• [ANS] ANS-187 AMSAT News Service Bulletins for July 6

    From Mark Johns, K0JM via ANS@ans@amsat.org to rec.radio.amateur.space,rec.radio.info on Sat Jul 5 20:09:59 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.radio.amateur.space

    AMSAT News Service

    ANS-187
    July 6, 2025

    In this edition:

    * AMSAT Field Day Submissions Now Due
    * Seeking Additional Volunteers for Moon Day at Dallas Frontiers of Flight Museum
    * GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers July 2025 Rankings
    * VUCC Satellite Standing July 2025
    * DXCC Satellite Standing July 2025
    * Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
    * French Astronaut Will Take Food From Michelin-Starred Chef to ISS
    * 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 http://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 <http://amsat.org>*

    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/


    AMSAT Field Day Submissions Now Due

    Now that Field Day is over, there is one more thing you can do if you would like to participate in the scoring process for AMSAT Field Day. Email your submission sheet.

    If you do not have the submission sheet, go to AMSAT.org and under EVENTS, select AMSAT Field Day. Download the rules. The Satellite Summary Sheet is
    at the end of the rules.

    The Satellite Summary Sheet should be used for submission of the AMSAT
    Field Day competition and be received by KK5DO (e-mail) by 11:59 P.M. CDT, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. This year, we are using the same due date as the
    ARRL. The only method for submitting your log is via e-mail to kk5do [at] amsatnet.com or kk5do [at] arrl.net. No mail-in entries.

    Add photographs or other interesting information that can be used in an
    article for *The AMSAT Journal*.

    You will receive an e-mail back (within one or two days) your e-mail
    submission has been received. If you do not receive a confirmation message, then try sending it again or send it to the other e-mail address.

    [ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, for the above information]
    ------------------------------

    *Your 2025 AMSAT PresidentΓÇÖs Club Coin Is Waiting!*
    *Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight*
    *Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.*

    [image: 2025 PC Coin Set]

    *Join the AMSAT PresidentΓÇÖs 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/>* ------------------------------
    Seeking Additional Volunteers for Moon Day at Dallas Frontiers of Flight
    Museum

    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.

    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 ΓÇö including many youn
    g people
    ΓÇö on topics such as satellite orbits, the International Space Stati
    on, 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.

    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.

    *Col. Carl E. Walz (USAF, Ret.) ex-KC5TIE and former NASA Astronaut will be
    the keynote speaker for Moon Day 2025 (Photo credit: NASA)*

    More information about the event is available at: https://flightmuseum.com/events/moonday

    [ANS thanks Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, AMSAT Ambassador, for the above
    information]
    ------------------------------

    *Need new satellite antennas?*


    *Purchase M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store.*
    *When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards* *Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.* *https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/* <https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/>
    ------------------------------
    GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers July 2025 Rankings

    The July 2025 rankings for the Top 100 Rovers (Mixed LEO/MEO/GEO) in
    satellite operations, as determined by @GridMasterMap on Twitter, has been released. The ranking is determined by the number of grids and DXCC
    entities activated, taking into account only those grids where a minimum
    number of QSOs logged on the gridmaster.fr website have been validated by a third party. Grid numbers do not directly reflect the exact number of activations. Satellite operators are encouraged to upload their LoTW
    satellite contacts to https://gridmaster.fr in order to provide more
    accurate data.

    Updated: 2025-06-28
    1 ND9M
    26 KX9X
    51 K7TAB
    76 HB9GWJ
    2 NJ7H
    27 DJ8MS
    52 PR8KW
    77 N4UFO
    3 JA9KRO
    28 KG5CCI
    53 XE1ET
    78 PT2AP
    4 UT1FG
    29 ON4AUC
    54 W7WGC
    79 AA8CH
    5 N5UC
    30 N5BO
    55 EB1AO
    80 VE1VOX
    6 DL6AP
    31 K8BL
    56 DF2ET
    81 PT9BM
    7 OE3SEU
    32 KE4AL
    57 N6DNM
    82 FG8OJ
    8 DP0POL
    33 KB5FHK
    58 EA4NF
    83 YU0W
    9 F5VMJ
    34 PA3GAN
    59 LU4JVE
    84 N6UTC
    10 WI7P
    35 JO2ASQ
    60 SM3NRY
    85 AF5CC
    11 K5ZM
    36 F4BKV
    61 KI7QEK
    86 KI7UXT
    12 LU5ILA
    37 VE3HLS
    62 AA5PK
    87 JM1CAX
    13 N6UA
    38 KI0KB
    63 W1AW
    88 KJ7NDY
    14 W5PFG
    39 VA3VGR
    64 F4DXV
    89 PS8BR
    15 N9IP
    40 KI7UNJ
    65 DL4EA
    90 N4DCW
    16 WY7AA
    41 HJ5LVR
    66 KE9AJ
    91 WA9JBQ
    17 HA3FOK
    42 LA9XGA
    67 AD7DB
    92 KG4AKV
    18 AK8CW
    43 N7AGF
    68 VE1CWJ
    93 W8MTB
    19 DL2GRC
    44 VK5DG
    69 BG7QIW
    94 KB2YSI
    20 AD0DX
    45 JL3RNZ
    70 W8LR
    95 K0FFY
    21 N4AKV
    46 XE3DX
    71 SP5XSD
    96 VE3GOP
    22 BA1PK
    47 KE0WPA
    72 M1DDD
    97 N0TEL
    23 AD0HJ
    48 AC0RA
    73 N8RO
    98 DK9JC
    24 WD9EWK
    49 KE0PBR
    74 VA7LM
    99 K6VHF
    25 ND0C
    50 JK2XXK
    75 KM4LAO
    100 VE7PTN

