ANS-004 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

by

AMSAT News Service

ANS-004
January 4, 2026

In this edition:

* AMSAT Membership Now Includes “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Guide
* Soyuz Rideshare Launch Deploys Several New Amateur Radio Satellites in Orbit
* HDMI Converter Installed on ISS HamTV System, Expanding Video Capabilities
* CubeSat Developers Workshop 2026 Opens Call for Abstract Submissions
* GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers January 2026 Rankings
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for January 2, 2026
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

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

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

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

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

AMSAT Membership Now Includes “Getting Started with Amateur Satellites” Guide

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

Anyone who joins or renews their AMSAT membership during the promotional period will receive a download link for the latest edition of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites in their membership confirmation email. The guide is designed to help radio amateurs understand the fundamentals of satellite operation and serves as a practical reference for both newcomers and operators returning to the hobby. Additional information about AMSAT membership is available at https://launch.amsat.org.

In addition to this limited-time promotion, AMSAT membership includes a subscription to The AMSAT Journal, access to archived issues, discounts on selected items in the AMSAT online store, and opportunities to participate in AMSAT elections, committees, awards programs, and other AMSAT activities and programs. Members may also access archived proceedings from past AMSAT Space Symposiums through the AMSAT member portal.

Beyond these tangible benefits, AMSAT membership supports the development, launch, and operation of amateur radio satellites, along with education and outreach efforts. Joining AMSAT is not just about individual benefits — it is about being part of the community that builds and operates amateur satellites for radio amateurs worldwide. As AMSAT looks ahead to 2026, the promotion helps launch another year of growth and opportunity for amateur radio in space.

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT President and BoD member, for the above information]

Soyuz Rideshare Launch Deploys Several New Amateur Radio Satellites in Orbit

A Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with a Fregat upper stage launched successfully on December 28 at 13:18 UTC (8:18 a.m. EST), deploying a total of 52 satellites into orbit. The mission was operated by Roscosmos and lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Siberia. The primary payloads were two Aist-2T Earth-observation satellites.

Among the secondary payloads were at least eight satellites using amateur radio frequencies, including several that received coordination through the International Amateur Radio Union. Initial on-orbit checkout and commissioning activities are underway, with beacon reports and operational activity continuing to be reported.

QMR-KWT-2 (Moon of Kuwait) is a 1U CubeSat carrying an amateur radio mission led by Oleg Razin, R3AOR, in cooperation with the Moscow Technical University of Communication and Informatics. The satellite features an FM amateur radio transponder intended to encourage participation by students and new operators, along with a miniature camera capable of transmitting SSTV images. The mission operates under IARU coordination, with a downlink on 436.950 MHz and a transponder uplink on 145.920 MHz.

QMR-KWT-2 CubeSat carrying an amateur radio mission is shown prior to launch on the Soyuz-2.1b mission. [Credit: Orbital Space]

Lobachevsky (RS83S) is a 16U CubeSat developed by the National Research State University of Nizhny Novgorod as part of Russia’s Space-π educational program. The spacecraft carries an amateur radio digital repeater supporting message exchange between radio amateurs worldwide, along with imaging payloads transmitting SSDV and SSTV pictures. IARU-coordinated frequencies include a repeater uplink on 435.500 MHz, repeater downlink on 145.910 MHz, a telemetry and image downlink on 436.320 MHz, and an experimental X-band downlink on 10.470 GHz.

SAKHACUBE-CHOLBON (RS-18S) is a 1U CubeSat developed by the Sakha Science Academy as the first satellite of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The spacecraft uses a single UHF amateur radio transceiver for telemetry, command, and educational payload data, including digital transmissions and SSTV images. The satellite operates with IARU coordination, including a downlink on 437.350 MHz.

Several additional satellites on the mission are reported to use amateur radio frequencies without IARU coordination, including Polytech Universe-6, Scorpion, Luca-1, and Galapagos-UTE. In addition to the amateur-frequency spacecraft, the mission also deployed three Iranian Earth-observation satellites — Paya, Zafar-2, and Kowsar — intended for monitoring agriculture, mapping natural resources, and studying environmental conditions.

Follow ongoing tracking, decoding activity, and discussion of this launch in the LibreSpace community at: https://community.libre.space/t/soyuz-2-1b-fregat-vostochny-launch-2025-12-28-1305-utc/14152/21

[ANS thanks AMSAT-Francophone, the IARU, and the LibreSpace community for the above information]

HDMI Converter Installed on ISS HamTV System, Expanding Video Capabilities

Amateur Television operations aboard the International Space Station received a significant upgrade on December 22, when an HDMI converter was installed on the ARISS HamTV system. The new hardware expands video capabilities for HamTV and supports the use of a broader range of onboard cameras during future educational contacts. The installation was performed during scheduled maintenance activities by NASA astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW. ARISS reported that the HDMI converter can generate a video test signal when the system is in standby mode, providing a clear visual indication of system readiness and video-path functionality.

The December upgrade builds on HamTV’s return to operation earlier in the year. The HamTV unit was installed aboard the ISS on July 29 by astronaut Jonny Kim, KJ5HKP, after several years offline for repairs. Following installation, ARISS confirmed acquisition of signal reports from amateur stations as the system began transmitting a carrier on 2395 MHz, with continued testing through August confirming stable carrier operation.

Those efforts led to successful video use during an educational contact on October 18 with scouts in the United Kingdom. During that event, Jonny Kim, KJ5HKP, answered student questions while appearing live on station via HamTV. Pre-contact testing included tone and color-bar transmissions, followed by a successful live video downlink from the ISS.

HamTV color bar test pattern is shown as received from the International Space Station system. [Credit: Scott Chapman K4KDR]

In the days following the December 22 maintenance activity, amateur observers again reported reception of color-bar test signals, confirming proper operation of the updated video chain. On December 23, amateur operator Scott Chapman, K4KDR, reported successful reception of HamTV test video during an ISS pass over North America, documenting decoding of a video test pattern using a one-meter S-band dish.

HamTV uses DVB-S digital amateur television transmitted on 2395 MHz, and reception typically requires a 2.4-GHz-capable antenna, a low-noise amplifier, and a compatible DVB-S receiver or software-defined radio. With the HDMI converter installed and testing completed, ARISS has indicated that further HamTV activity is expected during educational contacts in 2026.

