AMSAT News

AMSAT News Service

ANS-039
February 8, 2026

In this edition:

* FO-29 Approaches Full Sunlight
* Gridmaster Top 100 Rovers for February 2026
* VUCC Satellite Standing February 2026
* DXCC Satellite Standing for February 2026
* SpaceX Grounds its Falcon 9 Rocket
* Declassifying JUMPSEAT: An American Pioneer in Space
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* Kenya to Represent Africa in ARISS Program 2026
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

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

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

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FO-29 Approaches Full Sunlight

Fuji-OSCAR 29 (JAS 2) will soon enter a season of orbits in full sunlight, making it once again available for worldwide use.

JAS-2 was successfully launched on August 17, 1996. It orbits the Earth in a polar orbit at 1300 km altitude in a time of 112 minutes. The inclination is 98°. The transmission power of the beacon is 100 mW, the transponder 1 watt. The linear transponder downlink is from 435.800 MHz – 435.900 MHz (USB, CW), with uplink from 145.900 MHz – 146.00 MHz (LSB, CW). CW beacon frequency is 435.795 MHz.

Fuji-OSCAR 29 (JAS 2) Credit: JAMSAT

Designated as Fuji-OSCAR 29 after achieving orbit, JAS 2 has long been one of the most popular and most useful linear satellites available to amateurs. However, as the satellite approaches 30 years of age, its batteries have long-since failed. It only continues to operate while the sun is illuminating its solar panels.

On March 9, FO-29 will begin orbiting in full sunlight, without periodic eclipses.

In mid-February, the duration of the shadow decreases from about 20 minutes to about 1 minute per day. Therefore, FO-29’s transmitter may suddenly come to life unexpectedly. Amateurs are encouraged to monitor the satellite and to update its activity on the AMSAT OSCAR Satellite Status page, https://www.amsat.org/status/.

Please enjoy using FO-29 while it remains available!

[ANS thanks Akira Kaneko, JA1OGZ, of JAMSAT for the above information.]

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The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Now Available!
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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VUCC Satellite Standing February 2026

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

Call	Jan	Feb
DF2ET	1700	1801
DG7RO	1504	1600
PS8ET	1000	1216
EA2AA	1135	1170
JL1SAM	905	1008
JS1LQI	808	825
PA7RA	534	604
XE2YWH	595	600
HB9BIN	356	460
WO3T	437	450
OH3DP	352	401
IK8YTA	300	332
PU5DDC	254	258
EA4DEI	200	250
XE1R	105	237
G4BWP	200	220
I2OIM	155	206
WB5TX	160	165
W1AW	103	134
PU4FAR	New	100
YB0OSU	New	100

Congratulations to the new VUCC Satellite holders.

PU4FAR
YB0OSU

PU4FAR is first VUCC Satellite holder from GH83

[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, 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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DXCC Satellite Standing for February 2026

DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for January 01, 2026 to February 01, 2026.

Call	Jan	Feb
HB9BZA	196	204
PY2RN	166	192
YO2CMI	185	186
VU2LBW	166	174
ON4AOI	156	167
HB9GWJ	150	154
EA3GP	103	153
LA7XK	118	119
IK8YTA	107	118
K6FW	102	104

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

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SpaceX Grounds its Falcon 9 Rocket

SpaceX has temporarily grounded its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, which is slated to launch four astronauts next week.

A Falcon 9 delivered 25 of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) as planned on Monday (Feb. 2). But, after deploying the payloads, the rocket’s upper stage failed to perform its deorbit burn, which was designed to bring it down for controlled destruction in Earth’s atmosphere.

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo craft lifts off atop SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
to the International Space Station in September, 2025. Credit: NASA+

The Falcon 9 is the world’s busiest rocket by far. It launched a record-breaking 165 times in 2025 and already has 14 liftoffs until its belt this year.

The rocket is incredibly reliable, too. All of last year’s missions were successful, and just a single one — a Starlink launch on March 3 — experienced a significant anomaly.

It’s unclear how long this new launch hiatus will last. But both SpaceX and NASA doubtless hope the issue is resolved soon, for a very high-profile Falcon 9 launch is coming up — that of the Crew-12 astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Crew-12 is scheduled to include NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway, KJ5NIV, and Jessica Meir, as well as French astronaut Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule has been scheduled for launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket on February 11.

