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<h3><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"></span>ANS-299</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>October 26, 2025</strong></span></font></h3>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In this edition:</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">* AMSAT President Outlines Future Directions<br>
* Symposium Videos Available on YouTube<br>
* Is AO-7 Still the Oldest Satellite?<br>
* Amateur Radio Receiver Reveals Global Satellite Privacy Issue<br>
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution<br>
* Russian Cosmonauts Conduct Spacewalk Outside ISS<br>
* ARISS News<br>
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities<br>
* Satellite Shorts From All Over</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] <a href="http://amsat.org">amsat.org</a></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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></span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT President Outlines Future Directions</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">At the Annual General Meeting of AMSAT members, held as part of the
AMSAT Symposium in Phoenix, Ariz. last weekend, newly elected AMSAT
President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, outlined some future directions for
the organization.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Noting that membership in organizations and voluntary associations of
all types has been declining across the board, in all areas of society,
Glasbrenner suggested a two-pronged approach.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">First, reduce the cost per member. AMSAT has already made major steps
in that direction, by closing the office and changing to an
all-volunteer administration, and also by changing the <em>AMSAT Journal</em> from print to a digital publication. The organization should seek more opportunities to economize.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Second, increase membership by creating a strategy to actively seek
and invite new hams. The Board has just approved a free student
membership to bring young hams into the organization. Reinstating a
College Activity Night on the satellites, an AMSAT Youth Net, and
publicizing youth satellite activities are priorities. Another
possibility might be a two-tiered membership structure with a low-fee
introductory membership.</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-size-large gmail-wp-image-62342" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Drew-Partial-Audience-1024x417.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="417"></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner,
KO4MA, addresses the 2025 Annual General Meeting in Phoenix (Credit:
David Vine, WA1EAW, AMSAT Director of Public Relations)</em></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Glasbrenner also noted that government budget cuts have caused NASA
to eliminate the CubeSat Launch Initiative program (CSLI), which
provided free launch opportunities to educational projects. AMSAT has
benefited from CSLI, but has also purchased commercial launches in the
past. He indicated that AMSAT should not wait to see if CSLI is
reinstated or replaced with a similar program, but that the organization
should move forward to fund commercial launches for GOLF-Tee and Fox
Plus satellites that are nearing readiness in coming months.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Another challenge facing AMSAT is that it is becoming increasingly
difficult to operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). While orbital debris
regulations forbid launches to higher orbits without meeting stringent
technical requirements for deorbiting, reentry devices are largely
unavailable or unproven. The GOLF program is meant to address this, but
launches to higher orbits are also difficult to find. Future rules may
mandate propulsion for collision avoidance in LEO.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">A strategy to meet these orbital challenges is to focus on developing
amateur radio payloads that can fly on other satellites. The Italian
Greencube satellite, IO-117, was an example. To take advantage of these
opportunities, AMSAT engineers must focus on developing payloads as a
series, rather than as single projects, so that units are “on the shelf”
and available on short notice. The SDR Gen2 transverter board – an
updated version of the units flown on HuskySat and MESAT1 – is a major
step in this direction, as is the updated PacSat board under
development. The GOLF and Fox Plus programs are also being crafted to
create satellites in a series with iterative improvements and an
up-tempo launch cadence.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Finally, Glasbrenner called for strengthening international
collaboration with other AMSAT organizations around the world, as well
as establishing mechanisms for strategic planning at the Board of
Directors level. His address was received enthusiastically by those in
attendance.</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight:400"><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Mark Johns, KØJM, News Service Senior Editor, for the above information.]</em></font></p>
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<div style="text-align:center">
<hr>
<h3><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Yes, These are the Real Thing!</strong></span></font></h3>
<div>
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<h3><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a Fox-Plus Satellite<br>
Includes First Class Postage (Sorry – U.S. Addresses Only)<br>
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></strong></span></font></h3>
</div>
<hr>
</div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> Symposium Videos Available on YouTube</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Video of presentations at the 2025 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual
General Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, USA are now available on AMSAT’s
YouTube channel.</span></font></p>
<p style="padding-left:40px"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Friday, October 17: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAC9_Uh2ys4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAC9_Uh2ys4</a></span></font></p>
<p style="padding-left:40px"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Saturday, October 18: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0K9cHCz9Fw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0K9cHCz9Fw</a></span></font></p>
<p style="padding-left:40px"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Embedded <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperlink">hyperlinks</a> are provided for direct access to the beginning of each presentation.</span></font></p>
<h3><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Friday, October 17</strong>*</span></font></h3>
<table width="100%">
<thead>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Start</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Speaker</strong></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Topic</strong></font></td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">1:00 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Introduction/Announcements</strong></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=9OEt8yQrhdCY3AmI&t=547"><strong>Robert Bankston</strong></a><strong>, KE4AL, Outgoing President</strong></span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">1:05 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT President Welcome</strong></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=Mfb_h6wrJGeHRxOk&t=603"><strong>Drew Glasbrenner</strong></a><strong>, KO4MA, Incoming President</strong></span></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">1:15 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=ycdvVoLYi0PF6IgN&t=759"><strong>Cameron Castillo</strong></a><strong>, KJ7ILB</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">ASCENT Team Propulsion</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">1:45 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=tk6pu5KNIs1m8Pcp&t=3050"><strong>Jim McCullers</strong></a><strong>, WA4CWI</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Oscar to OsTrax</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">2:15 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=14IqV6sqwMUALaLg&t=5045"><strong>Andrew Robinson</strong></a><strong>, KA3WDW</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">FoxPlus Mechanical Layout & Design</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">3:00 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=xVwfbABt4kWQz1oy&t=7705"><strong>Heimir Thor Sverrisson</strong></a><strong>, W1ANT</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Extending Command and Control for GOLF</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">3:30 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=Id5DcPQ4vDt23gn9&t=9426"><strong>Frank Bauer</strong></a><strong>, KA3HDO</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">ARISS</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">4:00 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=mrldG65OTU7v0SXO&t=11165"><strong>Frank Karnauskas</strong></a><strong>, N1UW</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Youth Initiative</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">4:30 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="263"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/oAC9_Uh2ys4?si=WQa08RuFqy8oqV0s&t=12609"><strong>Jim White</strong></a><strong>, WD0E</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="412"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">ARDC</strong></font></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Saturday, October 18</strong>*</span></font></h3>
<table width="100%">
<thead>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Start</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Speaker</strong></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Topic</strong></font></td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">8:00 AM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=OW5JCspqZrd_q9jq&t=331"><strong>Alan Johnston</strong></a><strong>, KU2Y</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">CubeSatSim Update & Demonstration</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">9:00 AM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=zz6Rnk3PwaA7Ut0B&t=3514"><strong>Agastya Bose</strong></a><strong>, KJ5MSH</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">CubeSatSim, UT Dallas – Workshop Reflections</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">9:15 AM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=Q-XTkLKsFGIOIDws&t=5466"><strong>Larry Ryan</strong></a><strong>, W7DGP</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Building the CubeSatSim</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">9:30 AM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=08qzrKGIFaiREdto&t=8039"><strong>Frederic Raab</strong></a><strong>, KK6NOW</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Bridging Orbit and Classroom: SatNOGS/CubeSatSim</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">10:15 AM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=1-z9TJyw198usW5-&t=9027"><strong>Burns Fisher</strong></a><strong>, WB1FJ</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Telemetry for FoxPlus & GOLF CubeSats</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">10:45 AM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=RfqaPYsNqOYXdY0q&t=11123"><strong>Burns Fisher</strong></a><strong>, WB1FJ</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">A New Use for Fox & MESAT-1 Whole Orbit Data