For those interested in receiving HamTV, Scott Chapman, K4KDR, has published a community guide describing one method of decoding and recording HamTV test video using SatDump and VLC Media Player: https://www.qsl.net/k/k4kdr/how-to/HamTV_SatDump_VLC.pdf. Additional technical background, reception reports, and ground-station information are maintained by the British Amateur Television Club (BATC): https://wiki.batc.org.uk/HAMTV_from_the_ISS.

[ANS thanks ARISS, the British Amateur Television Club, and Scott Chapman, K4KDR for the above information]

SDR Gen 2 Ad - 2026

CubeSat Developers Workshop 2026 Opens Call for Abstract Submissions

The CubeSat Developers Workshop (CDW) team has opened the call for abstracts for the 2026 workshop, inviting members of the CubeSat and small-satellite community to submit presentations covering mission concepts, technical developments, and operational results.

The CubeSat Developers Workshop is an annual three-day global small-satellite conference hosted at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. The event brings together students, researchers, educators, and industry professionals from around the world to share experience and lessons learned across the CubeSat mission lifecycle. In recent years, the workshop has attracted more than 600 participants representing over 50 countries.

The 2026 workshop will include both oral presentations and poster sessions. Poster sessions provide an interactive forum well suited to early-stage mission concepts, subsystem development, and student projects, while oral presentations focus on more mature missions, flight results, and in-depth technical analyses.

Abstracts are welcomed on topics spanning the full CubeSat mission lifecycle, including mission design, hardware and software development, integration and testing, operations, and on-orbit performance. Submissions that emphasize lessons learned, innovative approaches, or practical operational experience are particularly encouraged.

The CubeSat Developers Workshop 2026 will take place April 14–16, 2026, in San Luis Obispo, California. Abstract submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, January 5, 2026. Participant registration is now open, with early-bird pricing available through February 1, 2026. Professional early-bird registration begins at $200 for a one-day pass or $500 for a three-day pass, while student pricing starts at $125 for one day or $225 for three days.

Additional information on abstract submission, registration, sponsorship, and exhibitor opportunities is available on the workshop website: https://www.cubesatdw.org.

[ANS thanks the CubeSat Developers Workshop for the above information]

GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers January 2026 Rankings

The January 2026 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more accurate data.

Updated: 2026-01-01

1 ND9M 26 KX9X 51 WD5GRW 76 N8RO
2 NJ7H 27 KG5CCI 52 KE0PBR 77 SP5XSD
3 UT1FG 28 DJ8MS 53 XE3DX 78 N6UTC
4 JA9KRO 29 N5BO 54 W7WGC 79 N4UFO
5 N5UC 30 ON4AUC 55 PR8KW 80 VE7PTN
6 F5VMJ 31 K8BL 56 JK2XXK 81 BA8AFK
7 DL6AP 32 KE4AL 57 LU4JVE 82 PT2AP
8 DP0POL 33 KB5FHK 58 EB1AO 83 VE1VOX
9 WI7P 34 AC0RA 59 XE1ET 84 AA8CH
10 K5ZM 35 PA3GAN 60 EA4NF 85 KB2YSI
11 OE3SEU 36 KI0KB 61 N6DNM 86 KI7UXT
12 WY7AA 37 JO2ASQ 62 W8LR 87 AF5CC
13 LU5ILA 38 F4BKV 63 W1AW 88 KJ7NDY
14 N6UA 39 KI7UNJ 64 KI7QEK 89 BI1MHK
15 HA3FOK 40 VA3VGR 65 SM3NRY 90 PT9BM
16 W5PFG 41 VE3HLS 66 KE9AJ 91 FG8OJ
17 AK8CW 42 BG7QIW 67 F4DXV 92 BG5CZD
18 N9IP 43 LA9XGA 68 VE1CWJ 93 YU0W
19 AD0DX 44 HJ5LVR 69 AA5PK 94 PU4CEB
20 AD0HJ 45 VK5DG 70 AD7DB 95 W8MTB
21 N4AKV 46 N7AGF 71 KM4LAO 96 N4DCW
22 DL2GRC 47 DF2ET 72 M1DDD 97 WA9JBQ
23 ND0C 48 K7TAB 73 HB9GWJ 98 PS8BR
24 WD9EWK 49 JL3RNZ 74 VA7LM 99 VE3GOP
25 BA1PK 50 KE0WPA 75 DL4EA 100 JM1CAX

[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information]

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

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for January 2, 2026

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

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

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

ARISS News

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

Scheduled Contacts

+ Recently Completed

No International Space Station school contacts were completed during this reporting period, as many schools were closed for the holiday break.

+ Upcoming Contacts

No upcoming school contacts are currently scheduled; scheduling will resume once schools return from the holidays.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

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

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,

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

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

Scheduled Events

None currently scheduled.

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

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

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

25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space

Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ South Korean startup Innospace failed in its first orbital launch attempt on December 22, when its Hanbit-Nano rocket lifted off from the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil. The launch marked the first-ever orbital launch attempt by a South Korean commercial company. Hanbit-Nano is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to place small satellites into low Earth orbit from equatorial launch sites. The rocket experienced an anomaly and crashed back to Earth about one minute after liftoff, according to tracking reports. Hanbit-Nano was carrying multiple small satellites on the SPACEWARD mission, including the amateur radio CubeSat Solara S2. The mission also represented a milestone for international cooperation, with Brazil hosting the inaugural launch attempt of the South Korean-developed rocket. Innospace did not immediately disclose the cause of the failure and ended its webcast shortly after the incident. The company has said it will analyze the failure as it continues development of its launch vehicle family. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information)

+ AST SpaceMobile launched BlueBird 6, the first of its next-generation satellites, on December 23 aboard India’s LVM3 rocket operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation from the Satish Dhawan Space Center. AST SpaceMobile says BlueBird 6 is its largest satellite to date, featuring a deployable antenna substantially larger than those flown on its earlier spacecraft. BlueBird 6 is designed to support the company’s planned space-based cellular broadband network that would connect directly to standard mobile phones without additional hardware. The launch marks the beginning of a new satellite series, with the company planning to deploy dozens more spacecraft in 2026. AST SpaceMobile previously demonstrated its technology using the BlueWalker 3 prototype, including a successful 5G call to an unmodified smartphone in 2023. Earlier AST SpaceMobile satellites have drawn concern from segments of the amateur radio community due to their use of frequencies in the 430–440 MHz band for telemetry and control. The company has said it is coordinating with regulators as it expands its constellation. (ANS thanks Gizmodo for the above information)