[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. See the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-grounds-its-falcon-9-rocket-after-a-problem-with-its-upper-stage-will-the-crew-12-astronaut-mission-be-affected]

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Declassifying JUMPSEAT: An American Pioneer in Space

The director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) recently declassified the existence of JUMPSEAT: the United States’ first-generation, highly elliptical orbit (HEO) signals-collection satellite.

Launched from 1971 to 1987 under mission numbers 7701 to 7708, JUMPSEAT was the product of the United States Air Force’s (USAF) program at the NRO. Developed under a program called “Project EARPOP,” JUMPSEAT offered the U.S. a way of collecting intelligence during unprecedented geopolitical change and Cold War tensions that lasted until the early 1990s.

JUMPSEAT Model_2_1 Credit: NRO

The NRO and USAF, collaborating as a part of NRO’s “Program A,” were tasked with developing a foundational HEO signals collection satellite to bolster the U.S. government’s space intelligence portfolio. Named JUMPSEAT, the new satellite would be capable of operating in a highly ellipical, or Molniya, orbit. [Editor’s Note: These orbits are very similar to those that were used by amateur radio satellites AO-10, AO-13, and AO-40 in the 1980s and -90s.]

Together, the NRO and the USAF launched the first JUMPSEAT mission in 1971 from Vandenberg Air Force Base (now Vandenberg Space Force Base) in California. Once in orbit, JUMPSEAT successfully collected electronic emissions and signals, communication intelligence, and foreign instrumentation intelligence: invaluable information that was downlinked to ground processing facilities within the U.S. From there, the data was provided to the Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, and other national security elements.

Over the decades, JUMPSEAT satellites continued to prove their worth to signals intelligence, finally operating in transponder mode until they were taken out of service in 2006.

[ANS thanks the National Reconnaissance Office for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.nro.gov/news-media-featured-stories/news-media-archive/News-Article/Article/4392223/declassifying-jumpseat-an-american-pioneer-in-space/]

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for February 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/.

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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Kenya to Represent Africa in ARISS Program 2026

Kenya is set to make history in 2026 after being selected to host the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, a global initiative that enables the public to communicate live with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The Kenya Space Agency announced the selection, positioning the country at the heart of an international effort to advance space education and public engagement in science. Kenya is the only African nation chosen for the 2026 ARISS cycle, a milestone expected to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and inspire innovation across the country.

According to the agency, the hosting window will run between July and December 2026. During this period, Kenyan students, professionals and members of the public will take part in live radio sessions with astronauts on the ISS. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive real-time answers about daily life in orbit, scientific research conducted on board and the realities of living and working in space.

The Kenya Space Agency will oversee preparations for the event in collaboration with Pan-African Citizen Science e-Laboratory mentor and agency liaison Harold Safary. Planning efforts will include technical coordination, public outreach and the selection of participants, with an open call to be issued for interested individuals and institutions wishing to take part in the live ISS contacts.

The 2026 ARISS program will offer Kenyans a rare opportunity to speak directly with astronauts aboard the ISS, marking a significant step in the country’s engagement with global space initiatives and space education.

[ANS thanks Satellite Pro Middle East for the above information. Read the full article at https://satelliteprome.com/news/kenya-to-represent-africa-in-iss-ariss-programme-2026/]

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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
School No. 4, Semenov, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia, direct via UB3TBX
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful for Thu 2026-02-05 09:14 UTC
Congratulations to the School No. 4 students, Sergey, mentor RV3DR, and ground station UB3TBX!

FBU Im. I. Kant, Kaliningrad, Russia, direct via R2FDB
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sergey Mikaev
The ARISS mentor was RV3DR
Contact was successful for Thu 2026-02-05 10:49 UTC
Congratulations to the FBU Im. I. Kant students, Sergey, mentor RV3DR, and ground station R2FDB!

Klimop Tongeren, Tongeren-Borgloon, Belgium, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Chris Williams, KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor was ON6TI
Contact was successful for: Thu 2026-02-05 12:21:51 UTC 82 degrees maximum elevation
Congratulations to the Klimop Tongeren students, Chris, mentor ON6TI, and telebridge station ON4ISS!