Algorithm</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">11:15 AM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=5wNI3dDOks3ywYc8&t=12845"><strong>Kipton Moravec</strong></a><strong>, AE5IB</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">GOLF-TEE Electrical Power Supply (EPS)</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">1:00 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=3fDGpJv4uEu2h49w&t=18588"><strong>Jerry Buxton</strong></a><strong>, N0JY</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Engineering / GOLF-TEE Update</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">2:00 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=ZCjbE4z2LrcYyXST&t=21197"><strong>Mike Moore</strong></a><strong>, K4MVM</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">FoxPlus Update</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">2:30 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=QzXAE5r7EHtin6vr&t=23564"><strong>Jerry Buxton</strong></a><strong>, N0JY</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Future Systems</strong></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="84"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">3:00 PM</strong></font></td>
<td width="216"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/W0K9cHCz9Fw?si=FBMpXfBHISMMtJsr&t=25720"><strong>Drew Glasbrenner</strong></a><strong>, KO4MA</strong></span></font></td>
<td width="458"><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">Annual General Meeting</strong></font></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">* All times are U.S. Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7). Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks David Vine, WA1EAW, AMSAT Director of Public Relations, for the above information.]</em></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Is AO-7 Still the Oldest Satellite?</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT-OSCAR 7, or AO-7, is the second Phase 2 amateur radio satellite
constructed by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). It was
launched into Low Earth Orbit on November 15, 1974 and remained
operational until a battery failure in 1981. After 21 years of apparent
silence, the satellite was heard again on June 21, 2002 – 27 years after
launch, and it continues to be used by amateurs daily even now. For a
couple decades, AMSAT has been able to proudly boast that this bird is
the oldest operating satellite in space.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">However, that record has been challenged. After 47 years of silence,
LES-1, a satellite launched by the U.S. Air Force and MIT’s Lincoln
Laboratory in 1965, began transmitting again. Its signals were detected
by Phil Williams, G3YPQ, from North Cornwall in southwest England on 18
December 2012, verified by other members of Hearsat group, Flávio A. B.
Archangelo, PY2ZX, in Brazil on 22 December 2012, and Matthias Bopp,
DD1US, in Germany on 27 December 2012.</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-wp-image-62334 gmail-size-medium" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/les-1_base-147x300.png" alt="" width="147" height="300"></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">LES-1<em> (Illustration courtesy of MIT)</em></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">According to Williams, LES-1 was determined to be tumbling with a
rotation rate of once every four seconds, as determined by distinctive
fading of the signals. It is possible that, after 47 years, the
batteries failed in a manner that allows them to carry charge directly
through to the transmitter on 237 MHz, allowing the satellite to resume
transmissions when it is in sunlight. The satellite continues to be
operational as tracked by the SatNOGS network.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>[ANS thanks </em>Daily Galaxy<em> for the above information. Read the full article at <a href="https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/10/lost-for-50-years-zombie-satellite-signals/">https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/10/lost-for-50-years-zombie-satellite-signals/</a>.]</em></span></font></p>
</div>
<hr>
<p style="font-weight:400;text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em><strong>The 2025 AMSAT President’s Club Coins Are Here!<br>
</strong></em><strong>Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight<br>
</strong><strong>Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.<br>
</strong><strong><a href="https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/">Join</a> the AMSAT President’s Club today!</strong></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-wp-image-59641 gmail-size-medium" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-PC-Coin-2-Sided-Color-Web-300x148.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="148"></span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Amateur Radio Receiver Reveals Global Satellite Privacy Issue</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Imagine that you can buy a device for a few hundred dollars and
listen in on private conversations, military negotiations, and even
intercept important commands for power systems around the world. This is
not a scene from a spy movie, but harsh reality. The vulnerability was
accidentally discovered by researchers from the University of California
and the University of Maryland. For three years, they listened in on
secret military and private communications. The result was astonishing:
almost half of all satellite transmissions were completely unencrypted.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Analysis of the intercepted traffic showed that the following was transmitted over the open airwaves:</span></font></p>
