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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black">AMSAT NEWS SERVICE</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black">ANS-180</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">In this edition:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">* AMSAT Shares Update on Fox-Plus CubeSat Design, Adapter Issues, and Integration Work<br>
* AMSAT South Africa to Host 2025 Virtual Symposium on 68 Years of Amateur Radio Progress<br>
* AMSAT Seeks Additional Volunteers for Moon Day at Dallas Frontiers of Flight Museum<br>
* SpaceX Transporter-14 Rideshare Delivers Small Sats, Reentry Tech, and Memorial Ashes<br>
* Axiom-4 Reaches Orbit After Delays With Multinational Crew Bound for Space Station<br>
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 27, 2025<br>
* ARISS News<br>
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities<br>
* Satellite Shorts From All Over<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The news feed on <a href="https://www.amsat.org">
https://www.amsat.org</a> publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at]
<a href="http://amsat.org">amsat.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see:
<a href="https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/">https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">ANS-180 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">To: All RADIO AMATEURS<br>
From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation<br>
712 H Street NE, Suite 1653<br>
Washington, DC 20002<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">DATE 2025 Jun 29<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT Shares Update on Fox-Plus CubeSat Design, Adapter Issues, and Integration Work<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">During Hamvention 2025, AMSAT’s Mike Moore presented the latest developments in the Fox-Plus program. Mike Moore, K4MVM, AMSAT Systems Engineer/Project Lead began his status review by saying, “I’ve been involved
with the AMSAT Fox CubeSat program for the last year and a half. It’s a continuation of the Fox series of satellites. We're improving on the series with the Fox-Plus CubeSat, modernizing it and, where we can do so, reducing costs.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT’s Fox Plus project is proceeding towards being ready for a launch of a 1U CubeSat (Fox-Plus-A) with a V/u linear transponder. The term “1U” refers to the standard size CubeSat, also known as a nanosat,
measuring 10x10x10 centimeters, weighing up to 2 kilograms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The Fox-Plus Amateur Radio CubeSat series will add to the success of the original Fox series of AMSAT 1U CubeSats. The big push is to have Fox-Plus units ready to fly experimental payloads on short notice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT is purchasing components from ISIS (Innovative Solutions In Space), formed in 2006, with offices in The Netherlands. They provide components, particularly for CubeSats and small satellites. The company
offers “building blocks” such as spacecraft structures, solar panels, antennas, transceivers, attitude control systems, and on-board computers as well as satellite launcher units and services.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Mike continued, “To expedite development of Fox-Plus, AMSAT has selected Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) components. This includes the ISIS CubeSat spacecraft frame, electrical power system, solar panels. We’re
integrating those components with our AMSAT Linear Transponder Module (LTM).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“AMSAT’s LTM is a composed of the Legacy Internal Housekeeping Unit (LIHU), the Improved Command Receiver (ICR), receiver/transmitter (RXTX). The AMSAT Fox-Plus LTM module is shown within the dotted line rectangle,
upper right in the system overview,” He said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="410" height="263" style="width:4.2708in;height:2.7395in" id="_x0000_i1057" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fox-Plus-System-Overview-LTM-Highlighted.png"></span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Moore explained, “We’ve been tasked to fit the COTS modules from ISIS, spacecraft frame, Electrical Power System (EPS) and solar panels with our AMSAT boards into the ISIS frame. That’s mechanical challenge.