    [ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information] ------------------------------
    VUCC Satellite Standing July 2025

    VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for June 01, 2025 to July
    01, 2025.
    KO4MA 2000 2100
    DL5GAC 1576 1745
    DF2ET 1602 1700
    W5CBF 1326 1554
    AA5PK 1524 1525
    K8TL 1016 1017
    4J6D 150 1000
    W8LR 905 910
    VE7PTN 635 794
    N8MR 775 783
    W6ZQ 560 561
    JG2TSL 157 516
    K6VHF 376 401
    N8HRZ 337 343
    JE2UFF 280 334
    SP7JS 253 300
    YL2KF New 283
    EA4DEI 150 200
    OH3DP 150 176
    NK0S 169 170
    N9BX 125 163
    KC7WXD New 133
    XE2YWH(DL82-DL92) New 119
    WB5TX 101 110
    KB4YKC 100 108
    K4XP 101 102
    BI1OEU New 100
    EA1FWI New 100

    Congratulations to the new VUCC Satellite holders!

    YL2KF is first VUCC Satellite holder from Latvia and KO27
    EA1FWI is first VUCC Satellite holder from IN72

    [ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information] ------------------------------
    DXCC Satellite Standing July 2025

    DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for June 01, 2025 to July
    01, 2025.
    IW1FZR 154 184
    YO2CMI 180 184
    HB9RYZ 163 164
    EA2AA 160 161
    IK4DRY 144 150
    W5CBF 130 143
    DL2MIH 132 141
    EA1N 114 139
    DL2QB 120 136
    IK0WMJ 128 131
    IK7FMQ 128 130
    LA0FA 117 128
    W8LR 112 114
    I4DOR New 101
    KP3V New 100

    KP3V is first DXCC Satellite holder from FK78

    [ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information] ------------------------------

    *Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition?*


    *Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!*
    *25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards*
    *Keeping Amateur Radio in Space*
    *https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear* <https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear> ------------------------------
    Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for July 4

    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/.

    This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT TLE distribution
    .

    [ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager for the
    above information]
    ------------------------------
    French Astronaut Will Take Food From Michelin-Starred Chef to ISS

    French cuisine has a reputation for being among the worldΓÇÖs best. S
    o whatΓÇÖs
    a French astronaut do to when faced with the prospect of spending months
    aboard the International Space Station eating freeze-dried food straight
    from the packaging?

    Recruit a Michelin-starred chef to reimagine French classics like foie gras
    and lobster bisque was the answer for Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN, who is due to undertake her first space mission in 2026.


    *Chef Anne-Sophie Pic and astronaut Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN, at a tasting in Paris. (Photo: Groupe Pic and ESA)*

    The meals designed by Anne-Sophie Pic will make up the ΓÇ£bonus food
    ΓÇ¥ taken
    to the ISS during AdenotΓÇÖs ╬╡psilon mission, the European Space
    Agency said
    in a statement Tuesday, July 1.

    Food in space is typically freeze-dried and comes in plastic packaging from
    a list of preapproved items, the ESA said. Fruit and vegetables are a rare luxury that are available only when a spacecraft arrives with supplies.

    Astronauts, however, are able to have specially catered ΓÇ£bonus food
    ΓÇ¥ that
    makes up about 10 percent of what they eat. This is usually developed in partnership with a chef, and astronauts say it boosts mental well-being,
    adds variety and helps them bond with fellow crew members when shared in
    orbit, according to the ESA.

