From Newsgroup: rec.radio.amateur.space

AMSAT News Service*ANS-221*
*August 9, 2026*

In this edition:

* Registration Now Open for the 44th AMSAT Space Symposium
* Voting Still in Progress for Board of Directors
* Jackie Blumer KC9LEH Appointed as ARISS Associate Director
* AMSAT-CA Membership is Open
* AMSAT Contests and Awards
* Astronauts Complete Spacewalk for Solar Array Modifications
* SpaceX Rocket Impact: Lunar Orbiter Captures Aftermath
* VUCC Satellite Standings August 2026
* DXCC Satellite Standings August 2026
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for August 7, 2026
* ARISS News
* AMSAT Ambassador Activities
* Satellite Shorts from All Over

The AMSAT-< News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and informat
ion
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/ ------------------------------
Registration Now Open for 44th AMSAT Space Symposium

Registration is now open for the *44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual
General Meeting*, coming to *Jacksonville, Florida, October 8-11, 2026*.
This year's gathering will be held at the Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel & Conference Center - the same property previously known as the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport/I-95, rebranded in July 2026 - an easy fly-in location with a free airport shuttle.

Symposium registration is $80 and the Saturday night banquet is $60 through September 8, after which prices rise to $90 and $70, respectively. An all-events package combining the two is also available at $140 early bird
or $160 regular. Symposium registration includes admittance to all
presentation sessions, the Friday night social and auction, the Sunday
morning AMSAT Members Breakfast, and a digital copy of the Symposium Proceedings. Register online at https://launch.amsat.org/event-6789663

The weekend kicks off with the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting on
Thursday, October 8, continuing Friday morning. Symposium presentations
begin Friday afternoon - with technical sessions planned on the *GOLF* satellites, the *CubeSatSim*, *ARISS* updates, and more - followed by the reception and auction on Friday evening. Presentations continue Saturday morning and afternoon, capped by the Annual General Meeting at 3:00 p.m.
and the evening reception and banquet, complete with ham radio door prizes. Live streaming will be available for those unable to attend in person, and
a spouse program is planned.

Sunday morning brings the Members Breakfast, followed by optional tours of
the USS Orleck, a Gearing-class destroyer that served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1982, and the 122-acre Jacksonville Zoo, home to more than 2,000 animals. Tour registration is an expression of interest only, with
admission paid at the door - $35.95 for the zoo, and $20 for adults or $15
for seniors, AARP members, and veterans aboard the Orleck.

Hotel reservations at the Wyndham Jacksonville may be made through the
booking link on the Symposium page at https://www.amsat.org/2026-amsat-symposium/ or by phone at 1-800-227-6963
using group code AMS.

Make your plans now to join your fellow AMSAT members in Jacksonville!

*[ANS thanks the AMSAT Symposium Team for the above information]* ------------------------------
Voting Still in Progress for Board of Directors

AMSAT members are reminded that voting remains open in the 2026 AMSAT Board
of Directors election. Three seats on the Board are being filled this year.
The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected
to the Board, while the candidates receiving the next highest vote totals
will be named First Alternate and Second Alternate, respectively.

Voting opened on July 15, 2026, and will conclude on September 15, 2026. Election results will be announced no later than September 30, 2026.

Current AMSAT members may review the official candidate statements and cast their ballots on the AMSAT 2026 Board of Directors Election website at https://launch.amsat.org/2026-BoD-Election

Members are encouraged to take a few minutes to review the candidates' statements and cast their ballots. Your participation helps shape the
future of AMSAT and its mission to Keep Amateur Radio in Space.

*[ANS thanks Douglas Tabor, N6UA, 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!)*
------------------------------
Jackie Blumer, KC9LEH, Appointed as ARISS Associate Director

*Jackie Blumer, KC9LEH, Earth/Space Educator, Associate Director,
ARISS-USA*
*[Credit: ARISS-USA]*

ARISS-USA is pleased to announce that *Jackie Blumer, KC9LEH*, has been appointed *Associate Director of ARISS-USA (Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station)**. *Jackie is a nationally recognized science educator with an emphasis on space education.

In her work as an educator, she has often incorporated amateur radio into
her curriculum as a teaching tool. In addition to her many responsibilities
at ARISS-USA, Jackie has recently served as Business Development
Coordinator and Logistics Manager for ARISS-USA.