The ISIS frame and PCBs are not the same dimensions as AMSAT’s standard ME-113 PCB. The AMSAT ME-113 is used in legacy units as well as GOLF and other LTM applications.” The AMSAT-Fox Documentation, referenced below, provides details on Fox components.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="325" height="320" style="width:3.3854in;height:3.3333in" id="_x0000_i1056" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fox-ME113-vs-ISIS-Hole-Pattern-Diagram.png"></span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“The diagram above shows the ISIS hole pattern and board dimensions compared to the ME-113 holes and dimensions. The Fox ME-113 board dimensions are offset just enough to make it a real problem. If they were
offset by a bit more the problem might be simpler. It’s possible we could just offset our PCB connectors. That's not possible, making this a mechanical engineering design challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="321" height="229" style="width:3.3437in;height:2.3854in" id="_x0000_i1055" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fox-Plus-PCB-Mechanical-Adapter-Design.png"></span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“We have adapters to do this; one design is in the photo above. Our Mechanical & Structural Engineer is Andrew Robinson, KA3WDW.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="588" height="392" style="width:6.125in;height:4.0833in" id="_x0000_i1054" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fox-Plus-ME113-Half-Cards-and-CSKB-Setup.png"></span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Mike continued, “The electrical adapter, is above on the right. The photo shows the PCBs while on my work bench. They're half cards. It's the ME-113 cut in half. I have the PC104 or in ISIS terms, the CubeSat
Kit Bus (CSKB) on the left.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“That's on the board on the left-hand side of the photo. The Power Integrated Unit (PIU) board from ISIS is connected to it. The photo shows just wires right now, but later there will be a ribbon cable over
to our stacking bus which is our QXH electrical bus, a very small 60-pin connector. It connects all cards together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="418" height="265" style="width:4.3541in;height:2.7604in" id="_x0000_i1053" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fox-Plus-Structure-With-LTM-PIU-and-Adapters.png"></span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The diagram above shows the Fox-Plus CubeSat and the mechanical adapters. The LTM is in the middle. On the bottom is the Power Battery Pack (PBP) and the top board is the CubeSat Power Integrated Unit (PIU).
It consists of three subsystems which derive electrical energy from the solar panels and the energy stored in the PBP.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“We're also considering using spacers instead of using the entire card area dimensions for mechanical adapters. Spacers are small units with two side by side holes. One hole would go to the ISIS board, the
other would to the ME-113 board.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“I've now got preliminary schematics of the adapter card done. We're about ready to go to production on that to get PCBs made. That has the power and signal components on it, all the power for the satellite
and two I2C buses, (Inter-Integrated Circuit, a two-wire, serial communication protocol that allows multiple devices to communicate with each other on a single bus).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“There's a problem on the ICR card version 1.2 and we’re taking care of that. Also, there's Universal Asynchronous Receive/Transmit (UART) interconnect problem as well as some other odds and ends on which we’re
working,” Moore added.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">There are innumerable details encountered during CubeSat research, development, test, and evaluation (RDTE).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Jerry Buxton, N0JY, Vice President of Engineering for AMSAT is a key member of the Fox Engineering Team dating back to the beginning of the program in 2011. In his “AMSAT Fox-1 Systems Engineering Documentation”
June, 2018 paper, The Fox program introduced this engineering process for AMSAT. See references at end of document.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“Engineering documentation is provided at each stage of development. An archive of this documentation is online, backed-up and version controlled. When an AMSAT satellite has been completed this archive of
traceable documentation serves as the basis for planning and executing future satellite programs. It is updated to apply the lessons learned about what went well and what did not.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Documentation is part of organizational memory (OM), also known as institutional memory or corporate memory. OM is the accumulated body of data, information, and knowledge created in the course of an organization's
existence, excellent proof of internal learning and education and potentially a reference tool for use by external organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Concluding his portion of the AMSAT Forum Mike said, “Burns Fisher is AMSAT’s software guru. Burns is working with Patrick Thomas, KB8DGC, AMSAT System Engineer and PACSAT Liaison, getting Patrick up to speed
to do Fox-Plus flight software.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Other dedicated volunteers on the Fox-Plus Engineering Team include Andrew Robinson, KA3WDW, Mechanical & Structural Engineer, and Leandra MacLennan, AF1R, Electrical Engineer, Hardware Development. Contributions
from various universities and other organizations were essential too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">[ANS thanks Mike Moore, K4MVM, AMSAT Systems Engineer/Project Lead for the above information]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT South Africa to Host 2025 Virtual Symposium on 68 Years of Amateur Radio Progress<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT South Africa has announced that the 2025 Space Symposium will take place on Saturday, 2 August 2025, from 08:00 UTC to 14:00 UTC, and has issued a call for papers. The theme of this year’s event is “Embracing
