In this edition:

* CubeSats to Deploy from ISS on September 19
* Register Now – AMSAT Symposium Prices Increase September 16
* AMSAT Board of Directors Election Ends September 15, 2025
* FCC Grants AST SpaceMobile Limited Use of Amateur Radio Band
* ARRL Lab Helps Radio Amateurs Avoid Interfering With US Space Force Radar
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* Space Station’s Silver Jubilee Celebrated with Silver Research
* 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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CubeSats to Deploy from ISS on September 19

JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has announced that five Japanese CubeSats will be deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on September 19 (though the date and time of the deployment are subject to change due to the ISS schedule modification). The deployment event for those satellites will be broadcast via YouTube JAXA Channel. Four of the CubeSats, carrying scientific and educational payloads, will operate in the amateur bands, and radio amateurs around the world are invited to participate in the projects:

GHS-01 is a 2U size CubeSat equipped with a camera for photographing the earth, a sensor for checking the state of the satellite, and an attitude control device. In response to commands from the ground station, the satellite-mounted camera photographs the earth from space and transmits the image data to the ground. In order for amateur radio users around the world to voluntarily acquire image data taken by this satellite by radio, the date and time of image transmission will be published on the website https://gifuhs2022.wordpress.com/. Also, the satellite carries a digitalker mission. Audio data is transmitted from a ground station and stored in the satellite. The voice data is transmitted from the satellite as an analog FM voice signal, and a message is broadcast from space. The date and time the message will be sent will be published on the website. The satellite was built by Gifu University with technical cooperation for using satellite radio waves with sister schools of universities and high schools such as Lithuania, Australia, Kenya, South Korea, and Taiwan. A downlink on 437.090 MHz has been coordinated with 20 wpm CW, 1k2 AFSK, 9k6 GMSK and digitalker voice.

DRAGONFLY, coordinated by Kyushu Institute of Technology, is part of the Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite project, BIRDS-X, and funded by Amateur Radio Digital Communications in the U.S. The 2U CubeSat will carry APRS digipeaters on 145.825 MHz, as well as a Store and Forward messaging system. In addition to the VHF APRS frequency, a UHF downlink for CW beacon and telemetry using 4k8 GMSK will transmit at 437.375 MHz. A ground terminal competition will be held on DRAGONFLY. More information is available at https://birds-x.birds-project.com/

STARS-Me2, a 1U CubeSat built by Shizuoka University features an earth observation camera, but the real experimentation takes place on the AX.25 radio downlinks on which those photos are transmitted back to earth. Reception success rates at receiving ground stations will be measured at baud rates of 1.2kbps, 9.6kbps and 115.2kbps. The coding gain of the error correction scheme will be measured on the downlinks. And the reception performance with polarization diversity at multiple terrestrial receiver stations (developed by amateur radio operators) will be evaluated. The goal is to learn more about how large data sets, such as images, are best transmitted from space. UHF downlinks with CW, 1k2 AFSK, 9k6 FSK and 115.2 bps GMSK are coordinated for 437.350 MHz, 437.400 MHz and 437.200 MHz.

RSP-03 is also a 1U CubeSat carrying a camera, but in this case the camera will not be aimed at earth, but at the stars. The main mission is to capture the star data by camera, convert it to “audible data,” and deliver the audio to the ground as a “Stellar Symphony.” After acquiring data of stars and constellations captured by the onboard camera an on-board AI will compose sounds from the star data and transmit it to the ground via an FM Digi-talker. In addition, digital data will be sent using various baud rates and modulation modes, and a digital “QSL card,” stored on the satellite before launch will be transmitted via SSTV after amateurs have uploaded their callsigns from the ground. A downlink at 437.050 MHz will be shared by the FM Digi-talker, 1200 BPS (AFSK on FM), 9600 BPS (GMSK), and 24000 BPS (4FSK, OQPSK). Details are at https://rsp03.rymansat.com/en.

