transponder frequencies.

Japanese license information indicating emission modes A1A (CW) and J3E (SSB)
are the only modulations permitted in the linear transponder downlink.

Operators attempting digital modes risk non-compliance with international amateur radio etiquette and could contribute to transponder overload, distortion, or temporary shutdowns—issues exacerbated by the high-duty-cycle nature of many digital signals.

AMSAT urges all users to limit their operations on FO-29 to SSB and CW and to practice good satellite etiquette:

• Use the minimum power necessary to produce a readable downlink signal.
• Ensure your downlink signal strength does not exceed the CW beacon level.
• Monitor the transponder before and during your transmission; if the beacon weakens or the passband becomes noisy, reduce power immediately.
• Keep signals clean and within the passband.

Share the limited resource responsibly so that the maximum number of amateurs worldwide can enjoy FO-29 while it remains active.

With the satellite now enjoying extended full-sunlight operation in 2026, this is an excellent time to explore its capabilities through permitted modes. Experimentation with unauthorized modes is discouraged to preserve the satellite’s health and comply with licensing.

[ANS thanks AMSAT, JARL, and JK2XXK for the above information.]

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LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

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

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

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

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
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CatSat Request for Activation

For those who might be getting ready to try and track the Catsats’ 10 GHz beacon, be advised that it is not always on.

The University of Arizona team has a web page setup to allow requests for activation of either the beacon (10.47 GHz) or linear transponder (C/x 5.663/10.47 GHz). The link is here:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=BVXjXo7rKUmTfWRd9QEyiOQw4K6AJHFOolv4Eb8VNu1UQVdaS1VFS1o3RkJSSVE0T1lKMFdTU0xXWS4u&route=shorturl

Once you have submitted your request, if it’s possible, you can see it scheduled on their calendar page located here:

https://catsat.arizona.edu/calendar

[ANS thanks Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, for the above information.]

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

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

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SpaceX Plan For 1 Million Centers Poses Dangerous Risk

A SpaceX plan for 1 million orbital data centers proposes a massive constellation of sunlit objects that could severely impair ground-based astronomy and increase atmospheric pollution through frequent reentries in the upper atmosphere.

Astronomers warn that these 100-meter-long structures will remain illuminated even at midnight. This constant visibility threatens observations at ground-based observatories, such as the Vera Rubin Observatory and the Extremely Large Telescope currently under construction in Chile.

These orbital data centers, potentially 100 meters long, create persistent light streaks that obstruct astronomical research. Positioned in high-inclination orbits at 500-2,000 km, they remain illuminated by sunlight even at midnight, significantly outshining traditional broadband satellites.

Comparison of Starlink satellite visibility and that of SpaceX’s proposed data center constellation. (Credit: nasaspacenews)

Astronomers have filed formal objections with the FCC regarding the January 30 application. This new constellation poses a challenge unlike any encountered in the commercial space era, undermining years of progress.

Further, this much hardware results in one spacecraft burning up in the atmosphere every three minutes. This mass incineration releases dangerous concentrations of aluminum oxide and lithium, potentially depleting the protective ozone layer and altering global temperatures.

Environmental experts highlight risks, but the FCC’s fast-track approval process bypasses standard environmental reviews, placing the burden of proof on the scientific community to prevent damage.

[ANS thanks nasaspacenews for the above information. Read the full article at https://nasaspacenews.com/2026/03/spacex-plan-for-1-million/.]

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for March 20, 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/.

Ten-Koh 2 has been added under its own NORAD Cat ID 68261

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, 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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Astronauts Complete Prep For New ISS Solar Array

Two NASA astronauts prepared the International Space Station (ISS) for the addition of a new solar array on the first U.S. spacewalk in almost a year.