In her new position as Associate Director, her focus will be on developing relations with other space-related organizations. She will also be seeking educational opportunities to collaborate on projects in conjunction with
the commercial space industry.

Please join us in congratulating *Jackie Blumer, KC9LEH*, on her
appointment and wishing her continued success in her new role with
ARISS-USA.

*[ANS thanks Dave Jordan, AA4KN, ARISS PR and media contact for the above information.]*
------------------------------
AMSAT-CA Membership is Open

*AMSAT-CA Logo [Credit: amsat-ca.org <https://www.amsat-ca.org/>]*

The global amateur radio community has expanded with the official formation
of *AMSAT CANADA (AMSAT-CA)*, making it the 28th affiliate of the Radio
Amateur Satellite Corporation.

AMSAT Canada joins this global network to specifically serve Canadian
amateur radio operators who share an interest in space communications. More information can be found at https://www.amsat-ca.org/about/.

Building on Canada's rich history of innovation in space and radio science, AMSAT Canada stands ready to contribute to that legacy. The organization's mandate is to promote, develop, and support amateur radio in space,
reflecting a long tradition of experimentation, education, and
international collaboration.

By uniting together, the organization aims to build a vibrant and enduring Canadian presence in space that:

-

Inspires new generations
-

Advances open science
-

Upholds the spirit of exploration that has always defined amateur radio

Operators and enthusiasts interested in joining the initiative, tracking upcoming projects, or learning more about membership can visit the official website at www.amsat-ca.org.

*[ANS thanks Levente Buzas, VA7QF, President of AMSAT Canada for the above information.]*
------------------------------
Buying from Ham Radio Outlet?
Add AMSATrCOs *Getting Started With Amateur Satellites* to your order
.
<https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pidE-019238>Available for $29.95
from HRO (free shipping on most orders over $100) https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pidE-019238
------------------------------
AMSAT Contests and AwardsKleibe, PP2KR, Earns AMSAT Rover Award #93

*Kleibe, PP2KR [Credit: QRZ.com <https://www.qrz.com/db/PP2KR>]*

*Bruce Paige, KK5DO*, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, has announced
that *Kleibe, PP2KR*, of *Brazil* has been awarded AMSAT Rover Award #93.

Introduced in 2018, the *AMSAT Rover Award* recognizes the operators who
make grid chasing possible in the first place: the ones who pack up their stations and take them somewhere else. The award is granted to stations accumulating 25 points through roving activity, with each grid square
activated outside the roverrCOs home grid earning one point via a single-channel FM transponder, two points via a linear SSB/CW transponder,
or three points via a digital transponder such as the ISS packet system. An additional point is added for each grid activated in a state, province, or
DX entity outside the roverrCOs own, and five-point bonuses are avail
able
both for publicizing an activation at least 24 hours in advance - via a
public social media post tagging @amsat or #amsat, the AMSAT-BB, or this bulletin - and for posting photos of the operation afterward. Braver souls
can earn 10 points for activating a grid while operating maritime mobile,
which also adds a /MM endorsement to the certificate.

Every rare grid in a chaserrCOs log is there because someone made the
trip,
and rover activity from South America is an especially welcome treat for satellite operators throughout the Americas. In announcing the award, Paige offered his congratulations along with his customary encouragement to
rovers everywhere to keep on rovinrCO.

Complete rules and application information for the AMSAT Rover Award are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-rover-award/, and upcoming rover operations may be found - and publicized - at https://hams.at.

Congratulations, Kleibe, and thanks for putting Brazil on the air!
Adrian Mol, N8AJM, Earns GridMaster Award #79

*Bruce Paige, KK5DO*, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards, has announced
that Adrian Mol, N8AJM, has been awarded *GridMaster Award #79*.

The GridMaster Award recognizes radio amateurs worldwide who achieve
two-way communication via amateur satellite with operators in all *488 Maidenhead* grid squares of the contiguous United States. Contacts must be confirmed in writing, in the form of QSL cards or Logbook of The World confirmations, and must be made from a single location or from locations no more than 200 kilometers apart. Originally created by the Star Comm Group
in 2014 and now administered by AMSAT, the GridMaster is widely regarded as
one of the most demanding achievements in amateur satellite operating.
Unlike open-ended grid chasing, it has a finish line, and reaching it takes years of dedication: many of the 488 grids are sparsely populated or home
to no satellite operators at all, meaning nearly every GridMaster owes a
debt to the rovers who haul their stations into rare grids so others can complete the map.