[ANS thanks Masa Arai, JN1GKZ, IARU, and JAXA for the above information.]

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Your 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coin Is Waiting!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.

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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Register Now – AMSAT Symposium Prices Increase September 16

Discounted registration for the 2025 AMSAT Symposium, to be held October 17-19, 2025 in Phoenix, AZ will be available through September 15th. Prices increase on September 16th.
Credit: Holiday Inn Suites Phoenix Airport North

For details, visit https://www.amsat.org/43rd-amsat-space-symposium-and-annual-general-meeting/ .

Proposals for Symposium papers and presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your paper or presentation as soon as possible, with final copy submitted by October 8th for inclusion in the Symposium Proceedings.

Proposals for presentations at the Symposium do not require a paper. Presentations will be recorded and made available on AMSAT’s YouTube Channel and transcribed and published with its slides in the Proceedings.

Proposals should be sent to Frank Karnauskas, N1UW via f.karnauskas [at] amsat [dot] org .

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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AMSAT Board of Directors Election Ends September 15, 2025

Four seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year. The four candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected to the seats and the candidate receiving the next largest number of votes shall be declared the First Alternate. Members’ opportunity to vote ends on Monday September 15, 2025. Results will be announced no later that September 30, 2025.

The following candidates who have been duly nominated are as follows:

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Jerry Buxton, NØJY
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
Douglas Tabor, N6UA

AMSAT members may review the candidate statements and cast their ballots at https://launch.amsat.org/2025-BoD-Election .

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

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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 Fox-Plus 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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FCC Grants AST SpaceMobile Limited Use of Amateur Radio Band

The FCC Space Bureau has granted a license to AST & Science LLC (operating as AST Space Mobile) for using the 430 — 440 MHz amateur radio allocation for TT&C operations for 20 additional satellites.

The FCC Space Bureau commented: “At this time, to address the concerns raised by amateur radio operators and the petitioner, we issue a limited grant to AST to conduct emergency operations in the 430–440 MHz bandwhen no other bands are available for the 20 additional satellites authorized herein for a period not to exceed 24 hours.”

This decision is the result of over 2500 comments to the FCC by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and several International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member societies, AMSAT, and individual amateur radio operators. The IARU maintains its view that the use of Article 4.4 of the ITU Radio Regulations is inappropriate in this matter, in particular as there are existing allocations in the UHF spectrum for Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) operations. There are no technical or operational requirements for AST & Science LLC to intrude the 430–440 MHz spectrum which is a primary amateur and amateur satellite service allocation in ITU Region 1 and in several countries in Region 2.

The IARU and its member societies will continue to monitor the further development of this issue. As a sector member of ITU‑R, the IARU will contribute towards improving the respective process concerning Article 4.4.

The IARU is grateful for the support and contributions from our member-societies.

[ANS thanks IARU for the above information.]

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ARRL Lab Helps Radio Amateurs Avoid Interfering With US Space Force Radar

US Space Command headquarters is being moved to Huntsville, Alabama, known as “Rocket City USA.” The move was announced in a press conference on September 2, 2025. Huntsville will host the 2026 ARRL National Convention as part of the Huntsville Hamfest, but there’s a bigger connection between U.S. Space Command and amateur radio.

Space Command utilizes forces such as the US Space Force to accomplish its command mission. The ARRL Lab supports the U.S. Space Force’s Phased Array Warning System (PAVE PAWS) early warning radar installations which scan the skies for incoming missiles and space junk.

Since 2007, the ARRL Lab has been conducting this crucial analysis using Longley-Rice terrain modeling to determine if an amateur fixed station, repeater, or EME station is eligible for a waiver to be granted by the military to run more than the 50 watts of RF power on the 70-centimeter band currently allowed with a 100-mile radius of either the Cape Cod Air Force Station in Massachusetts, or Beale Air Force Base in California. “We want to ensure that amateurs can exercise as many operating privileges as possible, while understanding the need for the Space Force to operate without interference,” said ARRL Lab Manager George Spatta, W1GKS.