Expedition 74 crewmates Jessica Meir and Chris Williams, KJ5GEW, ventured outside of the space station’s Quest airlock at 1252 UTC on Wednesday, March 18 to install a mount for an advanced power-producing solar panel. The pair worked on the left (or port) side of the space station’s backbone truss, where they first assembled and then attached the bracket structure that will support an ISS Roll-Out Array (iROSA), to be installed on a future spacewalk.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (at left) and Chris Williams prepare the
International Space Station for the addition a new solar array during
a spacewalk on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Image credit: NASA)

NASA had scheduled for the iROSA kit to be installed during a spacewalk in January, but one of the then-assigned spacewalkers, Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, had an undisclosed medical issue that required the excursion to be canceled and he and his crewmates to return to Earth a month early.

The space station’s original solar arrays have degraded, having exceeded their 15-year service life. When all of them are in place, the new iROSAs will increase the orbiting lab’s electricity supply by 20% to 30%. The additional power on the ISS will help support expanded commercial activities and the upcoming transition from the ISS to commercially operated space stations.

Wednesday’s spacewalk ended at 19:54 UTC, 7 hours and 2 minutes after it began.

[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/astronauts-complete-prep-for-new-iss-solar-array-on-1st-nasa-spacewalk-in-10-months.]

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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.

RECENTLY COMPLETED
Lewis Center for Educational Research, Apple Valley, CA, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was AA6TB
Contact was successful: Thu 2026-03-19 17:15:13 UTC 48 degrees max. elevation
Congratulations to the Lewis Center for Educational Research students, Sophie, mentor AA6TB, and telebridge station IK1SLD!
Watch for Livestream at https://live.ariss.org/

UPCOMING
Vauban, Ecole et Lycée français de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, direct via LX26LV
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is ON6TI
Contact is go for: Wed 2026-03-25 15:47:34 UTC 73 degrees max. elevation

Amur State University, Blagoveshchensk, 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 Thu 2026-03-26 08:50 UTC

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

Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 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 2026-03-27 15:50 UTC

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 2026-03-30 11:55 UTC

POIC at Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Chris Williams KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is KI5SDP
Contact is go for: Fri 2026-03-27 19:05:04 UTC 40 degrees max. elevation

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

The packet system is still in the process of troubleshooting and testing (145.825 MHz up & down).

Ham TV is currently transmitting a test signal at 2395.00 MHz.

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

Supporting Progress vehicle activities:
Powering down March 24 at 08:45 UTC
Powering back up March 24 at 18:30 UTC
*times subject to shift or change.

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

---

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.

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

Interested in becoming an AMSAT Ambassador? 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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Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ SilverSat’s SSDV schedule can be found at http://operations.silversat.org/ssdv (ANS thanks the SilverSat team for the information.)

+ NASA’s Moon rocket returned to the launch pad after repairs inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center. The rocket’s rollout to pad 39B was completed at noon local time on March 20 and sets up a launch attempt for the Artemis 2 mission no earlier than April 1. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above informatin. Read the full article at https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/03/19/live-coverage-nasa-to-roll-its-sls-rocket-back-to-the-launch-pad-ahead-of-planned-april-flight-of-artemis-2/.)

+ Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that the Canadian government is investing $200 million towards Canada’s first launch pad. The site is owned by Maritime Launch Services, a Canadian commercial space company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The funds will be put toward a 10-year lease on the launch pad, located near Canso, N.S., which is expected to finish construction by 2028. (ANS thanks Universe Today for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.universetoday.com/articles/canada-allocates-200-million-towards-the-creation-of-nations-first-spaceport.)

+ The Germany-wide Space Day will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026. AMSAT-DL and the Bochum Observatory will participate with a varied program of interesting short talks and presentations on the topics of space travel, astronomy, STEM education and amateur radio. At the same time, an ESERO family day will take place on this day from 11 am to 5 pm in and around the radome of Bochum Observatory under the motto “Adventure Space”: Fun & interesting facts for young and old await visitors; they can embark on a journey of discovery and immerse themselves in the world of astronomy and space travel. For a complete schedule see https://amsat-dl.org/en/bochum-space-day-march-28-2026-space-day/ (ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.)