That makes this award a particularly fitting one. Mol is no stranger to the other side of the microphone, having appeared on the AMSAT rover pages activating grids for fellow chasers. In announcing the award, Paige offered
his congratulations along with his customary encouragement to the rover community to keep on rovin'.

Full details on the GridMaster Award, including rules and the application
form, are available at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/. Those looking to chase, or activate, needed grids will find upcoming rover operations listed
at https://hams.at.

Congratulations, N8AJM, on a truly hard-earned achievement!

*[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards,
for the above information]*
------------------------------
The 2026 Coins Are Here! Help Support GOLF-TEE and Fox-Plus.
*Annual memberships start at only $120.*

[image: Presidents' Club 2026 Coin] <https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/>


*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/>*

------------------------------
Astronauts Complete Spacewalk for Solar Array Modifications

NASA astronauts *Jessica Meir* and *Anil Menon* successfully wrapped up a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on *Thursday, August 6th,
3 p.m. EDT*, marking Menon's first career spacewalk and the sixth for Meir.

*NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon* *[Credit: NASA]*

Prior to stepping outside, the NASA astronauts completed hands-on
preparations aboard the space station to ensure a smooth operation:

-

*Tool and Gear Configuration:* The duo spent time inside the Quest
airlock configuring tools and staging their spacesuits.
-

*Procedure Reviews:* They worked closely with fellow crew members *Jack
Hathaway* (NASA) and *Sophie Adenot* (ESA), who reviewed the
spacewalking procedures. Hathaway and Adenot also assisted with
spacesuit configurations and were assigned to monitor the extravehicular
activity from inside while helping Meir and Menon into and out of their
suits.



*From left, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon work outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk to install hardware for
future power system upgrades. [Credit: NASA+ <https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/08/06/astronauts-complete-spa cewalk-for-solar-array-modifications/>]*

During the *6-hour, 27-minute excursion*, the duo accomplished their
primary objectives by preparing the station's *3B power channel*. This
critical maintenance lays the groundwork for the future installation
of new *roll-out
solar arrays (IROSA)*, which will supply additional electrical power to the orbiting laboratory. The upgraded power capacity will support vital station systems as well as the future safe, controlled deorbit of the outpost.

Thursday's extravehicular activity marked the *281st spacewalk* conducted
in support of International Space Station assembly, maintenance, and
upgrades.

*[ANS thanks NASA.gov <https://www.nasa.gov/>for the above information]*

------------------------------
SpaceX Rocket Impact: Lunar Orbiter Captures Aftermath
The final resting place of a *SpaceX Falcon 9* upper stage has been
documented on the lunar surface. On the morning of Wednesday, August 5,
2026, the *8,800-pound (4,000-kilogram)* rocket body slammed into the moon
at approximately *5,400 mph (8,690 kph)*, creating a crater estimated to be
up to *89 feet (27 meters)* wide.
Impact Observations

*South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter captured this image of the crater
blasted out by a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage when it hit the moon on Aug.
5, 2026. [Credit: KARI]*
South KorearCOs Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, *Danuri*, successfull
y
captured images of the impact site. According to the *Korea Aerospace
Research Institute (KARI)*, the orbiter began imaging 30 minutes before the collision and performed eight sessions as it passed over the site, securing vital before-and-after data.
Beyond orbital imagery, scientists detected evidence of the impact from
Earth:

- *Plume Detection:* Researchers at the *Lowell Observatory* in
Flagstaff, Arizona, reported measuring a sodium and lithium gas plume
spanning several tens of kilometers, which lasted for 5 to 10 minutes
following the impact.
- *Visual Confirmation:* Astronomers at the *Instituto de Astrof|!si
ca de
Andaluc|!a* in Spain also captured preliminary video footage of mate
rial
ejected from the lunar surface at the time of the predicted impact.