<ul><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Private phone calls and SMS messages from T-Mobile customers.</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Wi-Fi data from airplanes.</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Critical commands for managing power grids and oil platforms.</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Military and police reports revealing troop locations and details of secret missions.</span></font></li></ul>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Governments and corporations rely on these systems, considering them
to be reliably secure. In fact, the risks are much more serious than
just a breach of confidentiality. This vulnerability can be used as a
weapon to track troop movements, sabotage vital infrastructure, and
steal data on a massive scale.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The most disastrous aspect is that scientists analyzed only 15% of
the total traffic, meaning that the actual scale of the problem could be
much greater.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>[ANS thanks E.Mike McCardel, AA8EM, and Ivan Hrinko of </em>Universe Space Tech<em> for the above information. Read the full article at <a href="https://universemagazine.com/en/amateur-radio-receiver-reveals-global-satellite-communications-disaster/">https://universemagazine.com/en/amateur-radio-receiver-reveals-global-satellite-communications-disaster/</a>.]</em></span></font></p>
<hr>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-wp-image-59974 gmail-size-full" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AMSAT-SDR-Gen2-GNU-Radio-Based-Transverter.jpg" alt="" width="849" height="521"></span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for October 24, 2025</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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>.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">The following satellites have been removed from this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:</em></font></p>
<ul><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">NOAA-15 NORAD Cat ID 25338 Spacecraft decommissioned 19 August 2025</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">NOAA-19 NORAD Cat ID 33591 Spacecraft decommissioned 13 August 2025</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">UPMSat 2 NORAD Cat ID 46276 Decayed from orbit on or about 11 October 2025</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">LEDSAT NORAD Cat ID 49069 Decayed from orbit on or about 15 October 2025</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">CAS-4A NORAD Cat ID 42761 Decayed from orbit on or about 9 October 2025</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">CAS-4B NORAD Cat ID 42759 Decayted from orbit on or about 14 October 2025</span></font></li></ul>
<p><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">The following satellites have been added to this week’s AMSAT TLE distribution:</em></font></p>
<ul><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">BOTAN NORAD Cat ID 65942 437.379 MHz</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">GHS-01 NORAD Cat ID 65733 437.090 MHz</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Dragonfly NORAD Cat ID 65729 437.375 MHz</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">RSP-03 NORAD Cat ID 65732 437.050 MHz</span></font></li></ul>
<p><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information.]</em></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Russian Cosmonauts Conduct Spacewalk Outside ISS</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Two Russian cosmonauts are back inside the International Space
Station (ISS) after conducting a spacewalk to install a semiconductor
materials experiment, as well as retrieve and jettison a
no-longer-needed camera from the exterior of the orbiting complex.</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-wp-image-62337 gmail-size-medium" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/iss073-s-002blarge-300x240.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="240"></span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">Expedition 73 crew from three
different space agencies. Seated in the front row are NASA astronauts
Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman. In the back row from left are, Roscosmos
cosmonaut Oleg Platonov; NASA astronaut Jonny Kim; Roscosmos cosmonauts
Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky; and JAXA (Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui. (Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel)</em></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Expedition 73 commander Sergey Ryzhikov and flight engineer Alexey
Zubritsky, both with Russia’s federal space corporation Roscosmos,
marked the end of their first extravehicular activity (EVA) together.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Ryzhikov and Zubritsky installed the drum-shaped unit, ran power
cables and mounted a swappable cassette. The experiment is intended to
demonstrate the ability to produce very thin materials — too thin to be
made reliably on Earth — that can go from the microgravity environment
of outer space to being used in semiconductors.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Their primary task completed, Ryzhikov and Zubritsky then made their
way to the Zvezda service module to remove and dispose of a
high-definition television system that was originally a part of a
Canadian commercial payload. Zubritsky then stood a the end of the
European Robotic Arm and tossed the camera overboard, toward the rear of
the space station, ensuring it would not come back in contact with the
outpost.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks <a href="http://space.com">space.com</a> for the above information. See the full article at<a href="http://bit.ly/4nepOWH"> http://bit.ly/4nepOWH</a>.]</em></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">ARISS News</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em><strong>RECENTLY COMPLETED</strong></em><br>
Colegio de Cultura Popular, Bogotá, Colombia, telebridge via AB1OC<br>