+ The JAMSAT Symposium is being held this weekend, March 21-22, at the Japan Museum of the Future Science and Technology in Tokyo. The program began with a hands-on activity for children and continues with technical presentations and demonstrations. (ANS thanks JAMSAT for the above information.)

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM 
mjohns [at] amsat.org

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

AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

AMSAT News Service

ANS-067 — March 8, 2026

In this edition:

* Kairos No. 3 Launch Failure Destroys NUTSAT-3
* Ten-Koh 2 to be Deployed Soon
* GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers March 2026 Rankings
* VUCC Satellite Standing March 2026
* Cambodian Students Blast Off With Satellite Training
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* NASA Reveals Astronaut Who Required Evacuation From ISS
* 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 http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

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

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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Kairos No. 3 Launch Failure Destroys NUTSAT-3

The third time was not the charm for Space One’s Kairos rocket.

Kairos launched for the third time ever on Thursday, March 5, lifting off from Space One’s Spaceport Kii in Wakayama Prefecture at 02:10 UTC (11:10 a.m. local time in Japan). But it was all over about two minutes later.

Space One’s Kairos rocket launches on its third-ever mission on March 4, 2026 from Spaceport Kii.
Space One terminated the flight about two minutes after liftoff. (Image credit: Space One)

“Kairos No. 3 was launched on March 5, 2026, at 11:10:00 a.m., but we determined that mission success was difficult and implemented flight termination measures,” Tokyo-based Space One said via X on Wednesday evening (in Japanese; translation by X).

Among the Kairos No. 3 payloads was NUTSAT-3, a 3U CubeSat created with support from National Formosa University and dedicated to amateur radio service. The satellite, was designed to provide FM voice repeater, APRS, and telemetry services to the global amateur satellite community.

In addition to the amateur radio mission, the NUTSAT-3 project was to have actively engaged students in mission data analysis, RF design performance of satellite radio communications, and community participation by encouraging public engagement through open telemetry data.

[ANS thanks Space.com and The International Amateur Radio Union for the above information. Read the full Space.com story at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/japan-startup-space-one-kairos-third-launch.]

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Annual memberships start at only $120.

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

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Ten-Koh 2 to be Deployed Soon

A Japanese amateur radio satellite, launched to the International Space Station (ISS) last October, will soon be deployed in a higher orbit.

After delivering about 12,000 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, hardware, and other cargo to the ISS for NASA and its international partners, JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s) uncrewed HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft departed the ISS on Friday, March 6. The spacecraft arrived at the space station on Oct. 29, 2025, after launching Oct. 25 on an H3 rocket from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center.

The HTV-X1 spacecraft will boost itself to a 500km circular orbit where it will remain for more than three months acting as a scientific platform for JAXA’s experiments.

After attaining this higher orbit, HTV-X1 will deploy Ten-Koh 2, a 6U cubesat constructed by Nihon University carrying a variety of amateur radio experiments. These will include:

• A linear transponder, developed by JAMSAT, that will operate two days each week (schedule to be announced). Transponder frequencies that have been coordinated with the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) feature an uplink in the range 145.895-145.935 MHz with downlink 435.875-435.915 MHz.
• Digitalker with pre-loaded audio to be transmitted at 435.895 MHz.
• Transmission of pre-loaded digital images created in cooperation with students from the Faculty of Arts, also at 435.895 MHz.
• Demonstration of microwave band communication technology at 5.8 GHz in the microwave band.
• Tests of high-speed data transmission at 38.4 kbps in 4FSK.

Following the deorbit command, HTV-X1 will dispose of several thousand pounds of trash from the ISS during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, where it will burn up harmlessly. However, Ten-Koh 2 is expected to remain in orbit and active for approximately one year to 18 months.

[ANS thanks NASA and IARU for the above information.]

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GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers March 2026 Rankings

The March 2026 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on X (formerly Twitter), have 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.