68 Years of Space Science and Innovation in Amateur Radio.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Papers are invited on all aspects of space science and communication that impact or enhance the amateur radio experience — from technical developments to operational practices. Presentations will be approximately
30 minutes, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session. Proposal submissions in Microsoft Word format should be emailed to admin [at] amsatsa [dot] org [dot] za by 7 July 2025.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">To maximize global participation, the symposium will be held online via the Webex platform. Attendance is free for members of all AMSAT organisations and national societies, with registration opening on 9 July
2025.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">[ANS thanks <a href="https://www.amsatsa.org.za/">
AMSAT South Africa</a>, for the above information]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT Seeks Additional Volunteers for Moon Day at Dallas Frontiers of Flight Museum<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The 2025 Moon Day, a space-themed public STEM event, will take place on Saturday, July 19 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas. Held each year close to the date of the Apollo 11 moon landing,
the event features hands-on science exhibits and activities for all ages. Moon Day runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CDT, with setup beginning at 8:00 a.m. CDT.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT will once again be represented at the event by AMSAT Ambassador Thomas Schuessler, N5HYP, along with several North Texas satellite enthusiasts. They will engage with the public — including many young
people — on topics such as satellite orbits, the International Space Station, and amateur radio in space. Exhibits will include the AMSAT Fox CubeSat engineering model and the CubeSat Simulator, and the team hopes to demonstrate a few live satellite passes
during the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Tom is seeking additional AMSAT volunteers from the North Texas area to help staff the exhibit table. The AMSAT booth will be located next to the Dallas Amateur Radio Club exhibit, providing opportunities for
great conversations with fellow hams as well as curious families. Volunteers receive free museum admission and lunch. Anyone interested in helping for part or the entire day is encouraged to email Tom at n5hyp [at] arrl [dot] net.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">More information about the event is available at:
<a href="https://flightmuseum.com/events/moonday">https://flightmuseum.com/events/moonday</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">[ANS thanks Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, AMSAT Ambassador, for the above information]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h3 align="center" style="text-align:center"><strong><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coins Have Just Arrived!</span></i></strong><i><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
</span></i><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><img border="0" width="300" height="148" style="width:3.125in;height:1.5416in" id="_x0000_i1052" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-PC-Coin-2-Sided-Color-Web-300x148.jpg"></span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;font-weight:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align:center"><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/">Join</a> the AMSAT President’s Club today!</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">SpaceX Transporter-14 Rideshare Delivers Small Sats, Reentry Tech, and Memorial Ashes<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on June 23 at 5:25 p.m. EDT (2125 UTC), carrying 70 payloads for a diverse range of customers. The mission, known as Transporter
14, is the latest in SpaceX’s dedicated rideshare program, which provides cost-effective launch services for small satellites and experimental spacecraft.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Among the payloads was a special memorial capsule containing cremated human remains and DNA samples. The Exploration Company’s new Nyx reusable spacecraft is flying this commemorative mission in cooperation
with Celestis, a company specializing in space burials. If all goes according to plan, Nyx will circle Earth two or three times before being recovered, carrying remains and DNA from about 150 people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The launch also delivered an array of microsats, cubesats, and reentry capsules. One notable payload is Varda Space’s fourth reentry capsule, which aims to support the company’s effort to manufacture pharmaceuticals
and other high-value goods in microgravity and return them to Earth for commercial use. Transporter 14 continues SpaceX’s trend of supporting in-space manufacturing demonstrations and technology development.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a href="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SpaceX_Transporter-14_Payload_Stack_Labeled.jpg"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="832" height="1024" style="width:8.6666in;height:10.6666in" id="_x0000_i1051" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SpaceX_Transporter-14_Payload_Stack_Labeled-832x1024.jpg"></span></a><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">SpaceX’s Transporter‑14 mission recently deployed 70 small satellites into orbit. [Credit:
<a href="https://x.com/SpaceX">SpaceX</a> / <a href="https://x.com/GewoonLukas_">
@GewoonLukas</a>]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Two amateur radio satellites also hitched a ride. PARUS-T2, a 3U CubeSat developed by the Taiwan Space Agency with support from National Formosa University, carries a cross-band voice repeater and APRS digipeater.
