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From: Paul Stoetzer via ANS <ans@amsat.org
Subject: [ANS] ANS-158 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2026 20:25:22 EDT
Reply-To: Paul Stoetzer <prstoetzer@gmail.com>
To: space@ww
*AMSAT *News Service *ANS-158*
*June 7, 2026*
In this edition:
- Deadline for Candidate Nominations for 2026 AMSAT Board of
Directors Election is June 15
- HADES-SA / SpinnyOne Designated Spain-OSCAR 127 (SO-127)
- AMSAT Submits Letter of Intent for NASA SLS CubeSat Opportunity on
Artemis III, IV, and V
- OscarWatch Tracker: A New Satellite Tracking Program from MM9SQL
- Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 5, 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/
------------------------------
Deadline for Candidate Nominations for 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors
Election is June 15
The nomination period for the AMSAT 2026 Board of Directors election,
which will take place during the third quarter of the year, ends on
*June 15,2026*.
Three director positions are set to expire in 2026. The current board
members whose seats are up for election are:
- *Mark Hammond, N8MH*
- *Bruce Paige, KK5DO*
- *Paul Stoetzer, N8HM*
In addition to these three full Director roles, up to two Alternate
Directors may also be elected to serve one-year terms.
To nominate a candidate, a written submission is required. Nominations
must include the nominees name, call sign, and contact information,
alo ng with the same details for either five AMSAT members in good
standing or one Member Society endorsing the candidate.
Nominations should be directed to the AMSAT Secretary:
Douglas Tabor, N6UA
1133 Verlan Way
Cheyenne, WY 82009
Per AMSATs bylaws, all nominations must follow the format specifie d
by the Secretary. Doug Tabor has indicated that nominations will be
accepted in both hard copy (via postal mail) and digital formats
(including email or scanned documents). However, fax submissions are
not permitted.
Email nominations should be sent to: *dtabor [at] amsat [dot] org*
All nomination petitions must be received by the Secretary no later
than June 15. After the submission deadline, the Secretary will confirm
the eligibility of each candidate and the supporting members or
societies, with final notification to candidates provided by the end of
June.
*[ANS thanks Doug Tabor, N6UA <https://x.com/dtabor>, AMSAT Secretary, for
the above information]*
------------------------------
*LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!*
*AMSAT is offering a limited-time promotion for new and renewing members
that includes a free digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur
Satellites. The promotion is being offered as AMSAT begins the 2026
membership year.*
[image: Getting Started]
*Anyone who joins or renews their AMSAT membership during the
promotional period will receive a download link for the latest edition
of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites in their membership
confirmation email. JOIN TODAY at https://launch.amsat.org/
<https://launch.amsat.org/> (Remember! Students join for FREE!)*
------------------------------
HADES-SA / SpinnyOne Designated Spain-OSCAR 127 (SO-127)
On March 30th, 2026, the HADES-SA/SpinnyONE satellite was launched on a
Falcon 9 launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Developed by AMSAT-EA, the satellite carries an SSDV and CODEC2 payload
for reception by amateur radio enthusiasts around the world. The
satellite is actively transmitting images and messages now.
At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT hereby designates HADES-SA/SpinnyONE
as Spain-OSCAR 127 (SO-127). We congratulate AMSAT-EA, thank them for
their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them
continued success on this and future projects.
SO-127 (Courtesy AMSAT-EA)[/caption]
*[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT President / OSCAR Number
Administrator, for the above information]*
------------------------------
*AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available* *Yes, These are the
Real Thing!*
* <https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_car_flag-256716714380264543>*
*Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a FoxPlus Satellite Includes First
Class Postage (Sorry – U.S. Addresses Only) Order Today at
https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain
<https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain/>*
------------------------------
*AMSAT Submits Letter of Intent for NASA
SLS CubeSat Opportunity on Artemis III, IV, and V*
On May 31, 2026, AMSAT submitted a Letter of Intent (LOI) to NASA
Marshall Space Flight Center in response to a Sources Sought Notice for
CubeSat secondary payload opportunities aboard the Space Launch System
(SLS) on the Artemis III, IV, and V missions.