UPCOMING
Hilltop Elementary, Canfield, OH, telebridge via K6DUE
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Chris Williams, KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is KD8COJ
Contact is go for Mon 2026-02-09 18:44:58 UTC 57 deg
Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/@ARISSlive/videos and https://live.ariss.org/

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

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

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

The packet system (145.825 MHz up & down) was scheduled for repair on February 5.

Ham TV (2395.00 MHz) is configured for scheduled digital amateur television operations.

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.

February 13-15, 2026
Hamcation 2026
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
Colonial Drive
Orlando, Florida
AMSAT will have a table and many items available for purchase
Contact Dave Jordan, AA4KN to volunteer n4csitwo [at] bellsouth.net

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

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

+ In September 2025, AMSAT-DL and the Bochum Observatory jointly organized the “Bochum Space Days 2025” conference in the radome under the 20-metre antenna. The Radom was all about satellite and space research. A varied and informative program was offered, aimed at AMSAT members as well as all space enthusiasts and makers. The presentations are now available on the AMSAT-DL YouTube channel. The language of the presentation is mixed German/English and subtitles can also be optionally activated in the respective translation. Begin at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW384KY6lBo&list=PLbIhjH2wj12GfMJGRwbYPFEjU7ECtjzzO (ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information.)

+ The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite has reached its final destination—nearly one million miles away from Earth toward the sun and has been renamed SOLAR-1. The observatory is expected to begin space weather operations in Spring 2026. Read more at http://bit.ly/4bUIY1K. (ANS thanks NOAA for the above information.)

+ Edge of Space Sciences, a ham radio club in Englewood, Colorado, has been monitoring three amateur radio pico balloons as they continue to circumnavigate the globe. Two balloons were released at HamCon Colorado on October 25, 2025. EOSSP-3 has completed 5 circumnavigations and is currently lost somewhere “up north.” No signal has been heard for 4 days. EOSSP-4 has completed 7 circumnavigations and is currently approaching India. Meanwhile, EOSSP-2, launched September 18, completed its 10th circumnavigation at 19:05 UTC on February 4. The balloons can be tracked on aprs.fi at https://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FEOSSP-2%2Ca%2FEOSSP-4%2Ca%2FEOSSP-3&timerange=259200&tail=86400. More information can be found on the club’s website, www.eoss.org. (ANS thanks ARRL for the above information.)

+ NASA is no longer planning a February launch of the Artemis 2 mission after encountering hydrogen leaks during a fueling test of the Space Launch System. In a statement early Feb. 3, NASA said it completed a wet dress rehearsal for Artemis 2 but determined the vehicle will not be ready to launch during the February window, which closes Feb. 11. Several other issues occurred during the test. A valve in Orion’s hatch pressurization system was accidentally vented during closeout work, requiring additional time to repressurize the system. Unseasonably cold temperatures, which had already delayed the rehearsal by two days, caused further issues, including delays in tanking operations and problems with cameras and other pad equipment. NASA also reported intermittent audio dropouts in communications among ground teams. The next launch period for Artemis 2 runs from March 6 to 11, with five two-hour windows available. Another launch opportunity extends from April 1 to 6. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information. Read the full article at https://spacenews.com/artemis-2-slips-to-march/)

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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-032
February 1, 2026

In this edition:

* NASA Selects Global Tracking Volunteers for Artemis II Lunar Mission
* Thailand’s KNACKSAT-2 CubeSat Preparing for Deployment from the ISS
* CubeSatSim Satellite Emulator Kits Now Available in the AMSAT Store
* Open.Space Phased Array Project Targets Low-Cost EME for Hams
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 30, 2026
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

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

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

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NASA Selects Global Tracking Volunteers for Artemis II Lunar Mission

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information:

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

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CubeSatSim Satellite Emulator Kits Now Available in the AMSAT Store

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for January 30, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Scheduled Contacts

+ Recently Completed

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

+ Upcoming Contacts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The service module IORS is not currently in APRS configuration and is being used only for voice contacts at this time. HamTV in the Columbus Module is configured for scheduled digital amateur television operations on 2395.00 MHz.

