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From: Paul Stoetzer via ANS <ans@amsat.org
Subject: [ANS] ANS-355 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2025 19:10:14 EST
Reply-To: Paul Stoetzer <prstoetzer@gmail.com>
To: space@ww
*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 AMSATâ€Ös CW Activity Day â€
“ previously
AMSAT Straight Key Night – held in conjunction with the ARRLâ€
Ös event on New
Yearâ€Ös Day. In recognition of Rayâ€Ös long time service to AM
SAT and his keen
interest in CW operating via satellite, AMSATâ€Ös 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 bet
ween
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 oth
er
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 freezesâ€öeven 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: itâ€Ös 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 itâ€Ös 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 inter
nal
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 â
€ö
sometimes out of inexpensive materials â€ö 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
â€Ös
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 workfo
rce
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-f
or-their-first-satellite-project/
<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 SatelliteIncludes First
Class Postage (Sorry – U.S. Addresses Only)Order Today
at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain
<https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain/>*
------------------------------
*Last Chance to Join The 2025 AMSAT Presidentâ€Ös Club*
*Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight*
*Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.**Join
<https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/> the AMSAT
Presidentâ€Ös Club today!*
------------------------------
[image: 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/
<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! <https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/>**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
<https://www.zazzle.com/store/amsat_gear>!
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 satell
ites” 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)!â€
ť
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 <http://arrl.net>*
*ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H
Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002*
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