The LOI expresses strong interest in developing and flying an
AMSAT-designed CubeSat payload on one or more of these missions. It
highlights the strategic alignment between the opportunity and AMSATs
ongoing *GOLF (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint)* program, which is
building the technologies and operational experience needed for amateur
radio satellites in progressively higher orbitsfrom LEO through MEO to
HEO.
A high-Earth deployment would provide an outstanding environment to
qualify key GOLF technologiesparticularly radiation-tolerant
electronics, advanced Software-Defined Radio (SDR) transponders,
three-axis attitude determination and control, and deployable/steerable
solar arraysin the demanding thermal, radiation, and trajectory
conditions beyond low Earth orbit. Such a mission would significantly
expand amateur radios “larger footprint,” deliver critical flight
heritage, and create clear synergies with NASAs exploration,
technology demonstration, and public engagement goals.
The LOI emphasizes AMSATs long heritage of successful CubeSat missions
(including the Fox series flown via NASA CSLI/ELaNa) and its robust
portfolio of educational and university partnership programs. These
include the CubeSat Simulator Program used worldwide in schools and
universities, collaborations such as the radiation experiment from
Vanderbilt University and imaging payloads from Virginia Tech on Fox
satellites, broader STEM outreach through live satellite contacts and
telemetry projects, and active mentorship of student teams and
early-career professionals.
AMSAT is prepared to deliver a flight-ready CubeSat payload, leveraging
its proven engineering pipeline, dedicated volunteer technical team,
and sustainable funding model of membership support, targeted
donations, and grants. AMSAT proposes a 6U-class spacecraft (<14 kg)
featuring deployable solar arrays and an AMSAT-developed amateur radio
communications system supporting VHF uplink/UHF downlink plus 5 GHz
uplink and 10 GHz downlink. A precursor 3U technology demonstrator,
GOLF-TEE, is under construction with completion targeted by the end of
the year; if selected, AMSAT would pivot development toward the 6U
configuration in collaboration with partners. Ground operations would
leverage the global amateur radio community for telemetry reception via
AMSATs analysis tools, supported by dedicated AMSAT command stations.
The organization is genuinely excited about the prospect of
contributing an AMSAT-developed CubeSat to the Artemis
programadvancing amateur radios historic role in space exploration,
qualifying technologies for future HEO and lunar missions, and
inspiring students and the global public through meaningful educational
partnerships.
*[ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information]*
------------------------------
*The 2026 President's Club Coin is Now Here!* *Help Support GOLF and
FoxPlus.*
*Annual memberships start at only $120*
*Join the AMSAT Presidents Club today and help* *Keep Amateur Radio in
Space!* *https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/*
<https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/>
------------------------------
*OscarWatch Tracker: A New Satellite Tracking Program from MM9SQL*
A new multi-platform desktop satellite tracking application for amateur
radio operators, *OscarWatch Tracker*, has been released and is under
active development. Developed by Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL, and hosted on
GitHub, OscarWatch provides an integrated environment for tracking
AMSAT and other amateur satellites, predicting passes, managing
Doppler-corrected frequencies, and optionally automating rotator and
radio controlall from a single map-centered interface. Key Features
OscarWatch is tailored for VHF/UHF satellite operators working FM
cubesats (e.g., SO-50, ISS), linear transponders (e.g., RS-44, FO-29),
and similar modes. It assumes familiarity with basic concepts like
azimuth, elevation, and Doppler but automates the calculations and
hardware interactions to let operators focus on making contacts.
