[jamsat-news:3996] [ANS] ANS-158 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

[Paul Stoetzer via ANS]

*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 nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, along 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 AMSAT’s bylaws, all nominations must follow the format specified 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]*
------------------------------
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Real Thing!*
* <https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_car_flag-256716714380264543>*

*Your $20 Donation Goes to Help Fly a FoxPlus Satellite Includes First
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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 AMSAT’s
ongoing *GOLF (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint)* program, which is building
the technologies and operational experience needed for amateur radio
satellites in progressively higher orbits—from LEO through MEO to HEO.

A high-Earth deployment would provide an outstanding environment to qualify
key GOLF technologies—particularly radiation-tolerant electronics, advanced
Software-Defined Radio (SDR) transponders, three-axis attitude
determination and control, and deployable/steerable solar arrays—in the
demanding thermal, radiation, and trajectory conditions beyond low Earth
orbit. Such a mission would significantly expand amateur radio’s “larger
footprint,” deliver critical flight heritage, and create clear synergies
with NASA’s exploration, technology demonstration, and public engagement
goals.

The LOI emphasizes AMSAT’s 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 AMSAT’s 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 program—advancing amateur radio’s
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 President’s 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 control—all 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,
   and 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.

These data are presently considered in beta test for the next two months
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 AMSAT’s *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 air—so keep
listening, as you never know when activity might occur.

Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RSØISS. Please note
we’re 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 Force’s acquisition
arm. (ANS thanks SpaceNews for the above information. Read the full
articles at
https://spacenews.com/space-force-awards-spacex-4-16-billion-to-build-satellite-network-for-airborne-target-tracking/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=SpaceX%20s%20%246%20billion%20week&utm_campaign=Editor%20s%20Choice%202026%2006-03
and
at
https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-2-29-billion-space-force-contract-for-military-data-network/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=SpaceX%20s%20%246%20billion%20week&utm_campaign=Editor%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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