+ Tory Bruno, longtime CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), is joining Blue Origin as president of its newly created National Security Group. Bruno led ULA for 11 years following a 30-year career at Lockheed Martin and previously partnered with Blue Origin on development of the BE-4 rocket engine used by both companies. Blue Origin said Bruno will report to CEO Dave Limp and will focus on expanding the company’s national security launch capabilities. The move comes as Blue Origin seeks to increase its role in U.S. government launch programs while competing more directly with SpaceX. Blue Origin was added to the list of approved U.S. national security launch providers in 2024 alongside ULA and SpaceX, though its New Glenn rocket has flown only a limited number of times to date. ULA announced that John Elbon, previously the company’s chief operating officer, will serve as interim CEO. (ANS thanks GeekWire for the above information)

+ UK-based company Space Forge has successfully generated plasma aboard its ForgeStar-1 satellite, marking a milestone in commercial in-space manufacturing. The demonstration establishes ForgeStar-1 as the first free-flying commercial spacecraft to operate as a semiconductor manufacturing platform in low Earth orbit. Space Forge says the plasma test confirms that the extreme conditions required for gas-phase crystal growth can be created and controlled on an autonomous satellite. The work builds on earlier research conducted aboard the International Space Station and is aimed at producing advanced semiconductor materials in microgravity. Space Forge is focusing on wide- and ultrawide-bandgap materials such as gallium nitride and silicon carbide, which are used in power electronics and advanced communications systems. The company says microgravity conditions may enable cleaner crystal growth than is possible on Earth. Data from the ForgeStar-1 mission will be used to inform future in-space manufacturing missions. The satellite is expected to complete its mission with a controlled atmospheric reentry as part of a planned end-of-life demonstration. (ANS thanks Semiconductor Today for the above information)

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 enrolled in at least half-time status are eligible for free membership 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,

Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ
mahrenstorff [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.

ANS-362 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

by

In this edition:

  • CubeSatSim Kits Now Available
  • Youth on the Air Camp 2026 Applications Open
  • AMSAT Youth Initiative: “Satellites and Climate Change” Course Now Online
  • United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs: Sustainable Development Goals
  • Launch Teams Practiced Artemis 2 Countdown
  • Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 26, 2025
  • ARISS NEWS
  • AMSAT Ambassador Activities
  • Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT(R) 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. Join this list at: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

CubeSatSim Kits Now Available

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.

Ten kits are available immediately with an additional ten kits available next week. The cost for a complete no-solder kit is $550. The price includes postage to any U.S. address. Sorry, CubeSatSims can be mailed only to U.S. addresses. Kits can be ordered at the AMSAT Store.

This kit allows you to build a CubeSat Simulator with no soldering, just assembly. This item contains:

  • All three PCBs (Main, Solar, and Battery Boards) fully assembled and tested with all components and sensors soldered in
  • Raspberry Pi Zero 2 WH with a Pi Camera and fully programmed micro-SD card and a fully programmed Raspberry Pi Pico WH and USB sound card
  • AMSAT logo Remove Before Flight tag switch
  • Four-piece 3D printed frame and nylon screws and nuts, ready for you to assemble with included mini screwdriver
  • Metal standoffs, stacking headers, and JST jumpers ready for you to stack the PCBs and the Pi Zero 2 into the board stack
  • 10 solar panels with JST connectors soldered on, and double stick mounting tape, ready for you to mount them using the tape on the frame
  • Two 6? SMA coax cables and two SMA antennas for you to connect to the STEM Payload board and the frame
  • Instruction sheet with parts inventory and link to the online instructions.

The approximate time for you to complete the kit by assembling the board stack and frame is about an hour and a half. You will need scissors, and an included mini Phillips screw driver.

The current v2.0 CubeSatSim has some improvements over the v1.2 version, including an FM transceiver, Raspberry Pi Pico micro controller, and RF command and control. You can also modify it to fly as a 500mW high altitude balloon payload.

For those who like to solder the components and 3D print their own frame, we also have the v2.0 blank PCB sets available at the AMSAT Store for $35: https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-cubesatsim-pcb/ You will need to purchase the rest of the parts from Digikey and Amazon for approximately $400 using the Bill of Materials https://CubeSatSim.org/bom .

Resources:

For additional information about the CubeSatSim, if you would like multiple kits for an educational event or if you would like to borrow a loaner CubeSat Simulator for an event, contact Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT VP-Educational Relations via email ku2y at arrl dot net.

[ANS thanks Alan Johnston, KU2Y, AMSAT VP-Educational Relations, for the above information.]

Youth on the Air Camp 2026 Applications Open

Applications are now being accepted for campers interested in attending Youth on the Air Camp. Licensed amateur radio operators ages 15 through 25 who want to attend are encouraged to apply online at YouthOnTheAir.org. Applications will continue to be accepted through May 1. The camp is scheduled to take place June 14-19, 2026, in Huntsville, Alabama, United States of America.

For the first time, YOTA Camp will have a theme for the week: Space.

For the best chance at being selected, applications should be submitted by 2359Z on January 15, 2026. Campers will be selected by the working group and notified by February 1.

The application process is FREE. A $100 USD deposit is required upon acceptance. Should a potential camper be unable to pay the $100 deposit, he or she may apply for a scholarship or waiver. Campers are also responsible for their own arrival and departure transportation to the camp location. Travel assistance may also be available.

Up to 50 campers will be accepted. Priority will be given to first-time attendees and youth residing outside of the USA. Only a limited number of returning attendees will be accepted and must serve as leaders during the camp. Leaders will be selected based on staffing needs to facilitate this year’s session choices.

Huntsville Amateur Radio Club is the local host for the 2026 camp.

For details about the camp, visit the camp web page at https://www.youthontheair.org .

[ANS thanks Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, for the above information.]

Only 4 Days Left to Get Your 2025 Coin!
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.