Gridmaster Top Rovers for March 2026 (Updated: 2026-02-06)

1	ND9M	26	WD9EWK	51	KE0WPA	76	HB9GWJ
2	NJ7H	27	KX9X	52	WD5GRW	77	VA7LM
3	UT1FG	28	KG5CCI	53	KE0PBR	78	DL4EA
4	JA9KRO	29	DJ8MS	54	XE3DX	79	N8RO
5	N5UC	30	N5BO	55	BA8AFK	80	SP5XSD
6	F5VMJ	31	ON4AUC	56	LU4JVE	81	N6UTC
7	DL6AP	32	K8BL	57	W7WGC	82	N4UFO
8	DP0POL	33	KE4AL	58	PR8KW	83	VE7PTN
9	WI7P	34	KB5FHK	59	JK2XXK	84	PT2AP
10	K5ZM	35	AC0RA	60	EA4NF	85	VE1VOX
11	OE3SEU	36	PA3GAN	61	EB1AO	86	AA8CH
12	WY7AA	37	F4BKV	62	XE1ET	87	KB2YSI
13	LU5ILA	38	KI0KB	63	N6DNM	88	KI7UXT
14	N6UA	39	JO2ASQ	64	W8LR	89	AF5CC
15	HA3FOK	40	KI7UNJ	65	W1AW	90	KJ7NDY
16	OH2UDS	41	VA3VGR	66	KI7QEK	91	BI1MHK
17	W5PFG	42	VE3HLS	67	SM3NRY	92	PT9BM
18	AK8CW	43	BG7QIW	68	KE9AJ	93	FG8OJ
19	N9IP	44	LA9XGA	69	F4DXV	94	BG5CZD
20	AD0DX	45	HJ5LVR	70	VE1CWJ	95	YU0W
21	AD0HJ	46	VK5DG	71	AA5PK	96	PU4CEB
22	DL2GRC	47	N7AGF	72	AD7DB	97	W8MTB
23	N4AKV	48	DF2ET	73	PU6JBN	98	N4DCW
24	ND0C	49	K7TAB	74	KM4LAO	99	PS8BR
25	BA1PK	50	JL3RNZ	75	M1DDD	100	WA9JBQ

[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information.]

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VUCC Satellite Standing March 2026

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for February 01, 2026 to February 28, 2026.

Callsign	Feb	Mar
PY2PIM	1200	1250
MI6GTY	1201	1202
JN2QCV	1159	1180
IK1IYU	508	900
WD9EWK(DM43)	779	781
WA3YDZ	353	401
IN3EQZ	268	316
DH0GSU	204	250
IW3SSA	New	217
N6UTC(DM14)	128	150
PT2VM	126	150
LU4FW	New	147
WB9PNU	115	121
WD9EWK(DM13)	116	119
AD7OV	New	100
BI8SSW	New	100
KE5JXC	New	100

Congratulations to the new VUCC Satellite holders.

IW3SSA
LU4FW
AD7OV
BI8SSW
KE5JXC

IW3SSA is first VUCC Satellite holder from JN66
AD7OV is first VUCC Satellite holder from DN50
BI8SSW is first VUCC Satellite holder from OL15
KE5JXC is first VUCC Satellite holder from EL39

No DXCC Standings this month, ARRL hasn’t updated it to March yet.

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

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

25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space
https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear

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Cambodian Students Blast Off With Satellite Training

Although space technology may have not been officially introduced into the Kingdom’s standard curriculum, the topic is taking center stage at the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC), at the 2nd Session of the NPIC SCT Event: QO-100 and LEO Satellite Training, igniting a passion for space communication among students.

The training, from February 26 to March 3, is transforming the campus into a hub of innovation.

Building on their past success of a 12,076-kilometre transmission to Antarctica via the QO-100 satellite, this year’s training elevates the challenge by focusing on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

Students are actively engaged in hands-on learning, constructing and utilizing homemade antenna systems to track these fast-moving satellites across the sky, according to organizers.