- *Visual Tracking*: World map with satellite subpoint, ground
track, and footprint overlays (with optional motion arrows and
greyline terminator). Includes a polar sky plot relative to your
QTH. Support for time scrubbing to preview passes without affecting
live hardware. Optional DX station grid marker with live Az/El from
the remote location. - *Pass Predictions*: List of upcoming passes
with TCA (time of closest approach/max elevation), filters for
minimum elevation and duration. Features include a pass planner with
multi-station profiles and .ics calendar export, plus a mutual pass
finder for two-station coordination. - *Frequency Management*:
Built-in transponder database with live Doppler-corrected
uplink/downlink frequencies. Supports RX offsets (separate for
Voice/CW on linear modes), CTCSS tones, and easy toggling between
modes. Includes a transponder database editor for custom additions
and updates from the published JSON source. - *Hardware
Integration*: Optional serial CAT control for supported radios
(including Icom IC-910/9100/9700/705, Yaesu FT-847/817/818/991
series, Kenwood TS-2000 beta) with Doppler tracking, satellite/split
modes, and CTCSS handling. Dual-radio support for full-duplex
setups. Rotator control for Yaesu GS-232 and EasyComm-compatible
controllers (including SPID), with manual park and smart azimuth
options for 450° rotators
.
- *Additional Tools*: Voice announcements for satellite rising,
automatic pass WAV recording, Cloudlog integration for frequency
logging, nd live telemetry (Az/El, range, altitude).
OscarWatch does not decode telemetry or serve as primary logging
software; it complements existing tools as a pass assistant for home or
portable use. TLEs and the transponder database are sourced from
tle.oscarwatch.org. Getting Started
Pre-built binaries for Windows, macOS, and Linux are available on the
GitHub Releases page
<https://github.com/magicbug/OscarWatch-Tracker/releases>. After
installation:
1. Configure your station location (lat/long/grid) in Settings.
2. Select desired satellites and refresh TLEs.
3. Set up radio and rotator COM ports if using automation.
4. Focus a satellite via the map or pass list to view live data and
frequencies.
Detailed operator guides, keyboard shortcuts, and troubleshooting are
included in the app's Help menu and the repository's help/ folder. Note
that macOS users may need to approve the unsigned app and bundled
libraries on first launch. Supported Hardware Highlights
*Radios* (serial CAT, native drivers): Icom IC-910/9100/9700/705, Yaesu
FT-847/817/818/991 series, Kenwood TS-2000 (beta), with dual-radio
options.
*Rotators*: Yaesu GS-232, EasyComm II (SPID/M2/etc.).
The project emphasizes custom native drivers for reliable
satellite-specific behavior over general libraries like HamLib.
OscarWatch is still evolving rapidly (recent versions added in-app updates,
multi-language support including Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and
Brazilian Portuguese, greyline overlays, mutual pass visualizer, and
expanded rig/rotator support). Check the GitHub repository for the latest
releases, source code, TODO list, and contribution opportunities.
For more information and to download:
https://github.com/magicbug/OscarWatch-Tracker.
*[ANS thanks Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL, for the above information]*
------------------------------
[image: SDR Gen 2 Ad - 2026]
------------------------------
Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 5, 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/
<https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/>.
There are no changes to this week's TLE distribution.
General Perturbations Data Support
AMSAT is pleased to announce that modern forms of what are called
General Perturbations data are being disseminated via modern formats
including JSON, XML and KVN at
https://newark192.amsat.org/gpdata/current/. The reason this change is
being made is that we are running out of 5-digit catalog numbers and
the TLE format is not viable for satellites launched after July of this
year. See https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/gp-data-formats.php
for details. while hosted on the test server newark192.amsat.org, and
we are very open to community feedback at webmaster at amsat.org.
Testers may experience outages and errors while we make improvements.
We intend to put this into production on our main web server in July as
we expect that satellites launched after this summer will require one
of the new formats to accommodate longer object numbers. AMSAT will
continue to publish TLE bulletins for satellites launched before July
2026 indefinitely.