2025 PC Coin Set

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/

AMSAT Youth Initiative: “Satellites and Climate Change” Course Now Online

The beta release of “Satellites and Climate Change” is now available online. This course is the second online course published as part of the AMSAT Youth Initiative’s series “How Satellites in Space Help Us Live a Better Life Here on Earth.”

The course was written by Eric Sonnenwald, N2XSE. Eric, a retired science teacher in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, is a graduate of Montclair State University with an M.S. in Geosciences and the former Science Curriculum Coordinator for Hardyston Middle School. In order to expedite the development of the courses and keep costs low, one of Eric’s most challenging tasks in creating the lessons is sourcing copyright-free graphics and related resources. Fortunately there is a relatively abundant pool of free materials available on government and college websites from which to draw.

Eric Sonnenwald, N2XSE (AMSAT)

From Eric’s content, other AMSAT volunteers use specialized software to format the content into an online presentation.

The “Satellite and Climate Change” course follows the “Introduction to Satellite Meteorology” course introduced at Hamvention 2025. Several improvements have been added to the lesson format including the ability to zoom in and enlarge complex graphics shown in the screens. This is an important addition since students often use smartphones or tablets with much smaller screens that desktop or laptop computers

The third course, “Satellites and Pollution Control” is scheduled for launch within the next week or two, followed by “Satellites and Preservation of Natural Resources” in January. In all, fourteen courses are scheduled for publication by the end of 2026.

Frank Karnauskas, N1UW, AMSAT Vice President-Development and creator of the Youth Initiative explains, “Our approach to getting youth interested in satellites and amateur radio is to attract their attention and participation in topics of current events and widespread interest. We explain how satellites are an integral component of almost every facet of modern living and from there introduce the concept of critical information provided by satellites, then telemetry, and communications. We provide access to experiences with satellite telemetry via amateur radio satellite ground stations to access ARISS packet and voice stations aboard the International Space Station as well as other amateur radio satellites. Essentially, we try to ‘set the hook’ by giving students access to SWL experiences in the same way many of us got our start in amateur radio and with hands-on opportunity to download and analyze actual telemetry.

“A unique concept in designing the Youth Initiative program is that it is a community-based program available to all youth, through their own self-interest, though home-schooling and through programs such as Scouting, 4H or community based programs for youth with special needs. Teachers are welcome to incorporate the materials into their curriculum where their school boards allow them to do so. But, the key here is that school participation is not needed for parents or other leaders to utilize our materials.”

Karnauskas further explains that all materials are available online at no charge to every and all persons interested in furthering the interest of students in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

AMSAT is grateful to Amateur Radio Digital Communications for a generous grant to cover the cost of software licenses for online development and for supplemental technical artwork.

Readers can preview the online courses at https://www.BuzzSat.com .

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information.]

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

M2 LEO-Pack Antenna

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

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs: Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the utilization of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development. Space technologies have an impact on almost all aspects of development.

Despite the growing global economy and the technological progress observed in the past decades, there are still many societal challenges that need to be overcome to enhance human development. The United Nations, involving more than 190 Member States, has developed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in order to address these challenges in the form of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  • Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
  • Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
  • Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
  • Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
  • Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
  • Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
  • Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
  • Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

The importance of the role of space applications such as Earth Observation (EO) and geolocation (provided by Global Navigation Satellite Systems known as GNSS) in supporting the achievement of the development goals is recognized by the United Nations.

To get an updated view on how space technologies and their synergies can help to tackle the challenges of the world’s increasing population and complex societies see https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/space4sdgs/index.html .

[ANS thanks United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs the above information.]

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

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

Launch Teams Practiced Artemis 2 Countdown

In a prelude to the real deal, the four astronauts of the Artemis 2 mission boarded their Orion spacecraft inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 20.

The three Americans and one Canadian participated in a launch day rehearsal referred to as the countdown demonstration test or CDDT. It was the first opportunity for everyone involved with the mission to be on hand and to go through the motions of the big day with the fully integrated rocket in the loop, instead of just data simulations. The test appeared to reach its conclusion with a cutoff of the simulated countdown at the T-29 seconds point at 5:51 p.m. EST (2251 UTC).

The rehearsal is already running at least a month behind schedule. It was scheduled for November 19 but NASA postponed that, eventually blaming “a blemish” on a thermal barrier surrounding the Orion crew access hatch which prevented its closure.

The test was rescheduled for Dec. 17, but that too was abruptly delayed without explanation.

The launch of Artemis 2 is currently slated for no earlier than February 6. NASA also says the launch will take place no later than April 2026.

Read the entire article at https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/12/21/astronauts-launch-teams-practice-artemis-2-countdown/ .

[ANS thanks Spaceflight Now for the above information.]

Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for December 26, 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/ .

CEVROSAT1 has been identified as object 66308.

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

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.

Upcoming Contacts
No contacts scheduled until after the first of the year.

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

ARISS News

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.]

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 News Logo

None currently scheduled.

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

Satellite Shorts From All Over

+ They weren’t home for Christmas, but astronauts in space found their own way to make the season bright. They’ve even hung their space stockings by the airlock with care. Four astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) sent their best Christmas wishes to Earth as they orbit our planet. NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and Chris Williams and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) sent a video Christmas card home as they and three other crewmates spend the holidays 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth. “Greetings to planet Earth, all of our friends and family, from Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station, flying high above,” said Fincke, who commands the Expedition 74 crew on the ISS. “Thinking of you during this holiday season.” Watch the heartwarming greeting and feel the season bright at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-362-Greetings . [ANS thanks space.com for the above information.]

ISS Crew 74 celebrates Christmas Eve. (NASA TV)

+ The global space sector is entering a phase of large-scale satellite constellations and expanded human lunar activity, driving a sharp increase in demand for access to orbit. Within the next two decades, the total mass launched to space is expected to reach several hundred thousand tons, with annual launch counts projected in the tens of thousands and continuing to grow. Launch providers therefore face simultaneous requirements for low cost, high flight rates, and airline-style reliability in space transportation systems. Reusable launch vehicles have reduced per-flight cost, but they do not yet deliver the launch tempo and reliability needed for this next phase of activity. A study in the Chinese Journal of Aeronautics argues that artificial intelligence applied across launch vehicle life cycles could address these remaining bottlenecks and become a disruptive technology following reusability in space transportation.The authors outline four main roles for AI in launch systems: agile test and launch preparation, high-reliability flight, rapid maintenance, and efficient safety operation and control. Learn more about the study at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-362-AI . [ANS thanks spacedaily.com for the above information.]