    See the full article at https://wapo.st/4lyxEKj

    [ANS thanks *The Washington Post* for the above information.] ------------------------------
    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.

    [image: ARISS News]

    *RECENTLY COMPLETED*
    Axiom 4 group 1 telebridge via K6DUE
    Hungarian Scout Association, Budapest, Hungary
    Debrecen – Bánki Reformed Primary School, Technical College an
    d Vocational
    Training School, Debrecen, Hungary
    Mezőberényi Petőfi Sándor Evangélikus Gimnázi
    um, Kollégium és Általános
    Iskola, Mezöberény, Hungary
    Budapesti Műszaki Szakképzési Centrum Puskás Tivadar T
    ávközlési és
    Informatikai Technikum, Puskás Radio Amateur Club – HA5KHC, HA
    5KBF,
    Budapest, Hungary
    The ISS callsign was scheduled to be NA1SS
    The crewmember was Tibor Kapu, HA5TRO
    The ARISS mentor is ON6TI
    Contact was successful: Thu 2025-07-03 11:05:59 UTC 50 degrees elevation

    Axiom 4 group 4 telebridge via K6DUE
    University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
    The ISS callsign was scheduled to be NA1SS
    The crewmember was Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, SQ7AS
    The ARISS mentor is K4RGK
    Contact was successful: Fri 2025-07-04 08:41:36 UTC 16 degrees elevation Congratulations to the Axiom 4 group 4 school, Sławosz, mentor K4RGK,
    and
    telebridge station K6DUE!
    Congratulations to Sławosz for his first ever ARISS contact!
    Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v·TPwoNf_zg

    Axiom 4 group 5 telebridge via K6DUE
    UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Dept. of Space, Govt. of India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
    The ISS callsign was scheduled to be NA1SS
    The crewmember was Shubhanshu Shukla, VU2TNI
    The ARISS mentor is AA6TB
    Contact was successful: Fri 2025-07-04 10:17:10 UTC 86 degrees elevation Congratulations to the Axiom 4 group 5 students, Shubhanshu, mentor AA6TB,
    and telebridge station K6DUE!
    Congratulations to Shubhanshu for his first ever ARISS contact!

    Axiom 4 group 3 telebridge via K6DUE
    Rzeszow University of Technology, Rzeszow Poland
    The ISS callsign was scheduled to be NA1SS
    The crewmember was Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, SQ7AS
    The ARISS mentor is K4RGK
    Contact was successful: Sat 2025-07-05 09:28:23 UTC 48 degrees elevation Congratulations to the Axiom 4 group 3 students, Sławosz, mentor K4RGK
    , and
    telebridge station K6DUE!
    Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v±I8YF1mGJc

    *UPCOMING*
    Axiom 4 group 6 telebridge via K6DUE
    North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Dept. of Space, Govt. of India, Shillong, Meghalaya, India
    The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
    The scheduled crewmember is Shubhanshu Shukla, VU2TNI
    The ARISS mentor is AA6TB
    Contact is go for: Tue 2025-07-08 08:38:31 UTC 77 degrees elevation

    Axiom 4 group 2 telebridge via K6DUE
    MOBILIS Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft., Győr, Hungary
    The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
    The scheduled crewmember is Tibor Kapu, HA5TRO
    The ARISS mentor is ON6TI
    Contact is go for: Wed 2025-07-09 07:49:40 UTC 43 degrees elevation

    The crossband repeater continues to be *active* [except for Progress Ops
    July 5 & 6](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.

    The packet system is also *active* [except for Progress Ops July 5 &
    6](145.825 MHz up & down).

    As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios
    are turned off as part of the safety protocol. *Powering off for Progress
    Ops on 7/5 OFF 15:50 UTC; ON 7/6 10:05 UTC. *

    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]
    ------------------------------
    AMSAT Ambassador Activities

    AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

    August 21-24, 2025
    *Northeast HamXposition (HamX) & New England ARRL Convention*
    Best Western Royal Plaza & Trade Center
    181 Boston Post Road W
    Marlborough, MA 01752
    http://www.HamX.org
    W1EME, WD4ASW, WB1FJ

    September 6, 2025
    *Greater Louisville Hamfest*
    Paroquet Springs Conference Centre
    395 Paroquet Springs Drive
    Shepherdsville, KY 40165
    W4FCL

    October 16, 17, 18, 19, 2025
    *AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting and 43rd Annual AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting*
    Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport North
    1515 North 44th Street
    Phoenix, Arizona 85008
    Details at https://www.amsat.org/2025-symposium/

    *W4FCL is with WA4VOC at BARS Field Day (KC3WNX photo)*

    Interested in becoming an AMSAT Ambassador? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and
    host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker
    faires, and other events. For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