The reports provided to the Space Force advise a “cone of protection” in azimuth and elevation at which the amateur would be limited to a power level which would not interfere with the radar.

Amateurs are secondary users on the 70-centimeter band and the ARRL Lab’s cooperation with the military helps ensure we do not interfere with this vital function of our nation’s security. As of this writing, the Lab is conducting this analysis for two different waiver requests. “It is an important part of the work we do to serve radio amateurs,” said Spatta.

[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information.]

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Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for September 12

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/.

EIRSAT-1 NORAD Cat ID 58472 Decayed from orbit on or about 5 September 2025

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

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Space Station’s Silver Jubilee Celebrated with Silver Research

This November marks a quarter century of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station, which has served as a springboard for developing a low Earth economy and NASA’s next great leaps in exploration, including human missions to the Moon and Mars. To kick off the orbiting laboratory’s silver 25th anniversary countdown, here are a few silver-themed science investigations that have advanced research and space exploration.

Antimicrobial properties

Silver has been used for centuries to fight infection, and researchers use its unique properties to mitigate microbial growth aboard the space station. Over time, microbes form biofilms, sticky communities that can grow on surfaces and cause infection. In space, biofilms can become resistant to traditional cleaning products and could infect water treatment systems, damage equipment, and pose a health risk to astronauts. The Bacterial Adhesion and Corrosion investigation studied the bacterial genes that contribute to the formation of biofilms and tested whether a silver-based disinfectant could limit their growth.

Another experiment focused on the production of silver nanoparticles aboard the space station. Silver nanoparticles have a bigger surface-to-volume ratio, allowing silver ions to come in contact with more microbes, making it a more effective antimicrobial tool to help protect crew from potential infection on future space missions. It also evaluated whether silver nanoparticles produced in space are more stable and uniform in size and shape, characteristics that could further enhance their effectiveness.

Wearable tech

Silver is a high-conductivity precious metal that is very malleable, making it a viable option for smart garments. NASA astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory tested a wearable monitoring vest with silver-coated sensors to record heart rates, cardiac mechanics, and breathing patterns while they slept. This smart garment is lightweight and more comfortable, so it does not disturb sleep quality. The data collected provided valuable insight into improving astronauts’ sleep in space.

Silver crystals

In microgravity, there is no up or down, and weightlessness does not allow particles to settle, which impacts physical and chemical processes. Researchers use this unique microgravity environment to grow larger and more uniform crystals unaffected by the force of Earth’s gravity or the physical processes that would separate mixtures by density. The NanoRacks-COSMOS investigation used the environment aboard the station to grow and assess the 3D structure of silver nitrate crystals. The molecular structure of these superior silver nitrate crystals has applications in nanotechnology, such as creating silver nanowires for nanoscale electronics.

[ANS thanks NASA 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
Taka Town Board of Education Children’s Future Division, Taka Town, Japan, direct via JA3YRL
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH
The ARISS mentor is 7M3TJZ
Contact was successful: Thu 2025-09-11 09:22:34 UTC 45 degrees elevation

UPCOMING
National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja, Nigeria, telebridge via ZS6JON
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Zena Cardman KJ5CMN
The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ
Contact is go for: Sat 2025-09-20 09:37:23 UTC 83 degrees 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 also active (145.825 MHz up & down).

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol. Scheduled radio power down and power up times:

Sat 2025-09-13 12:40 UTC Power Down due to Progress 93P Arrival
Sun 2025-09-14 14:05 UTC Power Up due to Progress 93P Arrival

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.

Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, writes…
“My 184th “How to Work the Easy Satellites” presentation was to a wonderful club last night: the Lapeer County ARA in Michigan. Email received this morning:
‘Hi, Clint~I want to thank you for your presentation last night for our club meeting. We had many good comments afterward and I hope it has inspired more of our members to give satellites a try. I was surprised how much research you did on Lapeer and the photos/graphics you put together to personalize your presentation for us. We will be having our annual picnic in a couple of weeks and we will be demonstrating with the Arrow and Elk antennas with a variety of radios and letting members make contacts. Hopefully we’ll get several good runs that afternoon. Again, I appreciate the effort you put into your presentation. Well done! 73, Viki Clark, N8VLC'”

October 11, 2025
North Star Radio Convention & ARRL Minnesota State Convention
Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Boulevard
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
https://northstarradio.org/
ADØHJ

October 16, 17, 18, 19, 2025
AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting and 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting
Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport North
1515 North 44th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Details at https://www.amsat.org/2025-symposium/

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

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Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA, has developed a Windows program — SkyRoof — that combines satellite tracking and SDR functions in one application. Those using SDRs as receivers for satellite downlinks can now see all satellite traces on the waterfall labeled with satellite names and the boundaries of the transponder on screen. The program follows the Doppler shift, and all frequency tuning is done visually, with a mouse. Provision is made for CAT control of a separate external uplink transceiver. Full information at https://ve3nea.github.io/SkyRoof/index.html (ANS thanks Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, for the above information.)

+ Rolling across the rugged, rusty red terrain on Mars, NASA’s Perseverance rover came upon some rocks with peculiar green, blue, black and white dots. After detailed image analysis, scientists have come to a potentially encouraging conclusion: If those speckled rocks were formed like they are on Earth, they might be evidence of past life on the dusty planet. The rocks “very well could be the clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars, which is incredibly exciting,” acting NASA administrator Sean P. Duffy said in a news conference Wednesday. The findings were published in the journal Nature on September 10. (ANS thanks The Washington Post for the above information. Full article at https://wapo.st/4mapyHQ.)

+ “The Most Important Satellite You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of,” a video produced as part of the PBS Space Time series, is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlNKj0K_3FY (ANS thanks The Orbital Index and PBS for the above information.)

+ Xiamen Radtel Electronics Co., Ltd. of Fujian, China has introduced a 12-watt FM VHF/UHF hand-held transceiver which they claim will operate in full duplex across bands. Full duplex is preferred for satellite operation and is rarely offered in handheld radios. The radio also includes reception of AM aircraft frequencies and wide-band commercial FM broadcast frequencies. The Radtel R8000 sells for less than $120 U.S. Another model, the Radtel RT-69, adds GPS and the 222 MHz band, as well as some shortwave SWL coverage. It sells for less than $200 U.S. Details at http://bit.ly/4ph72QT (ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS, for the above information.)

+ The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) is a multi-national forum for the development of communications & data systems standards for spaceflight. An announcement about a competition to help develop new CCSDS protocols will be made at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2025 by Matt Cosby, CTO of Goonhilly Earth Station. Further details will be provided in his talk on Saturday 11 October from 15:15 to 16:00, titled “Challenges in Deep Space Communications – and how this community can contribute.“ Details will also be posted on social media after the presentation. The event will be streamed by the BATC at https://amsat-uk.org/. (ANS thanks Dave Johnson, G4DPZ, Hon. Sec. 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).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
* 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.

In this edition:

* JAMSAT’s Blueberry JAM Project to Develop Open-Source CubeSat Transponders for Amateur Radio
* Amateur Weather Satellite Reception Opportunities Beyond the Retired POES Fleet (NOAA-15/18/19)
* Meteoglider Offers Reusable Radiosonde Alternative for High-Altitude Weather Data Collection
* SpaceX’s Starship Flight 10 to Demonstrate Expanded Booster and Upper Stage Test Objectives
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for August 22, 2025
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

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

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

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

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

ANS-236 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

To: All RADIO AMATEURS
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653
Washington, DC 20002

DATE 2025 Aug 24

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JAMSAT’s Blueberry JAM Project to Develop Open-Source CubeSat Transponders for Amateur Radio

The Japan Amateur Satellite Association (JAMSAT) has announced the launch of the “Blueberry JAM” initiative, a new project to design and build an open-source multi-mode transponder for CubeSats. A kickoff meeting was held on May 3 with 15 participants, marking the start of what is envisioned as a flagship development effort for the organization.