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 no charge.
  • Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for student membership 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, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW.
f.karnauskas [at] amsat [dot] 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.

ANS-355 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

by

AMSAT News Service

ANS-355
December 21, 2025

In this edition:

  • W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1, 2026
  • New Satellite Tracking Application Released
  • How University Space Clubs Prepare for Their First Satellite Project
  • Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for December 19, 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/

W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day to be Held January 1, 2026

In March 2022, the AMSAT community lost one of our pioneers when Ray Soifer, W2RS, became a silent key. In addition to his numerous contributions to AMSAT and the worldwide amateur satellite community, Ray was also the long time organizer of AMSAT’s CW Activity Day – previously AMSAT Straight Key Night – held in conjunction with the ARRL’s event on New Year’s Day. In recognition of Ray’s long time service to AMSAT and his keen interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSAT’s CW Activity Day is now known as the W2RS Memorial AMSAT CW Activity Day.

Ray Soifer, W2RS (SK)

The rules are simple – operate CW through any amateur satellite between 0000 UTC and 2359 UTC on January 1, 2026. Straight keys and bugs are encouraged, but not required. Logs are not required, but operators are encouraged to submit a report of their activity to the AMSAT-BB. Photos and video clips of activity are also encouraged – post them on X or other social media networks and tag @AMSAT or #amsat.

Remember to use the minimum power required for communication as constant carrier modes, including CW, can disrupt transponder operation for other users.

[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]

New Satellite Tracking Application Released

Bob McGwier, N4HY, has announced the release of a new satellite tracking application entitled Visible Ephemeris.

Visible Ephemeris is a modern, spiritual successor to Quiktrak (1986), re-engineered for the Raspberry Pi 5 and modern silicon. It is capable of propagating 13,000+ satellites in real-time with sub-second updates while maintaining <5% CPU utilization.

Visible Ephemeris is high performance physics based program using Kelso/Villado SGP4, to track satellites (all in the Celestrak TLE). It uses McGwier’s implementation of Pedro Escobal AOS/LOS search but rewritten for altitude and not Eccentric Anomaly. The code is designed for and intended for Raspberry Pi and displays graphics components using Web UI.

It features a Hybrid Decoupled Architecture where the UI, Orbital Mechanics, and Network Services run on independent threads, ensuring the interface never freezes—even during heavy calculation loads.

Visible Ephemeris has been released under the MIT license and further details can be found at https://github.com/n4hy/VisibleEphemerisCPP.git

[ANS thanks Bob McGwier, N4HY, for the above information]

How University Space Clubs Prepare for Their First Satellite Project

The spark of curiosity and ambition often starts in a university lab: a handful of students gather, sketch rough diagrams on whiteboards, debate orbital mechanics at midnight, and dream of seeing their own hardware flying above Earth. For many of these aspiring engineers and scientists, involvement with a student satellite club represents more than just coursework: it’s their first real shot at participating in space exploration. These clubs, across universities worldwide, transform ideas into hardware and enthusiasm into the kind of rigorous planning it takes to actually launch.

From Idea to Kickoff: Forming the Team And Setting Goals

At the outset, a group of students (often from different disciplines like mechanical engineering, computer science, electronics, or physics) comes together with a shared interest in building a satellite. For many, this marks the beginning of a university satellite project rather than just a class exercise, and some teams even use a dedicated research assistant to streamline early planning and gather technical insights. The club defines its mission: maybe it’s Earth observation, environmental sensing, communications testing, or a technology demonstration.

The first practical step is to assemble a core team: subsystem leads for avionics, communications, structure, power, payload, and operations. This division, common in professional aerospace teams, helps students learn early how complex spacecraft are divided into interdependent systems. Some clubs also look for faculty advisors or collaborators from industry to guide them through unfamiliar territory.

Once the pieces are in place, the club sets goals and schedules. Will this be a CubeSat, a smaller PocketQube, or a microsatellite? What payload makes sense given the budget and skills available? How will ground station communications work? Early decisions help steer the entire project and establish realistic expectations about scope, cost, and timeline.

The Importance of Design, Simulation, And Prototyping

Design is where theory meets reality. Students work on 3D models of satellite structure, layout of solar panels, shielding, antennas, and internal boards. They simulate thermal, electrical, and mechanical stresses to ensure their satellite can survive launch vibrations and the harsh environment of space. Many clubs employ computer-aided design (CAD) tools and simulation software to anticipate potential issues.

Prototyping follows design. Groups build mock-ups or engineering models — sometimes out of inexpensive materials — to test fits, deployment mechanics, and subsystem integration. This hands-on phase reveals assembly challenges that might not show up on the screen. It also builds critical skills: soldering, wiring, 3D printing parts, basic clean-room assembly practices, and rigorous testing.

Building Support Networks: Mentors, Funding, Partnerships

A student group rarely operates in isolation. Universities might provide lab space, clean rooms, testing facilities, and occasionally small budgets, but often, additional external support is crucial. Clubs frequently reach out to faculty in engineering, physics, or computer science departments for mentorship. Some clubs also form partnerships with research institutions, local aerospace companies, amateur radio communities, or national space agencies to gain access to more advanced equipment.

Ground-Station Planning And Mission Operations Prep

One often-overlooked but essential component is the ground segment. A successful satellite needs to reliably communicate with Earth: upload commands, receive telemetry, downlink data. For many student teams, building or adapting a ground station is part of the learning curve.

On the operations side, the team writes procedures and schedules: when to turn on instruments, how to run health checks, how to handle contingencies like partial failures or unexpected behavior in orbit. This mission-operations mindset trains students in the discipline of space mission management.

Preparing for Launch: Testing, Regulatory Paperwork, And Final Review

As the launch nears, the club shifts into full production mode. All subsystems must be assembled, tested, and integrated. Thermal-vacuum tests, vibration tests, and electromagnetic interference tests help ensure the satellite will survive the rigors of launch and space. Students often run repeated functional tests: power cycling, communications tests, antenna deployment, battery charging, and simulating real in-orbit operations.