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

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

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

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

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AMSAT Ambassador Activities

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

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,

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

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

Scheduled Events

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

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

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

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

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AMSAT News Service

ANS-018
January 18, 2026

In this edition:

• November/December 2025 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available
• REMINDER: AMSAT Membership Now Includes Getting Started Guide
• PSLV-C62 Mission Experiences Anomaly
• Message to U.S. Educators: ARISS Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals
• Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for January 15, 2026
• ARISS News
• AMSAT Ambassador Activities
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

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

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

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November/December 2025 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available

The November/December 2025 issue of The AMSAT Journal is now available to members on AMSAT’s Member Portal.

The AMSAT Journal is a bi-monthly digital magazine for amateur radio in space enthusiasts, published by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). Each issue is your source for hardware and software projects, technical tips, STEM initiatives, operational activities, and news from around the world.

Inside the Current Issue:

[ANS thanks The AMSAT Journal team for the above information]

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The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Now 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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PSLV-C62 Mission Experiences Anomaly

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C62 mission carrying the ‘Anvesha’/EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites launched by India on Monday encountered an anomaly during the end of the PS3 burn stage with ISRO chairman V Naryanan stating that “a deviation in the vehicle’s flight path” was observed.

“A detailed analysis has been initiated,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) posted on X.

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said a disturbance was observed in the vehicle at the end of the third stage, which was otherwise proceeding as expected.

“Today, we have attempted the PSLV C62 / EOS – N1 Mission. The PSLV vehicle is a four-stage vehicle with two solid stages and two liquid stages. The vehicle’s performance near the end of the third stage was as expected. (However), near the end of the third stage, we are seeing increased disturbance in the vehicle. Subsequently, a deviation in the vehicle’s flight path is observed. We are analysing the data and will come back at the earliest,” Narayanan said.

This is ISRO’s first major launch of 2026. The mission aimed to place an Earth observation satellite into orbit from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at Sriharikota.

The mission was carried out by NewSpace India Limited and represents the ninth dedicated commercial mission to build and launch an Earth Observation satellite.

For the first time, a single Indian private company, Dhruva Space, based in Hyderabad, contributed seven satellites to the mission. Chaitanya Dora Surapureddy, CFO and Co-founder of Dhruva Space, said they also launched four satellites that they built.

“We launched four satellites that we have built, three for customers and one for us, and we also help other companies with part of the integration of the satellite onto the rocket. Essentially, a total of nine of our systems, which we have built, are going onto the rocket. So, quite exciting that that’s a good number,” he said.

Surapureddy said their satellites are for low-data-rate communication, which can be utilised by amateur radio operators.

“The satellites that we launched are all for low data rate communication. Amateur radio operators can utilise it towards that, and also a good demonstration for these satellites, and also for low data rate communication that can be done,” he added

[ANS thanks ANI 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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Message to U.S. Educators: ARISS Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.

The deadline to submit a proposal is February 27, 2026.  Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at www.ariss.org. An informational webinar session will be held on February 5, 2026 at 8 PM ET.

The Zoom link to sign up is: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hijg24mPRK69uGC0gUq8zw

The Opportunity

Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.

An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.

Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio.

Please direct any questions to [email protected] 

[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR, for the above information]

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for January 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/.

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

BEE-1000 NORAD Cat ID  66650 Non-amateur satellite.

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

QMR-KWT NORAD Cat ID 67291 Downlink 436.950 MHz.
SAKHACUBE-CHOLBON  NORAD Cat ID 67290 Downlink 437.350 MHz.

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

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ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Scheduled Contacts

None scheduled for the coming week.

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

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

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down),  If any crew member 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.

​​Service Module radio: Not in APRS configuration; only being used for voice contacts at this time. Default mode is for​​​ packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down) but occasionally used for SSTV (145.800 MHz down)​​.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Ham TV – Configured. ​​ Default mode is for​​​ scheduled digital amateur television operations (2395.00 MHz).

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

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

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

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

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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.