The Blueberry JAM project centers on creating a versatile linear transponder that can be integrated into 1U CubeSats, while also being scalable to larger 3U and 6U platforms. The design is intended to support both traditional linear operation and potential digital enhancements, such as delay modes and data handling. The first demonstration unit—an engineering model—is targeted for completion by mid-2026 and will be offered to universities and satellite developers for potential flight opportunities.

Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT VP-Engineering commented, “AMSAT-NA is excited to see the Japan Amateur Satellite Association’s commitment to open-source development and collaboration with amateur satellite organizations around the world with their Blueberry JAM initiative.

“We are pleased to offer our help in this collective effort by providing JAMSAT with any schematics and documentation from AMSAT’s open-source/open-access projects developed to date as well as those being introduced this year.

“This includes our flight-proven LTM-2 Linear Transponder Module that has flown successfully on satellites deployed by two world-class universities and currently still operating on MO-122 and MESAT1. LTM provides telemetry downlink support for the host science missions and satellite health, as well as direct control of the LTM amateur radio usage. A third university is set to carry the latest version of LTM, which will fly on GOLF-TEE and Fox-Plus, on their upcoming mission that is currently under construction.”

A core philosophy of the project is openness. JAMSAT has pledged to make the development process, design documents, and results available to the amateur community. Hardware costs are expected to be covered by JAMSAT, while individual participants will bear their own incidental expenses. By sharing the design broadly, the group hopes to encourage adoption by multiple satellite missions, with a goal of eventually deploying the transponder on as many as 10 spacecraft.

Technical discussions during the kickoff highlighted the demand for new linear transponder capability in amateur satellites, as well as recognition that digital features will be important for future operations. Considerations include dual-channel command and data handling, efficient microcontroller use, and antenna and power system constraints inherent to CubeSats. The team also noted the potential to establish a ground-based test station to exercise the transponder under realistic conditions before flight.

Buxton also said, “We are also very happy to share AMSAT’s work on its upcoming SDR GEN-2, an SDR that provides all-mode functionality and continuous coverage from 144 MHz to 6 GHz providing “Five & Dime” capability in a format to fit 1U or larger CubeSats.

“We look forward to supporting JAMSAT in promoting more international collaborations that continue to Keep Amateur Radio in Space!”

Coordination for the project will be managed initially through mailing lists, with Slack and other online tools supporting more detailed technical exchanges. Meetings will be held on an ad-hoc basis until a regular schedule is established. Participants also suggested supplementary seminars to review background information and prior work for the benefit of newer contributors.

By positioning Blueberry JAM as a fully open-source design, JAMSAT hopes to strengthen international collaboration and demonstrate Japan’s continued leadership in the amateur satellite community. With a development horizon stretching into 2026 and beyond, the project has the potential to become a cornerstone payload for future CubeSat missions and to provide valuable new communication opportunities for amateur operators worldwide.

[ANS thanks JAMSAT and Jerry Buxton, NØJY, AMSAT VP-Engineering for the above information]

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Amateur Weather Satellite Reception Opportunities Beyond the Retired POES Fleet (NOAA-15/18/19)

With the retirement of NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19, the long-running POES (Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites) series has officially ended service. Some in the community worry this marks the end of easily accessible weather imagery, but the outlook for amateur reception remains bright.

Russia’s Meteor-M satellites are now the mainstay for 137 MHz reception. Their LRPT signals are strong and reliable, and with additional Meteor-M launches planned, service is expected to continue well into the 2040s. Higher-resolution imagery is also available on the 1.7 GHz band for those with modest upgrades in equipment.