The ISS callsign was presently scheduled to be NA1SS<br>
The scheduled crewmember was Zena Cardman KJ5CMN<br>
The ARISS mentor was VE6JBJ<br>
Contact was successful: Thu 2025-10-23 13:46:10 UTC 63 degrees maximum elevation<br>
Congratulations to the Colegio de Cultura Popular students, Zena, mentor VE6JBJ, and telebridge AB1OC!</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">18th Primary School of Larissa, Larissa, Greece, Telebridge via K6DUE<br>
The ISS callsign was presently scheduled to be NA1SS<br>
The scheduled crewmember was Mike Fincke KE5AIT<br>
The ARISS mentor was IKØWGF<br>
Contact was successful: Fri 2025-10-24 08:04:47 UTC 33 degrees maximum elevation<br>
Congratulations to the 18th Primary School of Larissa students, Mike, mentor IKØWGF, and telebridge K6DUE!</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Terre Haute Children’s Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana, direct via W9UUU<br>
The ISS callsign was presently scheduled to be NA1SS<br>
The scheduled crewmember was Jonathan (Jonny) Kim KJ5HKP<br>
The ARISS mentor was KD8COJ<br>
Contact was completed: Sat 2025-10-25 13:45:00 UTC 52 degrees maximum elevation<br>
Watch for Livestream at <a href="https://live.ariss.org">https://live.ariss.org</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em><strong>UPCOMING</strong></em><br>
Miejski Dom Kultury w Koło (abrr. MDK), Koło, Poland, Telebridge via AB1OC<br>
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS<br>
The scheduled crewmember is Zena Cardman KJ5CMN<br>
The ARISS mentor is SP3QFE<br>
Contact is go for: Wed 2025-10-29 10:36:06 UTC 49 degrees maximum elevation</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Australian Air League, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, telebridge via VK4ISS<br>
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS<br>
The scheduled crewmember is Mike Fincke KE5AIT<br>
The ARISS mentor is VK4KHZ<br>
Contact is go for: Fri 2025-10-31 09:59:01 UTC 39 degrees maximum elevation</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Q-Tech conference – Wavell State High School, Wavell Heights, Queensland, Australia, telebridge via VK4ISS<br>
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS<br>
The scheduled crewmember is Jonathan (Jonny) Kim KJ5HKP<br>
The ARISS mentor is VK4KHZ<br>
Contact is go for: Sat 2025-11-01 09:10:47 UTC 86 degrees maximum elevation</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight:400"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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.</span></font></p>
<p style="font-weight:400"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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:<br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Powering OFF Oct 28, 10:15 UTC, Powering ON Oct 29, 09:05 UTC</strong></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The crossband repeater continues to be <strong>active</strong>
(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.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Packet operations continue to be <strong>active</strong> (145.825 MHz up & down). HamTV is<strong> configured</strong> (2395.00 MHz).</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information.]</em></font></p>
<hr>
<h3 style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?</em><br>
Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/store/amsat_gear">Zazzle store</a>!</span></font></h3>
<div>
<p style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img class="gmail-aligncenter gmail-size-medium gmail-wp-image-56929" src="https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AMSAT-Car-Flag-252x300.png" alt="" width="252" height="300"></span></font></p>
<h3 style="text-align:center"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space</span></font></h3>
</div>
<hr>
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT Ambassador Activities</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating
through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club
meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, writes:</em><br>
AMSAT Ambassadors spread the word on amateur satellites – world-wide! If
we’re not local to your club or convention, we’ll Zoom a show for you!
An email I recently received:</span></font></p>
<p style="padding-left:40px"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">“Clint,</span></font></p>
<p style="padding-left:40px"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">“I wanted to thank you for your
presentation. Our audience – both in person and via ZOOM – were all very
enthusiastic about both the content and the unique way you presented
it. While I had heard about the personalization used in your
presentations, you really have to see it to appreciate it! I especially
like how you threw in pictures from our club web site and addressed us
personally.</span></font></p>
<p style="padding-left:40px"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">“I was also appreciative of how you
talked about the things you heard during our opening discussion, such as
our recent HF antenna build. And how you gave the club officers kudos
for working with the club. We tell our members that the club officers
are only the facilitators, that they are the heart and soul.</span></font></p>
<p style="padding-left:40px"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">“Once again, thank you for the great
presentation! I hope you keep doing this, as it show great Amateur Radio
spirit and a dedication to the hobby that is sorely needed.</span></font></p>
<p style="padding-left:40px"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">“Regards,<br>
“David Chapman – W9DPY<br>