February 13-15, 2026
HamCation
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, Florida 32808
AA4KN

March 21, 2026
Midwinter Madness Hamfest
Buffalo Civic Center
1306 County Rd 134
Buffalo Minnesota 55313
KØJM, ADØHJ

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

+ As of this writing, 4 complete AMSAT CubeSatSim Kits are still available for purchase from the AMSAT store. This kit allows you to build a CubeSat Simulator with no soldering, just assembly. CubeSatSim is a low-cost satellite emulator that runs on solar panels and batteries, transmits UHF radio telemetry, has a 3D printed frame, and can be extended by additional sensors and modules. It is perfect for the classroom or for public demonstrations. The kit can be purchased from the AMSAT store. Sorry, shipping is only available to U.S. addresses. (ANS thanks AMSAT Education for the above information)

+ AMSAT-EA’s latest PocketQube, HADES-SA (aka SpinnyOne) has been coordinated by the IARU. A 1.5 PocketQube. HADES-SA / SpinnyONE is a satellite operated by AMSAT-EA members to promote the use of CODEC2 voice and SSDV in satellite communications, both of which are open protocols. As secondary objectives, the satellite is also intended to test its Doppler-resistant modem and a new antenna deployment mechanism. The satellite includes a BBS that allows amateurs to send text messages and, optionally, upload CODEC2 recordings for transmission by the satellite. A sample CODEC2 transmission has been pre-recorded in Flash memory until new transmissions from Earth arrive. HADES-SA / SpinnyONE includes a digital camera provided (along with its dedicated software) by the UK-based company Spinning Around. The camera will capture images of the deployment mechanism —which contains a small commemorative plaque— as well as whatever lies within its field of view at that moment. Every three days, a new picture will be taken and transmitted to the ground using the SSDV protocol. Image transmissions will occur continuously every few minutes so that stations worldwide can receive the frames. In the event of a camera failure, an internally stored image will be transmitted instead. Tools and detailed instructions on how to use them will be published on the AMSAT-EA website at https://www.amsat-ea.org/proyectos. The satellite is scheduled to launch on the SpaceX Transporter-16 mission approximately March 14, 2026. (ANS thanks AMSAT-EA and the IARU for the information)

+ NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission safely splashed down early Thursday morning in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, concluding a more than five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Crew-11 returned home about a month earlier than planned because of a medical concern teams are monitoring with one of the crew members, who remains stable. (ANS thanks NASA for the information)

+ If everything has gone to plan, the rollout of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission around the moon commenced about 12 hours prior to publication (Saturday, January 17th at 7:00am EST). The Artemis II launch window opens as early as February 6th. (ANS thanks NASA for the information)

+ NASA, along with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced on Tuesday, January 13th a renewed commitment to their longstanding partnership to support the research and development of a fission surface power system for use on the Moon under the Artemis campaign and future NASA missions to Mars. (ANS thanks NASA for the 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,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm [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-011
January 11, 2026

In this edition:

* NASA Ends Crew 11 Mission Due To ‘Medical Concern’ With An Astronaut
* REMINDER: AMSAT Membership Now Includes “Getting Started” Guide
* NASA Marks 50 Years Of GOES Satellites
* VUCC Satellite Standings for January, 2026
* DXCC Satellite Standings for January, 2026
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* Two U.S. Schools/Organizations Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

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

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

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NASA Ends Crew 11 Mission Due To ‘Medical Concern’ With An Astronaut

NASA is bringing some of the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) back to Earth early due to medical concerns with one the astronauts.

NASA officials announced on Wednesday, January 7, that they had decided to cancel an upcoming spacewalk due to a medical issue with an undisclosed crew member. Hours later, the agency indicated that it wasn’t ruling out an early end to Crew-11’s mission, and confirmed that the unnamed crew member was in a stable, non-emergency condition. NASA officials finalized the decision to bring the astronauts home in an announcement on Thursday, January 8.

Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, and Zena Cardman, KJ5CMN, had been scheduled to step outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday at about 13:00 UTC, kicking off a roughly 6.5-hour extravehicular activity (EVA). But that spacewalk was postponed.

A follow-up statement from NASA said, “Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority, and we are actively evaluating all options, including the possibility of an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission.” That crew includes both Cardman and Fincke, as well as Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The crew was launched on August 1, 2025 and was not scheduled for return until mid-February, following the arrival of Crew-12.

The crew of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission pose for a photo during a training session on July 3, 2025 at SpaceX facilities in Florida.
From left: Oleg Platonov, Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, Zena Cardman, KJ5CMN, and Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH. (Credit: SpaceX)

The early return of Crew-11 shouldn’t cause any delays in the preparations to rollout and launch the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for Artemis 2 — the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years — NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said on Thursday, January 8. Artemis 2 is slated to roll to the launchpad for a liftoff no earlier than February 5.