Europe’s Metop series continues to transmit on L-band, with Metop-B and -C expected to operate until 2027 and 2030. The newly launched Metop-SG satellites will extend coverage for another decade, ensuring continuity for hobbyists. In addition, the Arctic Weather Satellite and its planned successors (the STERNA series) will provide valuable radiometric data for weather monitoring.

Geostationary satellites also provide opportunities. Russia’s Elektro-L constellation broadcasts HRIT/LRIT on 1691 MHz, with a new spacecraft (N°5) scheduled for launch this October. For those in the Americas, the GOES series will remain active through the 2030s, continuing HRIT and GRB service. The U.S. Space Force’s EWS-G program further adds to the options, re-tasking former GOES satellites for continued imagery.

China’s FengYun-3 satellites and Korea’s GK-2A also contribute, while future developments in X-band reception are lowering the barrier for amateurs interested in higher-resolution Earth observation. Advances in software such as SatDump are making it easier than ever to decode and process these signals on affordable hardware.

The decommissioning of the POES fleet marks the end of an era, but not the end of the hobby. With a diverse mix of active and planned satellites across multiple bands, amateur weather satellite reception will remain an active part of the hobby, supported by a mix of current satellites and future missions. For those interested in exploring these opportunities, the open-source SatDump software can be used to decode imagery from many of the satellites mentioned above. SatDump is available for download at https://www.satdump.org.

Read the full article at: https://www.satdump.org/posts/beyond-poes-amateur-satellite-reception/

[ANS thanks lego11, SatDump.com, and the SatDump community for the above information]

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Meteoglider Offers Reusable Radiosonde Alternative for High-Altitude Weather Data Collection

Swiss weather intelligence company Meteomatics has unveiled the Meteoglider, a reusable glider platform designed to improve the way atmospheric data is gathered. Introduced in the spring of 2025, the Meteoglider advances the familiar radiosonde concept with a sustainable, GPS-guided recovery capability that promises significant operational and environmental benefits.

Radiosondes carried aloft by weather balloons have long provided vital measurements of temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind conditions. These instruments supply essential input for forecasts, climate models, and atmospheric studies. However, conventional radiosondes are almost always lost after deployment. Out of approximately 600,000 units launched worldwide each year, an estimated 80 percent are never recovered, leaving most as non-reusable debris.

The Meteoglider overcomes this challenge by gliding back under control after its flight. Constructed of lightweight foam and weighing only 250 grams, the vehicle ascends to heights of about 110,000 feet before release. Guided by GPS, the Meteoglider can return to its launch point or a designated location, typically completing the descent in around 25 minutes while reaching speeds of nearly 460 feet per second.

Performance remains on par with traditional systems. Meteogliders collect the same high-quality meteorological data as radiosondes, but with the added benefit of multiple reuses. Each unit can be recovered and redeployed as many as 50 times, extending the service life of its lithium batteries and electronics. This significantly reduces the recurring expense of atmospheric soundings while also addressing sustainability goals.

Another advantage is the practicality of operation. Meteogliders do not require special flight permissions and can be deployed as readily as conventional balloon-borne instruments. Their recoverability reduces waste, lowers operating costs, and minimizes the environmental footprint associated with routine meteorological monitoring.

The technology originated with Swiss startup R2Home, which Meteomatics acquired in late 2024 following a $22 million funding round. Together with the company’s established Meteodrone system, Meteogliders represent a new chapter in scalable, sustainable atmospheric sensing. By combining innovation with proven methods, Meteomatics aims to reshape global weather intelligence practices with tools that are both economical and environmentally responsible.

Read the full article at: https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/meteomatics-unveils-the-meteoglider-a-high-altitude-weather-data-revolution

[ANS thanks Miquel Ros, AeroTime.com, and Meteomatics for the above information]

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SpaceX’s Starship Flight 10 to Demonstrate Expanded Booster and Upper Stage Test Objectives

SpaceX is preparing for the tenth integrated test flight of its Starship Super Heavy launch system from Starbase, Texas. Liftoff is targeted for Sunday, August 24, 2025, with a launch window from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Central Time. A live webcast will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff and will be available on the SpaceX website and X (formerly Twitter) @SpaceX. As with all developmental testing, schedules remain dynamic and subject to change.