    [ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director ΓÇô AMSAT Ambassador Program,
    for the
    above information]
    ------------------------------
    Satellite Shorts From All Over

    + ARRLΓÇÖs *Logbook of the World* (LoTW) was returned to service at 1
    400z on
    Wednesday, July 2, with upgraded servers. LoTW is a web-accessed database
    and repository that enables radio amateurs to submit electronic logs for amateur radio contacts (QSOs) and for confirmation (QSLs). Users can view submitted QSOs and resulting QSLs online. Radio amateurs can use LoTW to
    track their progress toward achievements and awards, such as Worked All
    States, DXCC, VUCC. It is also used to verify AMSAT awards such as
    Gridmaster. It is used by the vast majority of satellite operators. ARRL is soliciting donations through the ARRL website to support the maintenance
    and expansion of LoTW. (ANS thanks ARRL for the above information.)

    + *AMSAT South Africa* (AMSAT SA) has announced that the 2025 Space
    Symposium will be held on Saturday 2 August 2025 from 08:00 UTC ΓÇô 1
    4:00 UTC
    and has issued a call for papers. The theme of the symposium is ΓÇ£Em
    bracing
    68 years of space science and innovation in Amateur Radio.ΓÇ¥ Papers
    are
    invited covering all aspects of space science and communication impacting
    and enhancing the Amateur Radio experience, from the technical to
    operational aspects. Presentations are typically 30 minutes a with a
    10-minute Q&A. Send proposals in MS Word to admin [at] amsatsa.org.za by 7
    July 2025. To enable as widest as possible audience to participate, this symposium will be held online on the Webex platform. Members of all AMSAT organisations and national societies may attend free upon registration,
    which open on 9 July 2025. Email admin [at] amsatsa.org.za for details.
    (ANS thanks AMSAT SA for the above information.)

    + *SpaceX* launched its 500th Falcon 9 rocket to date with an overnight Starlink flight on Wednesday, July 2. The first stage booster used on the mission also flew for a record-setting 29th time. The mission, dubbed
    Starlink 10-25, lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral
    Space Force Station at 0628 UTC. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, the booster landed on the droneship, ΓÇÿA Shortfall of Gravi
    tas,ΓÇÖ
    completing the 472nd booster landing to date. (ANS thanks Spaceflight Now
    for the above information.)

    + *MethaneSAT*, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) methane-tracking
    satellite backed by the Bezos Earth Fund, is lost in space. Its ground team lost contact with the spacecraft on June 20 but tried to reestablish a connection until it learned in the morning of July 1 that MethaneSAT had
    lost power altogether. The team believes that the satellite is likely not recoverable. MethaneSAT collected data on methane emissions that have previously been untrackable in an effort to combat climate change. Methane
    is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide,
    with agriculture, fossil fuels and waste decomposition being the largest sources. (ANS thanks Engadget for the above information.)

    + EUMETSATΓÇÖs *Meteosat-12* satellite, formerly Meteosat Third Gener
    ation
    (MTG) Imager 1, has now taken over from Meteosat-10 to deliver EuropeΓÇ
    Ös
    prime weather data service from GEO. Meteosat-12 is the first imaging
    satellite in the MTG program and now moves into its key position above the equator at 0┬░ longitude, directly over the Gulf of Guinea. Meteosat-12
    is
    now the main source of near-real-time geostationary satellite data for
    Europe, Africa and the surrounding oceans. (ANS thanks satnews for the
    above information.)

    + A newly discovered *interstellar object* is only the third such
    interloper to be observed in our solar system. The object ΓÇö provisi
    onally
    known as A11pl3Z ΓÇö is not expected to pose an impact risk to Earth,
    but
    gained attention on Tuesday, July 1, when it was spotted by telescopes for NASAΓÇÖs early warning system for asteroid impacts. Speeding through
    our
    solar system at about 245,000 kilometers per hour relative to the sun, it
    is currently located just inside the orbit of Jupiter, 528 million
    kilometers from Earth. ItΓÇÖs uncertain at this time if the object
    ΓÇö which
    will get a new name when it is approved and published by the Minor Planet Center ΓÇö is a comet or asteroid, but the observations so far have h
    elped
    track the objectΓÇÖs journey, indicating it likely came from outside
    of the
    solar system from a thin galactic disk. (ANS thanks *The Washington Post*
    for the above 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).
    * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
    one-half the standard yearly rate.
    * 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.
    * 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 weekΓÇÖs ANS Editor, Mark Johns, K├ÿJM
    mjohns [at] amsat.org

    ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 2000


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