*[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the
above information]*
------------------------------
Buying from DX Engineering?Add AMSATs *Getting Started With Amateur
Satellites* to your order.
<https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/amt-satellites>
Available for $30 from DX Engineering (free shipping on most orders over
$99)https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/amt-satellites
------------------------------
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.
*Collège Louis Aragon, Imphy, France, direct via F5KCH*
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is F6ICS
*Contact is go for: Mon 2026-06-08 13:31:48 UTC 86 deg*
*Geneva Christian College, Latrobe, Tasmania, Australia telebridge via
VK4ISS*
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD
The scheduled crewmember is Chris Williams KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is VK4KHZ
*Contact is go for: Tue 2026-06-09 08:30:56 UTC 85 deg*
Many times, a school makes a last-minute decision to do a Livestream or
runs into a last-minute glitch requiring a change of the URL, but we at
ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication. You can always check
https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.
As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS
radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.
The crossband repeater remains configured in the Columbus Module
(145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If a crewmember decides to
pick up the microphone and turn up the volume, you may hear them on the
airso keep listening, as you never know when activity might occur.
Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RSØISS. Please
note were still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this
radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out
status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/.
Ham TV is currently transmitting a test signal at 2395.00 MHz.
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
[image: AMSAT Ambassador News Logo]
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through
amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests,
conventions, maker faires, and other events.
*October 8-11, 2026*
*44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting*
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Details to follow
[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/ <https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/>
*[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program,
for the above information]*
------------------------------
------------------------------
Satellite Shorts from All Over
+ The U.S. Space Force this week awarded SpaceX a $4.16 billion
contract to build a constellation of satellites designed to track
airborne targets from orbit. The program is intended to detect and
track airborne targets including aircraft, cruise missiles and
potentially hypersonic weapons. In the same week, the U.S. Space Force
awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to build a network of low Earth
orbit satellites intended to function as a military internet in space.
Both deals were among the largest contracts issued this year by Space
Systems Command, the Space Forces acquisition arm. (ANS thanks
SpaceNews for the above information. Read the fullarticles at
https://spacenews.com/space-force-awards-spacex-4-16-billion-to-build-satel
lite-network-for-airborne-target-tracking/?utm_sourcetiveCampaign&utm_
mediumil&utm_contentceX%20s%20%246%20billion%20week&utm_campaig
nitor%20s%20Choice%202026%2006-03 and at
https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-2-29-billion-space-force-contract-for-mil
itary-data-network/?utm_sourcetiveCampaign&utm_mediumil&utm_cont
entceX%20s%20%246%20billion%20week&utm_campaignitor%20s%20Choice
%202026%2006-03.)
+ NASA has officially ended the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution
(MAVEN) mission, six months after it lost contact with the probe. MAVEN
was the agency's first program dedicated to studying the Martian
atmosphere and its evolution. It launched in 2013 from Cape Canaveral
and entered the Martian orbit nearly a year later in 2014. The probe's
primary science mission was scheduled to last one year, but it ended up
spending more than 11 years in orbit, sending back data from Mars. NASA
even used it as an antenna for the Mars 2020 mission, which brought the
Perserance rover to the planet. (ANS thanks Engadget for the above
information. Read More:
https://www.engadget.com/2187315/nasa-ends-maven-mars-mission/.)
+ PaperSat <https://github.com/prstoetzer/PaperSat>, an satellite
tracking program for the M5Stack Paper S3, an ESP32 based eink device,
has been ported to the new M5Stack M5Paper Color. Due to the refresh
rate limitations of the color e-ink display, the program has been
reconceptualized as a eight satellite next-pass dashboard (in two
pages) with alerts to pass events using the on-board RGB LEDs and
speaker. PaperSatColor can be found at
https://github.com/prstoetzer/PaperSatColor. (ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer,
N8HM for the 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,*
*Paul Stoetzer, N8HM*
*n8hm [at] amsat.org <http://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. *
-----------------------------------------------------------
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