At the same time, they must deal with paperwork: launch licensing, radio-frequency licensing, compliance with local and international space regulations, and environmental reviews. Some universities facilitate this, but others require the student club to navigate the regulatory process itself, a valuable learning experience in project management.

Once everything checks out, the team must coordinate with a launch provider, reserve a ride-share slot or secure a deployment contract, define orbit parameters, and prepare payload manifests.

The First Launch, And What Comes Next

Reaching orbit is a major milestone, but for student-built satellites, it’s only the beginning. First missions are typically demonstration or technology-testing. Once the satellite is in orbit, the ground station begins routine operations: receiving telemetry, validating system health, operating payloads, and collecting data.

Why do these clubs matter? Beyond the immediate technical achievement, they cultivate a culture of innovation, hands-on learning, and collaboration. They lower the barrier to entry into space for students who might never have had the opportunity otherwise. Many graduates of student satellite clubs go on to careers in aerospace, research, or related industries, carrying with them practical skills in design, systems engineering, hardware testing, and project management.

As university clubs gain experience and build reputations, they do more than just offer small satellite development for students; they also help governments and space agencies recognize the value of small satellites: low-cost experimentation, rapid iteration, educational outreach, and workforce development.

[ANS thanks Orbital Today for the above information. Read the full article at https://orbitaltoday.com/2025/12/19/how-university-space-clubs-prepare-for-their-first-satellite-project/]

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

Last Chance to Join The 2025 AMSAT President’s Club
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.
Join the AMSAT President’s Club today!

SDR Gen 2 Ad - 2026

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for December 19, 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/.

This week there are no changes to the AMSAT TLE Distributions.

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

Need new satellite antennas?
Purchase an M2 LEO-Pack from the AMSAT Store!

When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.

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

No contacts currently scheduled

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.

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]

Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?
Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!
25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space

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

No events currently scheduled

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]

Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ AO-123’s FM transponder has been back in operation periodically over the past week. The uplink for the FM transponder is 145.850 MHz (67.0 Hz CTCSS) and the downlink is 435.400 MHz. (Thanks to contributors to the AMSAT Status Page).

+ The 90th AMSAT Rover Award has been issued to HJ1M. For more information on AMSAT awards, visit https://www.amsat.org/awards-2/ (Thanks to Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards).

+ On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order entitled “Ensuring American Space Superiority.” In this order, the President announced the policy of the U.S. Government is to return Americans to the Moon by 2028 through the Artemis Program and to establish the initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030 “to ensure a sustained American presence in space and enable the next steps in Mars exploration.

+ On December 17, 2025, the U. S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of NASA by a vote of 67-30. Issacman took office as the NASA Administrator the following day.

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] arrl.net

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

ANS-348 AMSAT News Service Bulletins

by

AMSAT News Service

ANS-348
December 14, 2025

In this edition:

* Soyuz Crew Lands Ending Eight-Month Space Research Journey
* Satellites Experience “Orbital Summer” And “Orbital Winter”
* CCSDS Development Competition Open to European Hams
* VUCC Satellite Standing December 2025
* DXCC Satellite Standing for December 2025
* A Dying Satellite May Photograph Asteroid Apophis in 2029
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* Boeing’s Next Starliner Flight Will Carry Cargo Only
* 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/

Soyuz Crew Lands Ending Eight-Month Space Research Journey

The crew of Soyuz MS-27, including NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, KJ5HKP, along with Russian Cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, returned safely to Earth after living aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in weightlessness for 245 days. The return marked the end of ISS Expedition 73.

Lieutenant Commander (LCDR, U.S. Navy) Jonny Kim was born and raised in Los Angeles, California to Korean-American immigrants. He enlisted in the Navy as a Seaman recruit after graduating high school in 2002. After completion of Hospital Corpsman “A” school training, he reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, CA. After completing his training at Naval Special Warfare, Kim reported to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Liberty, NC for the Special Operations Combat Medic Course. He was assigned as a Special Warfare Operator to SEAL Team THREE in San Diego, CA and obtained various qualifications including Military Freefall Parachutist, Advanced SCUBA, Combatant Diver (closed circuit rebreather), Naval Special Warfare Special Reconnaissance Scout and Sniper, and Advanced Special Operations Techniques. As a Navy SEAL he completed more than 100 combat operations.

In 2012, Petty Officer First Class Kim was commissioned as a naval officer through the Navy’s enlisted-to-officer commissioning program, Seaman to Admiral-21, following graduation from the University of San Diego. Kim obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his internship with the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA.

Kim is an Aeromedical Dual Designated (AMDD) Naval Aviator and Flight Surgeon, he completed his primary flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, TX, helicopter advanced flight training at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, FL, and the Naval Flight Surgeon course at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute at NAS Pensacola, FL.

Selected by NASA in 2017, Kim completed two years of training as an Astronaut Candidate. Training included technical and operational instruction in International Space Station systems, Extravehicular Activities (EVA) Operations, T-38 flight training, robotics, physiological training, expeditionary training, field geology, water and wilderness survival training, and Russian language proficiency training. In 2020, Kim began his support of International Space Station operations as a Capsule Communicator (CapCom) in Mission Control Center Houston and the Artemis program under the astronaut Exploration branch. He served as the International Space Station’s Increment Lead for Expedition 65 in 2021.

As part of his astronaut training, Kim earned his Technician Class amateur radio license in July of 2024.


Soyuz MS-27 crew members (from left) NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky
pose for a pre-flight portrait at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. (Credit: GCTC)

Kim launched to the International Space Station on April 8, 2025, as a flight engineer on the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft. He spent eight months aboard the station as an Expedition 72/73 flight engineer, conducting science experiments and maintaining the space station. During the science expedition, Kim orbited the Earth 3,920 times and traveling nearly 104 million miles. He saw the arrival of nine visiting spacecraft and the departure of six during his time in orbit.

This was Kim’s first spaceflight, where he served as flight engineer for Expedition 72 and 73. This also was Zubritsky’s first trip to the space station. Ryzhikov now has logged a total of 603 days in space during three trips to the orbital complex, ranking him 13th all time.