“VP, Williamson County”</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,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.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">For more information go to:<a href="https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/"> https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/</a></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><em style="font-family:georgia,serif">[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information.]</em></font></p>
<hr>
<h2><font size="6"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Satellite Shorts from All Over</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ AMSAT is pleased to announce two new recipients of the prestigious
GridMaster Award. Jean-Pierre Plessis, KQ4DO, earned GridMaster Award
#75 on October 6, 2025, and Dwight Fletcher, N1RCN, became recipient #76
on the same date. The GridMaster Award is presented to amateur radio
operators who confirm all 488 Maidenhead grid squares in the continental
United States via satellite, a milestone that requires years of
persistence and dedication. This accomplishment highlights both the
operating skill of the awardees and the vital role of portable operators
who activate rare grids. Only a very small group of amateurs have
achieved this distinction, making it one of the highest honors in
satellite operating. Congratulations to Jean-Pierre and Dwight on their
outstanding achievements. (ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director
of Contests & Awards for the above information)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ AMSAT-UK is 50 years old! To celebrate, they will use the callsign
GB50AUK from 1st to 28th November 2025 on the satellites. QSLs via eQSL
and QO-100 DX Club (<a href="http://qrz.com">qrz.com</a> and LoTW pending). (ANS thanks Dave Johnson,
G4DPZ, Hon Sec, AMSAT-UK, for the above information.)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ A giant radio telescope in Crimea used in the past to support
missions to Mars and Venus and attempt to contact alien civilizations
has been destroyed in a drone attack. Ukrainian defense forces took down
the 230-foot (70 meters) antenna dish to prevent Russian forces from
using it to guide attacks on its territory. The RT-70 radio telescope
has been under Russian control since the annexation of the Crimean
peninsula in 2014. According to Defense Express, Russians carried out
major upgrades to the 5,000 metric ton structure to use it for military
communications. (ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read
the full article at <a href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/drone-destroyes-rt-70-radio-telescope-crimea">https://www.space.com/astronomy/drone-destroyes-rt-70-radio-telescope-crimea</a>.)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ The Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 2 mission has been installed
on its Space Launch System rocket as preparations for the circumlunar
flight continue despite a government shutdown. Orion rolled over to the
VAB late Oct. 16 after completing work at another building at the
center. That included having its launch abort system attached to the top
of the capsule. At the Kennedy Space Center, where Artemis 2 launch
preparations are taking place, 989 of the center’s 2,075 civil servants
are excepted from furloughs, although they are currently not being paid.
(ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information. See the full article
at <a href="https://spacenews.com/orion-installed-on-sls-as-artemis-2-preparations-continue-during-shutdown/">https://spacenews.com/orion-installed-on-sls-as-artemis-2-preparations-continue-during-shutdown/</a> [pay walled].)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ Roughly 4,000 NASA employees — over 20% of the agency — have left
in the past six months. Some were fired or retired early. Many took
voluntary buyouts. In all cases, the root cause was the same: orders
from on high to prepare for devastating budget cuts. The Planetary
Society conducted interviews with a number of the former employees. See
the interviews at <a href="https://www.planetary.org/articles/4000-gone-inside-nasas-brain-drain">https://www.planetary.org/articles/4000-gone-inside-nasas-brain-drain</a> (ANS thanks The Planetary Society for the above information.)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">+ AMSAT’s CubeSat SIM gets a mention in a YouTube video about using
Raspberry Pi computers for STEM education. Watch the 29 minute video at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvN3sE2Nv4U">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvN3sE2Nv4U</a>. Find out more about AMSAT’s CubeSat SIM at <a href="https://cubesatsim.com/">https://cubesatsim.com/</a>. (ANS thanks Geeky Gadgets for the above information.)</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> </span></font></p>
<hr>
<h2 style="text-align:left"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Join AMSAT today at <a href="https://launch.amsat.org/">https://launch.amsat.org/</a></span></font></h2>
<p style="text-align:left"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:</span></font></p>
<ul style="text-align:left"><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate.</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">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.</span></font></li><li><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.</span></font></li></ul>
<p style="text-align:left"><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Contact info [at] <a href="http://amsat.org">amsat.org</a> for additional membership information.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><strong style="font-family:georgia,serif">This week’s ANS Editor,</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Mark Johns, KØJM</strong><br></span></font>
<font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>mjohns [at] <a href="http://amsat.org">amsat.org</a></strong></span></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002<br>
AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.</em></span></font></p>
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