International specialists from Japan, France and Australia are providing mentorship, guiding students through the complexities of installing ground stations and communicating with a variety of satellites, including the geostationary QO-100 and LEO satellites like RS-44 and SO-50.

Space and satellite training during the first session at NPIC, held last year. Credit: NPIC and The Phnom Penh Post.

“I wanted to show Cambodian students that space technology is accessible. Watching them successfully track an LEO satellite today proves that our youth are ready for the future,” said Jorge Paulo, a French Marine Electronics and Telecommunications System expert.

Mori Mikio, an amateur radio satellite technician from Japan, emphasized the event’s impact, highlighting how the real success is not just in the technical milestones, but in witnessing the passion of the participants.

“Seeing students successfully track LEO satellites with homemade antennas is a powerful reminder of why this event exists,” he said.

Reth Sengvisoth, one of the organising committee members, shared his satisfaction with their efforts. He said the months of planning and coordination went into bringing this international training to life.

[ANS thanks The Phnom Penh Post for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodian-students-blast-off-with-satellite-training-programme-at-npic.]

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

Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a FoxPlus Satellite
Includes First Class Postage (Sorry – U.S. Addresses Only)
Order Today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain

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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for March 6

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/.

URGENT MESSAGE: From TS Kelso of CelesTrak “[The US Space Force 18th Space Defense Squadron] will run out of 5-digit catalog numbers at 69999 not 99999, which is estimated to occur around 2026‑07‑20 (we’re currently at 68014). At that point, newly cataloged objects will have 6-digit catalog numbers of 100000+ and GP data will not be available for them using the TLE format. CelesTrak developed new formats that removed this limitation (and finally fixed the Y2K problem) in May 2020 and immediately began providing GP data in those formats for software developers. The same limitations apply to the legacy fixed-field SATCAT. Follow @TSKelso on Bluesky for the latest updates, tutorials, and changes as we approach this transition. Spread the word!”

AMSAT is presently alpha testing dissemination of orbital data aka “General Perturbations Data” or “GP Data” in formats that do not have the 5 digit object number limitation and will solicit public help for beta testing in April 2026. Many software packages used by hams already accept at least one of the new formats, and we would like to work through any issues before new satellites arrive without TLE sets. AMSAT will continue to disseminate TLE data for all satellites cataloged below 69999 indefinitely.

NOAA Cat ID 67291 has been renamed “RS95S (QMR-KWT-2)”

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

RSP-03 NORAD Cat ID 65732 Decayed from orbit on or about 16 February 2026
BOTAN NORAD Cat ID 65942 Decayed from orbit on or about 03 March 2026
MO-122 NORAD Cat ID 60209 End of mission, last telemetry 25 August 2025
CEVROSAT1 NORAD Cat ID 66309 End of mission, last telemetry 09 November 2025
CO-57 NORAD Cat ID 27848 End of mission, date unknown
CO-58 NORAD Cat ID 28895 End of mission, date unknown
EO-80 NORAD Cat ID 40032 End of mission, date unknown
FloripaSat 1 NORAD Cat ID 44885 End of mission, date unknown

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

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NASA Reveals Astronaut Who Required Evacuation From ISS

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, Crew-11 pilot and commander of the International Space Station’s (ISS) Expedition 74, has revealed that it was his medical issue that prompted the evacuation of the four Crew-11 astronauts from the space station in January.

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT (Credit: NASA)

The exact nature of his ailment remains undisclosed, but Fincke’s statement clarified that the issue, while not considered an emergency, required “advanced medical imaging not available on the space station.” As a result, Fincke and his crewmates — NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, KJ5CMN, Japanese space agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov — returned to Earth aboard the Crew Dragon “Endeavour” on Jan. 15, about a month earlier than originally planned.

The issue arose on Jan. 7, while Fincke and Cardman were preparing for an upcoming spacewalk. “The agency is monitoring a medical concern with a crew member that arose Wednesday afternoon aboard the orbital complex,” NASA officials said in an emailed statement on Jan. 7, declining to elaborate on the nature of that concern or the astronaut it affected. Then, on Jan. 8, the agency announced that Crew-11 would end early so the issue could be addressed here on Earth.