The three crew members were flown by helicopter to Karaganda, Kazakhstan, where recovery teams are based. After medical exams, Kim boarded a NASA aircraft and returned to Houston to spend Christmas with his wife and their three children.

Expedition 74 is now underway with veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, as commander leading six flight engineers including NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, KJ5CMN, and Chris Williams, KJ5GEW, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Platonov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev.

[ANS thanks NASA for the above information.]

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

Satellites Experience “Orbital Summer” And “Orbital Winter”

Think satellites are immune to seasons? Think again!

They experience “Orbital Summer” and “Orbital Winter” with extreme effects. Because of the position of the Earth, as well as the orbital path, satellites experience periods when they are entirely out of Earth’s shadow (“orbital summer”) and periods when they are in “eclipse” for most or all of their orbits (“orbital winter”).

What does this mean for their batteries and temperature?


(Credit: TinyGS)

When fully illuminated, solar panels are generating non-stop power and batteries are fully charged. But “Orbital Summer” isn’t just about light; it’s about heat. Without the shadow of an eclipse to cool down, the satellite heats up, putting stress on batteries and other components.

Conversely, when “Orbital Winter” happens, a satellite will experience maximum eclipse time. When in eclipse, batteries may not charge sufficiently. Satellites must survive long periods in the dark, relying heavily on batteries and internal heaters to keep from freezing.

“Orbital Summer” And “Orbital Winter” are primary contributors to satellite failure, and a major challenge to those who build and operate satellites of all types.

[ANS thanks TinyGS for the above information.]

Only 2 Weeks Left to Get Your 2025 Coin!
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.

2025 PC Coin Set

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/

CCSDS Development Competition Open to European Hams

The European Space Agency (ESA) is presenting a pilot programme on behalf of The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) and is pleased to announce a new outreach initiative aimed at strengthening engagement with the European amateur satellite and academic communities. This initiative supports the wider objective of promoting the adoption and practical application of CCSDS space communication standards.

CCSDS invites European amateur satellite operators, students, educators, and academic researchers to participate and to help advance open, interoperable space communication technologies.

ESA, in partnership with Goonhilly Earth Station, CCSDS, AMSAT-UK, and AMSAT-DL, are launching a competition to develop high-quality reference implementations of selected CCSDS protocols.

This competition is sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA).

About the Competition

This programme invites participants to:

Develop open, standards-compliant reference implementations of CCSDS protocols
Contribute to a shared technical resource for amateur satellite operators, universities, and research groups
Gain recognition within both the CCSDS community and the broader space communications field

An in-person hackathon at Goonhilly Earth Station will be available to interested participants, providing a unique environment for collaboration, expert guidance, and accelerated development.

Goonhilly Earth Station is coordinating the competition and will not assert any ownership over Hackathon/Competition outputs.

Prize

Winners of the competition will receive an invitation to attend a CCSDS conference in the United States, where they will present their results to the international CCSDS community.

Protocols Featured in the Competition

These are the outlines of the two CCSDS protocols selected for this competition:

LunaNet Signal-In-Space Recommended Standard – Augmented Forward Signal (LSIS – AFS)
The LSIS–AFS standard defines how lunar orbiters or surface systems broadcast a unified navigation and timing signal to support future missions on and around the Moon. It provides a framework for creating an enhanced, interoperable “forward signal” that spacecraft, rovers, and astronauts can use for more accurate positioning, timing, and situational awareness.

Space Communications Session Control (CCSDS 235.1)

The CCSDS 235.1 standard defines how space missions establish, manage, and conclude communication sessions between spacecraft and ground systems. It provides a common framework that ensures reliable coordination when exchanging data, sending commands, and transitioning between communication states.

Participants may choose either to develop a functional concept or prototype that demonstrates how the LSIS–AFS signal could be designed, transmitted, interpreted, or applied to support future lunar missions, or to create a practical, interoperable reference implementation of Space Communications Session Control aligned with the CCSDS 235.1 standard.

A Long-Term Vision: Toward a Cislunar Amateur Radio Payload

CCSDS is pleased to highlight a longer-term aspiration linked to this initiative. In close cooperation with its partners—particularly ESA, which is proposing a future cislunar amateur radio payload—CCSDS intends to support the preparation of the most successful protocol implementations for potential consideration for flight.

This offers an exceptional opportunity for community-developed CCSDS-compliant software to be demonstrated in a deep-space operational environment.

This prospective mission is subject to funding and programme approval.

Contact and Expressions of Interest

For enquiries or to express interest in participating, please contact: [email protected]

Additional details—including eligibility criteria, protocol specifications, submission requirements, evaluation processes, and timelines—will be released soon.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT-UK for the above information.]

VUCC Satellite Standing December 2025

————————————————————
VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for
November 01, 2025 to November 30, 2025.
————————————————————

Call Nov Dec
E70A 840 901
A65BR 676 701
F6GLJ 609 701
EA3TA 607 681
AD2DD 604 650
HP2VX 527 543
N6PAZ 495 500
PY2HZ New 427
OH3DP 300 352
BI1QGX 102 350
W6IA 278 302
PY2YJ 210 266
DH0GSU 170 204
N9HF New 185
KT8O 153 175
WB5TX 151 156
BI1NWO New 126
DF3VG New 123

Congratulations to the new VUCC Satellite holders.

PY2HZ
N9HF
BI1NWO
DF3VG

N0HF is first VUCC Satellite holder from EL99
PY2HZ is first VUCC Satellite holder from GG48

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

DXCC Satellite Standings for December, 2025

————————————————————
DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for
November 01, 2025 to December 01, 2025.
————————————————————

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.
JK2XXK
I1YDT
YB5QZ

YB5QZ is first DXCC Satellite holder from Indonesia and OJ00

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

A Dying Satellite May Photograph Asteroid Apophis in 2029

An Australian company wants to join efforts to study a rare space event, conducting its own flyby of the asteroid Apophis when it makes its close approach to Earth in 2029.

Sydney-based HEO Robotics, a provider of commercial satellite-to-satellite imagery, wants to add to the international missions already planning to get up close to the 1,115-foot-wide (340 meters) asteroid Apophis as it zooms by Earth in April 2029 by buying a satellite near the end of its life up in geostationary orbit and use its remaining fuel.