[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full story at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/iss-astronaut-evacuation-shouldnt-interfere-with-upcoming-artemis-2-moon-mission-nasa-chief-says.]

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The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Now 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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NASA Marks 50 Years Of GOES Satellites

NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, or GOES programme started a revolution in meteorology and weather forecasting. With GOES-1, satellite-sourced weather data could be sourced without waiting for the satellite to pass overhead. Previous satellites could only provide data at the times they were passing overhead.

The first three GOES satellites carried an instrument called Visible and Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer (VISSR). This instrument enabled meteorologists to collect a wider range of data as well as a fuller set of data than ever before. GOES-1 went up in 1974, with the next two arriving in the next five years

The second generation of GOES satellites added important weather observation instruments. With these, our understanding of phenomena such as El Niño and tropical storms improved greatly. Furthermore, beginning with GOES-7, an RF receiver was added as part of the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system.

Timeline of GOES launches including key technological developments associated with each “generation” of satellites. (Figure credit: NOAA/NASA)

From 1994-2001, the third generation GOES satellites reached orbit. Innovations included the ability to narrow the area under observation to better understand local weather events. GOES-12 also included the Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) instrument, which added full-disk X-ray observations of the Sun to the toolkit of space weather watchers.

Gen 4 satellites, called GOES-N, ushered in improvements to positioning with star-tracker instruments. With these, the location of weather events could be more precisely determined. The Extreme Ultraviolet Sensor added to space weather observations. Scan rates were quickened to one-minute scans, which aided in understanding severe weather outbreaks and issuing warnings.

The current generation of GOES satellites, known as GOES-R, added a variety of capabilities. These satellites feature the ability to narrow in and zoom out from local to global views with a choice of scan rates. Fire-detection instruments were added for the first time ever on a geostationary satellite. Many hobbyists enjoy receiving direct L-band downlinks from these satellites.

[ANS thanks Orbital Today for the above information. See the full article at https://orbitaltoday.com/2025/12/26/nasa-marks-50-years-of-goes-satellites/.]

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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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VUCC Satellite Standings for January, 2026

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for December 01, 2025 to January 01, 2026.

Callsign	Dec	Jan
PY2PIM	New	1200
RA3DNC	599	824
N8MR	801	809
AC9DX	682	725
HB9GWJ	631	651
VE4MM	561	577
N7UJJ	462	509
K5WO	326	350
N9XG	310	312
SV8CKM	273	285
PU5DDC	241	254
G4BWP	150	200
WD9EWK(DM42)	189	194
E75AA	New	191
WB5TX	156	160
IK2XRL	New	140
BY1QH	New	126
PT2VM	100	126
PU4ELT	New	100
PY3YO	New	100

Congratulations to the new VUCC Satellite holders.

PY2PIM
E75AA
IK2XRL
BY1QH
PU4ELT
PY3YO

PY3YO is first VUCC Satellite holder from GG32
PY2PIM is first VUCC Satellite holder from GG67
PU4ELT is first VUCC Satellite holder from GH70

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

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DXCC Satellite Standings for January, 2026

DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for December 01, 2025 to January 01, 2026.

Call	Nov	Dec
HB9RYZ	166	169
IK4CIE	146	157
G8BCG	135	154
PA7RA	148	154
DL9RAN	125	150
IU0LFQ	121	150
IK1GPG	100	144
DL8GAM	125	136
LA0FA	128	133
ON6AA	114	131
W2GDJ	122	123
LA7XK	110	118
JK2XXK	New	106
I1YDT	New	100
YB5QZ	New	100

Congratulations to the new DXCC Satellite holders.
YV5NEA
EA7Z

YV5NEA is first DXCC Satellite holder from Venezuela and FK60
EA7Z is first DXCC Satellite holder from IM67

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

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for January 9, 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 satellite has been removed from this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:
IO-86 NORAD Cat ID 40931. No new elements released for more than 180 days.

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

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Two U.S. Schools/Organizations Moved Forward in ARISS Selection Process

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is pleased to announce the U.S. schools/host organizations newly selected for 2026 ARISS contacts. A total of two of the submitted proposals during the recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS. The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities.