Scientific Context

The Falcon 9 upper stage had been orbiting Earth since launching the
private robotic landers *Blue Ghost* and *Resilience* in January 2025.
Because the stage had exhausted most of its fuel to reach a high,
moon-crossing orbit, it could not deorbit in Earth's atmosphere. Over time,
a combination of solar activity and gravitational forces pushed the stage
onto its eventual collision course.
While the impact was not the intended outcome for the rocket, researchers
view this as a unique opportunity to study artificial impacts. Data from
Danuri will be combined with future observations from NASArCOs *Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)* to analyze the impact site. Experts hope this research will help clarify the multi-modal hazards posed by space debris to future lunar infrastructure and astronauts, as well as test methods for locating seismic impact events.

For more information, see https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/a-spacex-rocket-just-crashed-into-the- moon-now-the-race-is-on-to-get-a-look-at-the-impact-site
and
https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/spacex-rockets-impact-crater-on-the-mo on-spied-by-korean-lunar-orbiter-photos. <https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/spacex-rockets-impact-crater-on-the-m oon-spied-by-korean-lunar-orbiter-photos>

*[ANS thanks Space.com <https://www.space.com/> <https://www.nasa.gov/>for
the above information]*
------------------------------
VUCC Satellite Standings August 2026

VUCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for
July 01, 2026 to August 01, 2026. ------------------------------------------------------------
PY2PIM 1310 1354
WI7P 1104 1106
JS1LQI 825 876
AC9DX 725 730
N1AIA 613 705
JA1GZK 600 634
JO4JKL 511 600
W9FF 558 559
9V1EO 133 553
HP2VX 543 552
DL8GAM 500 529
PY2HZ 427 505
N6PAZ 500 503
JI5RPT/1 300 400
JE2UFF 334 335
JH0BBE 324 325
IC8TEM 147 315
DH0GSU 250 279
EA4DEI 250 277
WA8ZID 233 234
KT8O 175 201
N9HF 185 201
NK0S 175 181
W4XP 100 126

*[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ for the above information.]* ------------------------------
DXCC Satellite Standings August 2026

DXCC Satellite Award/Endorsement Change Summary for
Jul 01, 2026 to Aug 01, 2026. ------------------------------------------------------------
YO2CMI 193 195
HB9RYZ 175 176
ON4AOI 167 176
YO2KHK 168 176
OE6MDF 169 170
IK1IYU 153 165
IK4CIE 157 164
IK0WMJ 131 159
YO2RR 150 156
G4BWP 138 150
DL6JZ 101 118
CT4NH New 116
CT1EEB 113 115
OH3DP 110 114
ON4IQ 107 108 ------------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations to the new DXCC satellite holder, CT4NH.

*[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ for the above information.]* ------------------------------
Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for August 7, 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/>.

*+ The following satellites have been added to this week's AMSAT TLE distribution:*

CroCube NORAD Cat ID 62394
LASARsat NORAD Cat ID 62391
MARINA NORAD Cat ID 69920

+ *The following satellite has been removed from this week's
AMSAT TLE distribution*:

Cute NORAD Cat ID 49263 Decayed from orbit on or about
17 July 2026.
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.]*
------------------------------
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.
*Scheduled Contacts*

*+ Recently Completed*


*Geneva Christian College, Latrobe, Tasmania, Australia telebridge via IK1SLD*The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was VK4KHZ
Contact was successful: Mon 2026-08-03 10:00:37 UTC 55 deg


*Kenya Space Agency (KSA), Nairobi, Kenya, telebridge via ON4ISS*The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember was Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was IZ2GOJ
Contact was successful: Wed 2026-08-05 11:38:38 UTC 89 deg

*+ Upcoming*


*Challenger Learning Center National Conference, Framingham, MA, telebridge
via VK4ISS*The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is KA3HDO
Contact is go for: Wed 2026-08-12 16:31:39 UTC 58 deg


*Australian Air League (AAL), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia,
telebridge via IK1SLD *The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Jack Hathaway, KJ5NIV
The ARISS mentor is VK4ISS
Contact is go for: Fri 2026-08-14 10:56:13 UTC 76 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 airrCoso
keep
listening, as you never know when activity might occur.

Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module rCo Call sign RS|yISS
. Please note
werCOre still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radi
o. 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 operating 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 fairs, and other events.

AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,

rCLThink a 75-minute presentation on rCLworking the easy satell
itesrCY would be
appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me at k6lcsclint@gmail .com or calling me at 909-999-SATS (7287)!rCY

Clint has NEVER given the exact same show twice: EACH of the 150+
presentations so far has been customized/tailored to their audiences.
Scheduled Events
*Northeast HamXposition (HamX) & New England Division ARRL Convention*
August 14-16, 2026
Best Western Royal Plaza & Trade Center
181 Boston Post Road W
Marlborough, MA 01752
W1EME, WD4ASW, WB1FJ
https://hamxposition.org


*Wyoming HamCon, ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention*August 28-30, 2026 Best Western (Downtown)
123 W. E St.
Casper, WY 82601
http://wyohamcon.org/
K0NMR

*44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting*
October 8-11, 2026
Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel & Conference Center (rebranded from Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport/I-95 in July 2026)
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218

For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

*[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director rCo AMSAT Ambassador Program,
for the
above information.]*
------------------------------
[image: SDR Gen 2 Ad - 2026]
------------------------------
Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ The European Space Agency (ESA) is hosting a global livestream for the upcoming *total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026*, which will cross
Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, and Spain. Hosted by science communicator Dr. Maggie Aderin alongside ESA experts, the broadcast will air live on ESA Web
TV and YouTube from *19:30 to 20:45 CEST*, featuring telescope feeds from
the *Observatorio Astrof|!sico de Javalambre* in Teruel, Spain, and liv
e
coverage of totality starting at *20:31 CEST*. Viewers can participate by submitting questions on Bluesky or X using the hashtag #AskESA. ESA also reminds anyone viewing partial phases of the eclipse in person to use
certified safety glasses to prevent eye damage. [*ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Total_solar_eclipse_h ow_to_watch_live_from_home <https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Total_solar_eclipse_ how_to_watch_live_from_home>]*

+NASA has assigned astronaut *Deniz Burnham, AI5RW,* to her first mission
to the International Space Station, where she will serve as an *Expedition
76* flight engineer. She is scheduled to launch in March 2027 from the
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard the *Roscosmos Soyuz MS-30*
spacecraft alongside cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Konstantin Borisov. The
trio will spend approximately seven months aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to
support future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. [*ANS thanks NASA.gov for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-assigns-astronaut-deniz-burnham-to-f irst-space-station-mission/ <https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-assigns-astronaut-deniz-burnham-to- first-space-station-mission/>]*

+ Rocket Lab successfully launched a Japanese Earth-observing radar
satellite early this morning (Aug. 6, 2026) from New Zealand, overcoming a five-week delay following a last-second abort on June 30. Liftoff of the Electron rocket, carrying the mission aptly named "The Grain Goddess
Provides," occurred at 5:18 a.m. EDT. The vehicle successfully
deployed the *QPS-SAR-13
(MIKURA-I)* spacecraft into an orbit 357 miles (575 kilometers) above
Earth. Operated by Tokyo-based iQPS, the satellite utilizes *high-resolutio
n
synthetic aperture radar (SAR)* to capture day-and-night, all-weather
imagery. This mission marks the 8th of 15 dedicated launches Rocket Lab is performing to help build iQPS's planned 36-satellite constellation.
Overall, it was Rocket Lab's 92nd flight and their 13th of 2026. [*ANS
thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/rocket-lab-laun ches-japanese-earth-observing-satellite-after-5-week-delay-video-photos <https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/rocket-lab-lau nches-japanese-earth-observing-satellite-after-5-week-delay-video-photos>]*

+ Astronomers have tracked a rare stellar explosion, designated *SN 2026gzf
*,
from its initial X-ray shock breakout to its aftermath. First detected in
March 2026 by China's Einstein Probe 500 million light-years away, a
Carnegie Mellon-led global team used a network of international telescopes
to monitor the event in real time. Although the explosion closely resembled energetic supernovae typically linked to gamma-ray bursts, follow-up X-ray
and radio data revealed no relativistic jets. This unexpected finding
suggests the jets were "choked" by the star, proving that massive stars can
die through a wider variety of pathways than previously understood. [*ANS thanks Carnegie Mellon University for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2026/august/rare-stellar-explosio n-gives-astronomers-a-front-row-seat-to-a-massive-stars-death <https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2026/august/rare-stellar-explosi on-gives-astronomers-a-front-row-seat-to-a-massive-stars-death>]* ------------------------------
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 enrolled in at least half-time status are eligible for free
membership 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,*

*Vidya Gopalakrishnan, K4VGK*


*ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002AMSAT is a registered trademark
of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.*


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