An illustration of the “God of Destruction” asteroid Apophis as it makes a close approach to Earth in April 2029
(Image credit: Jonathan Männel / with Eyes on the Solar System, NASA/JPL)

Satellites in the geostationary belt (GEO) orbit 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above the equator. Spacecraft nearing the end of their lives use their remaining fuel to head into a so-called graveyard orbit above GEO to take themselves out of the way of the operational satellites. HEO aims to buy a satellite near the end of its mission lifetime and, using a little more fuel than needed for the graveyard trip, make a close approach to Apophis, which will pass within the GEO belt when it makes its close approach to Earth on Friday, April 13, 2029.

[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/astronomy/asteroids/a-dying-satellite-could-use-its-final-moments-to-photograph-the-infamous-asteroid-apophis-in-2029]

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for December 12, 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/.

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

Duchifat 3 NORAD Cat ID 44854 Decayed from orbit on or about 08 Dec 2025

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

SilverSat NORAD Cat ID 66909 Downlink frequency: 437.175 MHz
BEE-1000 NORAD Cat ID 66650 Downlink frequency: 436.5 MHz
SNUGLITE_III DURI NORAD Cat ID 66661 Downlink frequency 436.789 MHz

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

Boeing’s Next Starliner Flight Will Carry Cargo Only

NASA ended months of speculation about the next flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, confirming that the vehicle will carry only cargo to the International Space Station.

NASA and Boeing are now targeting no earlier than April 2026 to fly the uncrewed Starliner-1 mission, the space agency said. Launching by next April will require completion of rigorous test, certification, and mission readiness activities, NASA added in a statement.

Starliner’s first flight in December 2019, without crew, had to be truncated after software problems plagued the vehicle. It was nearly lost shortly after launch as well as before atmospheric reentry. It did not make a planned rendezvous with the space station.

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is pictured docked to the Harmony module’s forward port at the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA

The second mission, Orbital Flight Test 2, took place in May 2022. Because of problems on the previous mission, this spacecraft also flew uncrewed. This flight was more successful, reaching the space station despite some thruster issues.

NASA then spent more than two years testing Starliner on the ground before its first crewed flight in 2024, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, KD5PLB. During its approach to the space station, the Starliner spacecraft once again experienced serious thruster issues. (However, the life-and-death nature of this flight was not revealed until nearly a year later.) Starliner ultimately docked with the station, but after heated deliberations, NASA informed Boeing that the vehicle would return to Earth uncrewed.

As a result, a Dragon mission was launched later in 2024 carrying just two astronauts instead of a full complement of four. This allowed for the safe return of Wilmore and Williams in March 2025.

[ANS thanks Wired for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.wired.com/story/boeings-next-starliner-flight-will-only-be-allowed-to-carry-cargo/.]

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

Due to the holidays, no contacts are scheduled until after the first of the year.

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.]

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

25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space

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.

None currently scheduled.

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.]

Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ Earth observation satellite TUBIN of Technical University Berlin, Germany is about to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in the upcoming days; 16th December +/-1 day. During the orbit decay it is transmitting a telemetry beacon every 10 seconds, including position, attitude, temperatures, etc. via amateur radio UHF band at 435.950 MHz. Researchers would appreciate support of additional radio amateurs listening in and forward the received telemetry data. Further information can be found at https://community.libre.space/t/tubin-tubsat-27-re-entry/13998. As the orbit is decaying quite fast, most recent TLE’s shall be used, which are frequently updated at https://db.satnogs.org/api/tle/?format=3le&norad_cat_id=48900. Any decoded frames, audio recordings or reception reports are very welcome and can be submitted following the instructions in https://community.libre.space/t/tubin-tubsat-27-re-entry/13998. The team at TU Berlin will collect all contributions and can provide specialized TUBIN re-entry QSL cards. Full project overview at https://www.tu.berlin/en/raumfahrttechnik/research/current-projects/tubin. (ANS thanks Steffen Reinert of Technische Universität Berlin for the above information.)

+ SkyRoof, a Windows application for Hams and satellite enthusiasts by Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA, was recently featured on the website of AMSAT-SM, the Swedish amateur radio satellite organization. The article by Lars Thunberg, SMØTGU, may be found at https://www.amsat.se/2025/11/22/skyroof-sdr-satellite-software/. Lars also has an interesting article on setting up a LORA telemetry groundstation at https://www.amsat.se/category/operations/. (ANS thanks AMSAT-SM for the above information.)

+ Similarly, Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL, has developed Zenith, a web-based tracking application. Information at https://zenithtracker.org/. (ANS thanks Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL, for the above information.)

+ AMSAT’s CubeSat Simulator gets excellent reviews, but a budget version is available from the Ukraine for those with access to 3-D printing and a willingness to overcome some bugs and limitations. A YouTube video reviews the project at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvtHcwemfco (ANS thanks @saveitforparts for the above information.)

+ At next year’s World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-25), governments will face a choice that goes to the heart of how we monitor our warming planet. Some regulators are wondering whether to open part of the X-band — the 8.025–8.4 GHz range used by Earth observation satellites — to 5G and 6G mobile networks. Several major telecom operators have been pushing for this move, arguing that they could use this spectrum more efficiently and pay countries handsomely for the right to do so. Eleven satellite-focused companies have formed the Remote Sensing Collective to resist the change. They’ve done this because the satellites we depend on to understand the environment depend in turn on the X-band. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information. Read the full article at http://bit.ly/44pC8wX.)

+ Last month, Chinese astronauts on board the country’s Tiangong space station discovered cracks in the window of their return vehicle, the Shenzhou-20, which officials suspected were the result of a space debris strike. The spacecraft was deemed not safe enough to return its crew, prompting an orbital game of musical chairs as the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) launched an emergency uncrewed replacement spacecraft, Shenzhou-22, to the station. Two Shenzhou-21 astronauts embarked on the mission’s first spacewalk on December 9, inspecting and photographing a damaged spacecraft window which triggered an earlier emergency launch. CMSA did not publicize results. (ANS thanks Futurism.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://futurism.com/space/chinese-astronauts-spacewalk-station-damaged-spacecraft.)

+ NASA has lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN, a spacecraft that has circled the planet for more than a decade, collecting science data and serving as a key communications relay. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information.)

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.