The ARISS program anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for the two U.S. host organizations during the July – December 2026 period. They are now at work starting to implement their 4–6-month education plan which was outlined in their proposal. These STEAM based educational activities help prepare students for their contact as well as create an on-going exploration and interest in aerospace and amateur radio topics. They are also completing an acceptable equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by ARISS, the final selected schools/organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities offered by NASA.

The school and host organization are:

• YOTA Summer Camp in Huntsville, AL seeking a contact date between June 14 – 19, 2026.
• University Heights School of Medical Arts in Jonesboro, AR seeking a contact date between July and December 2026.

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the ISS. In the United States, sponsors are the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) and the ISS National Lab—Space Station Explorers. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see http://www.ariss.org.

[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR, for the above information.]

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ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Scheduled Contacts

None scheduled for the coming week.

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

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

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down),  If any crew member 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.

​​Service Module radio: Not in APRS configuration; only being used for voice contacts at this time. Default mode is for​​​ packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down) but occasionally used for SSTV (145.800 MHz down)​​.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Ham TV – Configured. ​​ Default mode is for​​​ scheduled digital amateur television operations (2395.00 MHz).

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

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

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

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

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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.

February 13-15, 2026
HamCation
Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park
4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, Florida 32808
AA4KN

March 21, 2026
Midwinter Madness Hamfest
Buffalo Civic Center
1306 County Rd 134
Buffalo Minnesota 55313
KØJM, ADØHJ

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

+ LACHIT-1 (Live Amateur Communication Hub for Innovative Technologies – One), the first satellite developed Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) in Northeast India, is scheduled for launch aboard Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) PSLV-C62 rocket on January 12. The LACHIT-1 mission is a student-led initiative involving more than 50 students and faculty members drawn from across the Northeast, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur states. The satellite will carry a UHF downlink using 2-FSK modulation at up to 9k6 kb with store and forward capability and a CW beacon. Frequencies for a telemetry and data downlink on 436.175 MHz and for the beacon on 435.360 MHz have been coordinated by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). (ANS thanks Northeast News and IARU for the above information.)

+ A live Satellite Communication Demonstration with the International Space Station (ISS) was successfully conducted in Pransla village, Gujarat (India) on 29 December 2025 with more than 12,000 students assembled. The live science and space outreach program was conducted with the active support of AMSAT-INDIA and Upagraha Amateur Radio Club (UpARC) at Indian Space Research Organisation’s U R Rao Satellite Centre. Basic concepts like ham radio, satellite communication, uplink & downlink, azimuth, elevation, frequencies, etc., and satellite tracking were explained so students could understand the upcoming live ISS pass. Three confirmed two-way contacts were made during the single ISS pass before what may be one of the largest crowds ever assembled for a satellite demonstration. (ANS thanks Rajesh Vagadia, VU2EXP, Regional Coordinator – AMSAT-INDIA, for the above information.)

+ 2025 was a banner year for shattering launch records worldwide. The 324 orbital launch attempts in 2025 represented a 25% increase from 2024’s previous record of 259. Almost 60% of all launch attempts came from the U.S., with SpaceX conducting 170 of the 193 American launches. China was second with 92 launches during the year. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information.)

+ SpaceX is lowering orbits of 4,400 Starlink satellites to 480km throughout 2026, reducing ballistic decay time by 80% and preventing orbital debris accumulation risks. Lower altitude decreases collision risk in increasingly crowded low Earth orbit. Deorbiting faster prevents long-term orbital contamination. Massive orbital reconfiguration represents proactive response to congestion challenges. Nearly half of Starlink’s 9,400 operational satellites will require altitude adjustment. The current 550-kilometer orbit sits within crowded debris-prone region. The proposed 480-kilometer altitude places satellites in a less congested orbital band. (ANS thanks NASA Space News for the above information. Read the full story at https://nasaspacenews.com/2026/01/spacex-lowering-orbits/.)

+ AMSAT-UK are pleased to announce they will be holding a webinar to advise European amateurs regarding the ESA / CCSDS sponsored outreach competition to develop reference protocols at 16:00 UTC on Wednesday 14th January. The webinar will be via Zoom and the event will be recorded. NOTE: this competition is for European and UK hams only. For information and registration see https://amsat-uk.org/2026/01/06/webinar-for-ccsds-competition/. (ANS thanks AMSAT-UK 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.