It provides voice communications on uplink 145.980 MHz (67 Hz tone) and downlink 435.250 MHz, along with APRS packet services on 145.825 MHz. Students and amateur operators worldwide will have access to the satellite’s unencrypted telemetry and educational
outreach tools.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Indonesia’s RIDU-Sat 1 also joined the manifest. This 1U CubeSat, managed by the Republic of Indonesia Defense University, uses amateur radio frequencies for educational training and communications. It features
a VHF APRS payload on 145.825 MHz and a telemetry beacon on 145.925 MHz, designed to support student learning and community engagement in satellite operations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">As with many previous Falcon 9 flights, reusability was on display. The rocket’s first stage landed successfully on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean about 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
It marked the 26th flight and landing for this booster, edging closer to SpaceX’s reuse record of 28 flights. Meanwhile, the upper stage will spend nearly two hours deploying the payloads into precise orbits, continuing a mission series that began with Transporter
1’s record-setting 143-satellite launch in 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Read the full article at: <a href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-human-remains-reentry-capsule-and-more-on-transporter-14-rideshare-mission">
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-human-remains-reentry-capsule-and-more-on-transporter-14-rideshare-mission</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">[ANS thanks <a href="https://x.com/michaeldwall">
Mike Wall</a>, <a href="https://www.space.com/">Space.com</a>, and the <a href="https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/">
IARU</a>, for the above information]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Axiom-4 Reaches Orbit After Delays with Multinational Crew Bound for Space Station<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">SpaceX successfully launched Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) early June 25, following a series of technical and scheduling delays. The mission, known
as Ax-4, lifted off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 a.m. Eastern (0631 UTC). Nearly 10 minutes later, the Crew Dragon capsule separated from the rocket’s second stage in low Earth orbit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The rocket’s reusable first stage completed a precise landing at Cape Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1. After a particularly long orbital chase — 28 hours between launch and rendezvous — the crew’s Dragon spacecraft
docked with the space station Thursday morning at 6:31 a.m. Eastern (1031 UTC), where it will remain for approximately two weeks. The mission adds to SpaceX’s growing resume of crewed flights to the orbital outpost, further expanding the role of commercial
providers in human spaceflight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Commanding Ax-4 is Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut making her fifth journey to space. She previously flew on three long-duration NASA missions and commanded Axiom’s Ax-2 mission in 2023. The rest of
the crew includes Shubhanshu Shukla of India as pilot, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. All three are only the second individuals from their respective countries to reach orbit. Uznański-Wiśniewski’s
flight is supported by the European Space Agency.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a href="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Axiom-4_Prelaunch_Falcon9_Dragon_Pad39A.png"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="1024" height="576" style="width:10.6666in;height:6.0in" id="_x0000_i1050" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Axiom-4_Prelaunch_Falcon9_Dragon_Pad39A-1024x576.png"></span></a><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Axiom Space’s fourth private mission to the ISS counts down to launch atop a Falcon 9 at Kennedy Space Center. [Credit:
<a href="https://x.com/Axiom_Space">Axiom Space</a>]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The mission experienced multiple delays since its original spring schedule. In February, NASA and SpaceX swapped the originally assigned Crew Dragon capsule, Endurance, for a newer vehicle to keep the Crew-10
launch on track. That decision pushed Ax-4 into late May, with further postponements in early June due to weather and a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 booster. Additional delays followed after NASA detected a potential air leak in the ISS’s Russian-built
Zvezda module, prompting further investigation before approving the launch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">With clearance granted on June 23, the mission moved forward. The Ax-4 crew will conduct about 60 scientific experiments during their stay—the most of any Axiom mission to date. This includes joint research
efforts between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with Shukla collaborating alongside NASA astronauts aboard the station.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Ax-4 also marks the first flight of the fifth and final Crew Dragon spacecraft built by SpaceX. In line with tradition, the crew named the new spacecraft upon reaching orbit. Commander Whitson revealed its
name—Grace—as it separated from the rocket. “Grace is more than a name,” she said. “It reflects the elegance with which we move through space against the backdrop of Earth… an act of goodwill for the benefit of every human everywhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Read the full article at: <a href="https://spacenews.com/fourth-axiom-space-private-astronaut-mission-launched-to-iss">