Crew-11 splashed down aboard Endeavour in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego, on Jan. 15, leaving a skeleton crew of three aboard the ISS.

SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission was originally slated to launch in mid-February, with a typical handover period between them and Crew-11 expected after their arrival in low Earth orbit, allowing the newcomers time to acclimate to microgravity and life aboard the station. Efforts by SpaceX and NASA allowed for an earlier target date of their Falcon 9 launch aboard Crew Dragon “Freedom,” which lifted off Feb. 13 and returned the ISS to its regular crew complement of seven.

[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. See the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/nasa-reveals-the-astronaut-who-required-1st-medical-evacuation-from-the-international-space-station.]

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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.

RECENTLY COMPLETED
Escola Naval (Brazilian Navy Academy), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, direct via PY1AA
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was VE3TBD
Contact was successful: Mon 2026-03-02 12:17:25 UTC 49 degrees maximum elevation
Congratulations to the Escola Naval students, Sophie (her first ever ARISS contact), mentor VE3TBD, and ground station PY1AA!
Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/5mA2OppSV5w?si=EwosjCk9Ckv0qcvs

St Joseph’s Primary School, Bombala, NSW, Australia, telebridge via VK6MJ
The ISS callsign was TBD
The scheduled crewmember was Jack Hathaway, KJ5NIV
The ARISS mentor was VK4KHZ
Contact was successful: Thu 2026-03-05 08:53:18 UTC 32 degrees maximum elevation
Congratulations to the St Joseph’s Primary School students, Jack (his first ever ARISS contact), mentor VK4KHZ, and telebridge VK6MJ!

UPCOMING
TBD

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

Currently running​​​ packet operations at 437.825 MHz. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ In a statement on March 3, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said that its engineers have repaired a badly damaged launch pad at the Baikonur cosmodrome ahead of schedule, averting a potentially longer-term problem for supplying the International Space Station (ISS). The agency said a Progress cargo capsule is now scheduled to blast off to the ISS on March 22. The facility suffered a still unexplained mishap last November during the launch of a Soyuz capsule carrying two Russians and one American to the orbiting station. The pad is the only location where Russia can launch its manned Soyuz capsules, which are a mainstay transport and cargo vehicle for the station. (ANS thanks Radio Free Europe for the above information.)

+ SpaceX launched the 600th Starlink satellite of 2026 during predawn Falcon 9 rocket flight from Cape Canaveral on March 4. The Starlink 10-40 mission added another 29 broadband internet satellites into low Earth orbit. (ANS thanks SpaceflightNow for the above information. See the full article at https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/03/03/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-29-starlink-satellites-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-cape-canaveral-10/.)

+ NASA announced on February 19 that it has reclassified Starliner’s Crew Flight Test (CFT) as a “Type A mishap” — the most serious kind, in the same category as the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia tragedies. CFT launched on June 5, 2024, sending NASA astronauts Suni Williams, KD5PLB, and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) for a planned 10-day stay. Starliner reached the orbiting lab safely. On the way, however, the spacecraft suffered multiple thruster failures and temporarily lost “six degree of freedom” control — the ability to precisely maintain its desired orientation and trajectory. NASA prolonged the orbital stay of Williams and Wilmore multiple times to study Starliner’s thruster issues. In the end, the agency decided to bring the capsule home uncrewed, which occurred on Sept. 6. Williams and Wilmore, meanwhile, stayed aboard the ISS. They came home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in March 2025, having spent about nine months in space instead of the originally planned 10 days. Both have since retired from the agency. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/we-almost-did-have-a-really-terrible-day-nasa-now-says-boeings-1st-starliner-astronaut-flight-was-a-type-a-mishap.)

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

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

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

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

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KØJM
mjohns [at] amsat.org

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