This mission follows the completion of investigations into the loss of Starship on Flight 9 and the Ship 36 static fire anomaly. SpaceX reports that both hardware and operational changes have been implemented to improve reliability, with technical summaries of the investigations available online.

The Super Heavy booster will attempt multiple flight experiments on a trajectory toward an offshore landing point in the Gulf of Mexico. Objectives include a controlled flip and boostback maneuver, first demonstrated on Flight 9, designed to conserve propellant and increase payload capacity. These trials are aimed at expanding the operational envelope and validating booster recovery techniques for future missions.

The booster’s landing burn experiments are a primary focus of Flight 10. SpaceX plans to intentionally disable one of the three center engines during the landing sequence, relying on a backup engine from the middle ring to complete the burn. The booster will then transition to a two-engine hover maneuver above the ocean surface before shutdown and splashdown, providing data on redundancy and landing performance.

The Starship upper stage will attempt several in-space demonstrations, including the deployment of eight Starlink mass simulators, a Raptor engine relight, and multiple reentry experiments. To stress-test the thermal protection system, a significant number of heat shield tiles have been removed, while metallic tile alternatives and active cooling systems will be evaluated. These measures are intended to expose vulnerabilities and refine reentry survivability.

Additional objectives include testing functional catch fittings and assessing rear flap performance during maximum entry dynamic pressure. According to SpaceX, these experiments are vital steps toward the development of a rapidly reusable launch system. With manufacturing ramping up at Starfactory in Texas and new launch infrastructure under construction in both Texas and Florida, Starship continues to progress toward operational readiness for future missions.

See the official SpaceX update page at: https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-10 …and maybe check out the SpaceX Shop for a new T-shirt while you’re at it.

[ANS thanks SpaceX for the above information]

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The 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coins Have Just Arrived!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight

Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today!

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Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for August 22, 2025

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

With HamTV becoming active on ISS, orbital elements are now updated twice daily in www.amsat.org/tle/ at 00:18 and 12:18 UTC. The intention is to have high quality TLE available to accurately calculate doppler shift for the 2.935 GHz downlink. Observations comparing these TLE to those that were calculated based ephemerides and TLE produced by Johnson Space Center the last time HAMTV was active are desired, write jfitzgerald [at] amsat.org

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

VERONIKA NORAD Cat ID 58261 Decayed from orbit on or about 15 August 2025

[ANS thanks AMSAT Orbital Elements page 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

Youngsters On The Air, Jambville, France, Direct via FX5YOTA
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Mike Fincke KE5AIT
The ARISS mentor was F6ICS
Contact was successful: Tue 2025-08-19 09:18:30 UTC
Congratulations to the YOTA students, Mike, mentor F6ICS, and ground station FX5YOTA!
Watch the Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MARkTcR6Njo

NixderStelar (formerly Gemini-1), Lima, Peru, telebridge via VK4KHZ
The ISS callsign was NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember was Zena Cardman KJ5CMN
The ARISS mentor was VE6JBJ
Contact was successful: Wed 2025-08-20 14:07:47 UTC
Congratulations to the NixderStelar students, Zena, and mentor VE6JBJ!

+ Upcoming Contacts

Orion Primary School, Alberton, South Africa, direct via ZS9LSO
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Mike Fincke KE5AIT
The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ
Contact is go for: Fri 2025-08-29 09:35:44 UTC

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.

The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).

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.