https://spacenews.com/fourth-axiom-space-private-astronaut-mission-launched-to-iss</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">[ANS thanks <a href="https://x.com/jeff_foust">
Jeff Foust</a>, <a href="https://spacenews.com/">SpaceNews.com</a>, for the above information]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><a href="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AMSAT-SDR-Gen2-GNU-Radio-Based-Transverter.jpg"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="849" height="521" style="width:8.8437in;height:5.427in" id="_x0000_i1049" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AMSAT-SDR-Gen2-GNU-Radio-Based-Transverter.jpg"></span></a><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for June 27, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">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 <a href="https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/">
https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">NOTICE: In an effort to minimize confusion between sources of two line element sets, AMSAT is adopting the convention of listing the USSF/NORAD Satellite Catalog name first, followed by any secondary name or
names in parentheses. For example, "POEM 4 (BGS ARPIT)" was added recently where "POEM 4" is the name that appears in the US Space Force Satellite Catalog, and "BGS ARPIT" is the name best known within the amateur satellite community. Expect name changes for
affected satellites in the coming weeks as this change is fully implemented.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution.</span></em><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">[ANS thanks <a href="https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/">
AMSAT Orbital Elements</a> page for the above information]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">ARISS NEWS<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">There are no upcoming ARISS contacts to report while schools are on summer recess. Scheduling is expected to resume as educational institutions return to session.</span></em><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">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 <a href="https://live.ariss.org/">https://live.ariss.org/</a> to see if a school is Livestreaming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The packet system is also active (145.825 MHz up & down).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The latest information on the operation mode can be found at
<a href="https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html">https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at
<a href="https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html">https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT Ambassador Activities<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“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)!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+ presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Scheduled Events<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Olmos Preschool Mid-Year Space Camp – July 3rd, 2025</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
TI3IES Ignacio, AMSAT and AMSAT-TI Ambassador, will be giving a presentation and demonstration of amateur satellite communications at Olmos Preschool in Curridabat, San José, Costa Rica, on Thursday, July 3rd. The event is part of the school’s mid-year camp,
which runs for two weeks with a space-themed focus. The presentation is specially designed for preschool-aged children, who have been learning about planets, stars, and spacecraft. This engaging session will introduce them to satellite communications in a
fun and age-appropriate way. Ignacio will be representing AMSAT and AMSAT-TI as part of their ongoing outreach to inspire young learners through space and amateur radio.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Rochester Amateur Radio Association Hamfest 2025 – June 21st, 2025</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
Barnard Fire Department Park<br>
410 Maiden Lane<br>
Rochester, NY 14616<br>
<a href="https://rochesterham.org/hamfest.htm">https://rochesterham.org/hamfest.htm</a><br>
KB2YSI<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Northeast HamXposition (HamX) & New England ARRL Convention - August 21st thru 24th, 2025</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
Best Western Royal Plaza & Trade Center<br>
181 Boston Post Road West<br>
Marlborough, MA 01752<br>
<a href="http://www.HamX.org">http://www.HamX.org</a><br>
W1EME, WD4ASW, WB1FJ<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Greater Louisville Hamfest - September 6th, 2025</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
Paroquet Springs Conference Centre<br>
395 Paroquet Springs Drive<br>
Shepherdsville, KY 40165<br>
<a href="https://louisvillehamfest.wixsite.com/louisvillehamfest">https://louisvillehamfest.wixsite.com/louisvillehamfest</a><br>
W4FCL<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting - October 16th thru 19th, 2025</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport North<br>
1515 North 44th Street<br>
Phoenix, Arizona 85008<br>
<a href="https://www.amsat.org/2025-symposium/">https://www.amsat.org/2025-symposium/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">For more information go to: <a href="https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/">
https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<h3 align="center" style="text-align:center"><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Yes, These are the Real Thing!</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align:center"><a href="https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_car_flag-256716714380264543"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="420" height="217" style="width:4.375in;height:2.2604in" id="_x0000_i1048" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Keytag1D-300x155.jpg"></span></a><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align:center"><strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a Fox-Plus Satellite</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Includes First Class Postage (Sorry - U.S. Addresses Only)</span></strong><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Order Today at <a href="https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain/">
https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-remove-before-flight-keychain</a></span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<h2><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Satellite Shorts From All Over<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">+ On June 23, 2025, United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched its Atlas V rocket carrying Amazon’s second batch of 27 Project Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral. This mission,
dubbed Kuiper 2, was the second production batch toward Amazon’s plan for a 3,200+ satellite constellation providing global internet service. The launch followed a previous scrub due to a nitrogen purge issue and lifted off at 6:54 a.m. EDT (1054 UTC) after
a smooth countdown and favorable weather. Amazon faces an FCC deadline to have half its first-generation constellation operational by July 2026 and has secured launches with multiple providers including ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Arianespace. With six more
Atlas V launches booked and many Vulcan, Ariane 6, New Glenn, and Falcon 9 flights planned, Amazon aims to accelerate deployment to meet regulatory requirements. This second successful launch brings the total number of Kuiper satellites on orbit to 54, underscoring
Amazon’s push to establish a steady launch cadence. (ANS thanks <a href="https://spaceflightnow.com/">
Spaceflight Now</a> for the above information)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">+ A new study has revealed that the May 2024 Gannon Solar Storm caused GPS signals to be off by up to 230 feet (70 meters), severely impacting farmers who lost over $500 million USD due to malfunctioning GPS-guided
machinery during peak planting season. The storm, the most powerful in 20 years, created widespread ionospheric turbulence that distorted GPS signals for up to two days and produced stunning auroras visible as far south as Mexico and Spain. Boston University
researchers used a network of fixed GPS receivers originally intended for tectonic studies to measure the disturbances, uncovering a massive "wall of ionospheric plasma" that threw off positioning data across North America. This GPS disruption affected not
only agriculture but also aviation, exceeding the safety margin for altitude precision during landings. Experts warn that this storm was mild compared to a potential Carrington-level event, which could cause even more severe global consequences. Scientists
suggest that real-time ionospheric monitoring and AI-based signal correction could help mitigate such risks in future storms. (ANS thanks
<a href="https://www.space.com/">Space.com</a> for the above information)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">+ NASA’s ESCAPADE mission, originally set to launch on the first flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn, is now tentatively scheduled for the rocket’s second flight sometime between summer 2025 and spring 2026.
The change was prompted by delays in New Glenn’s development, which caused ESCAPADE to miss its original October 2024 launch window. NASA’s FY 2026 budget proposal confirmed the revised plan, citing a new launch readiness date in the fourth quarter of fiscal
year 2025. ESCAPADE, a pair of Mars-bound smallsats, remains committed to New Glenn, despite no recent updates from Blue Origin on the rocket’s second launch timeline. NASA continues to work with Blue Origin to finalize a date, while still targeting arrival
at Mars by September 2027 using a revised flight path. Though Blue Origin previously suggested a spring launch and hinted at possible alternate payloads, no firm details have been released as of yet. (ANS thanks
<a href="https://spacenews.com/">SpaceNews</a> for the above information)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">+ Mexico's president has threatened legal action over debris from a recent SpaceX rocket explosion near the U.S.-Mexico border. President Sheinbaum said the government is investigating potential violations
of international law due to environmental contamination. The explosion occurred during a ground test of a SpaceX Starship at its Starbase facility in Texas, sending a large fireball into the sky. Mexican officials are now conducting a comprehensive environmental
review focused on the nearby state of Tamaulipas. This comes after the U.S. FAA approved an increase in annual Starship launches from five to 25, despite warnings from conservation groups about threats to wildlife. Sheinbaum emphasized that any resulting lawsuit
would be based on scientific findings and legal analysis. If filed, the lawsuit would follow another recent case in which Mexico sued Google over the labeling of the Gulf of Mexico. (ANS thanks
<a href="https://phys.org/">Phys.org</a> for the above information)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Join AMSAT today at <a href="https://launch.amsat.org/">
https://launch.amsat.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).<br>
* Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.<br>
* Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half-time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.<br>
* Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Contact info [at] <a href="https://www.amsat.org">
amsat.org</a> for additional membership information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">This week's ANS Editor, Mitch Ahrenstorff, ADØHJ<br>
mahrenstorff [at] <a href="https://www.amsat.org">amsat.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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