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

Northeast HamXposition (HamX) & New England ARRL Convention – August 21st thru 24th, 2025
Best Western Royal Plaza & Trade Center
181 Boston Post Road West
Marlborough, MA 01752
http://www.HamX.org
W1EME, WD4ASW, WB1FJ

Greater Louisville Hamfest – September 6th, 2025
Paroquet Springs Conference Centre
395 Paroquet Springs Drive
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
https://louisvillehamfest.wixsite.com/louisvillehamfest
W4FCL

North Star Radio Convention – October 11th, 2025
Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Boulevard
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
https://northstarradio.org/
ADØHJ

43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting – October 16th thru 19th, 2025
Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport North
1515 North 44th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Details at https://www.amsat.org/2025-symposium/

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ The United States is racing to be the first nation to deploy a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface, following new orders from Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. His directive, issued July 31, calls for fast-tracking lunar nuclear power to stay ahead of China and Russia, who have announced joint plans to build a reactor by the mid-2030s. Duffy warned that if rivals succeed first, they could impose “keep-out zones” that would threaten U.S. access and undermine the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon in 2027. The order requires NASA to appoint a program leader within 30 days and expands on previous work with the Department of Energy to develop fission surface power producing at least 40 kilowatts of power. Since long-term lunar operations are estimated to require at least 100 kWe (100 kilowatts of electrical power, or about the consumption of 80–100 U.S. homes), nuclear power is seen as critical for sustaining life on the moon and enabling future Mars missions. In addition, Duffy issued a separate directive to speed up commercial space station development as the International Space Station nears retirement by 2030. (ANS thanks CNN for the above information)

+ SpaceX successfully launched the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center on August 21, 2025, marking the start of its eighth mission. The booster, making its sixth flight, landed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station just over eight minutes after liftoff. The Boeing-built X-37B, part of a two-vehicle fleet, has previously flown missions lasting between 224 and 909 days, though the duration of this new mission is undisclosed. This flight will test advanced technologies, including high-bandwidth laser communications with commercial satellite networks in low Earth orbit, offering faster and more secure data transfer than radio frequencies. It will also demonstrate a quantum inertial sensor, enabling spacecraft navigation in GPS-denied or deep-space environments. Space Force leaders emphasized that these experiments are key to improving the resilience, adaptability, and operational capabilities of U.S. space systems. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information)

+ The newly launched NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has successfully deployed a record-breaking 39-foot-wide radar antenna in orbit, unfolding it like a blooming umbrella after weeks of careful preparation. Launched on July 30, 2025, from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, the satellite carries two powerful radar systems—L-band from NASA and S-band from ISRO—capable of penetrating clouds, vegetation, and snow to track changes on Earth’s surface. The massive gold-plated wire mesh reflector, weighing 142 pounds, was released through a carefully staged process involving joint-by-joint boom extension and the firing of explosive bolts. It took four days for the structure to fully extend before motors and cables pulled it into its final drum-like shape. NISAR will provide three-dimensional, high-resolution images of Earth’s land and ice, detecting surface shifts as small as fractions of an inch. By late fall, scientists expect the satellite to begin delivering transformative data, including 3D “movies” of environmental changes across the globe. (ANS thanks Gizmodo for the above information)

SpaceX has partnered with American radio astronomers to develop an automated system that reduces satellite interference with sensitive radio telescopes. The collaboration, led by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), created the Operational Data Sharing system and a Starlink algorithm that redirects satellite beams or mutes electronics during scheduled observations. This system, tested at the Very Large Array in New Mexico, allows telescopes to continue detecting faint cosmic signals despite thousands of satellites crossing overhead daily. Radio astronomers warn that interference from low Earth orbit constellations like Starlink could obscure signals from distant galaxies or even evidence of extraterrestrial life. With satellite numbers expected to rise above 100,000 by 2030, the need for protective measures is urgent. Researchers hope the system will be adopted worldwide and by other satellite operators, enabling astronomy and satellite internet to coexist. If successful, this approach could set a precedent for balancing technological progress with preservation of humanity’s window into the universe (ANS thanks Space.com 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).
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half-time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
* 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, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
mahrenstorff [at] amsat.org