AMSAT News ServiceANS-061
March 2, 2025
In this edition:
* Amateur Satellites Scheduled for Launch This Week
* Nine New TEVEL Satellites Scheduled for Launch
* UVSQ-Sat NG Scheduled for Launch
* Intuitive Machinesâ Lunar Lander Beams Back First Images of Earth
* SpaceX Delays Flight 8 of Starship
* GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers March 2025 Rankings
* VUCC Standings February 2025
* Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution
* ARISS News
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* 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
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/
Amateur Satellites Scheduled for Launch This Week
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a dozens of satellites on the
companyâs 13th smallsat rideshare mission to a sun-synchronous orbit.
The launch is currently scheduled for Tuesday, March 4.
Among those satellites is HADES-ICM 1.5 PocketQube satellite main
mission is to act as a FM voice repeater. It can also repeat FSK derived
modes like FT-4 and FT-8.

As there is a small empty space available, it will be used to carry
an experiment by Smart IR/Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, GEIC
University of Manchester (UK) consisting in a very low power active
radiator to be tested on space conditions. The data for this experiment
will be transmitted in a specific data packet in the telemetry. This
experiment is the same as the one in HADES-R [now SO-124 â see ANS-054].
This experiment will be delivered to AMSAT EA for integration and will
be operated by AMSAT-EA, being all its data public and open.
Engineering and manufacturing support for this mission is carried out
with the help of private sector companies and universities, but
AMSAT-EA will be the only operating organization.
icMercury is a company also supporting the mission. It will develop
ground tracking software for the satellite. Telemetry will send some FSK
English formatted text messages, part of a history, to be collected as a
challenge.
HADES-ICM will offer licensed radio-amateur around the world the
opportunity to relay FM voice and AX.25 / APRS 300 / 1200 bps
communications. FSK derived transmissions and modes like FT-4 and FT-8
are also supported. As an improvement from previous missions, maximum
power is now 0.25W when battery is charged (the amplifier uses battery
energy), allowing easier QSOs with handheld antennas like Arrow or Elk
and less sensitive receivers.
The satellite will also transmit telemetry with its status and CW
messages. This all will be achieved by implementing a SDR based
repeater. The FM / FSK repeater will be available all time and opened by
squelch level without the need of a subtone.
As payload, the satellite will carry an experiment by Smart
IR/Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, GEIC University of Manchester
(UK) consisting in a very low power active radiator to be tested on
space conditions. This experiment is the same as the one in HADES-R
satellite with updates and improvements. Also, as a challenge made with
icMercury, telemetry will send FSK English formatted text messages, part
of a history, to be collected.
This satellite is based on the hardware of HADES-D (SO-121, currently
being used by hams worldwide for voice contacts) and the next to launch
HADES-R. FM satellites are very demanded and appreciated by the ham
community because they are easy to use, they donât require of expensive
transceivers and allow continental and even transatlantic contacts in
some conditions.
With this satellite we also put into use the amateur VHF and UHF
satellite sub-bands helping to secure them for the community in the
future. Proposing a UHF downlink and planning a launch on SpaceX
Transporter 13 into a 500-600 km polar orbit in Feb 2025. A downlink on
436.666 MHz has been coordinated by the International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU).
[ANS thanks IARU for the above information]
The 2025 AMSAT Presidentâs Club Coins Have Just Arrived!
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Help Support GOLF and Fox Plus.

Join the AMSAT Presidentâs Club today and help
Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/
Nine New TEVEL Satellites Scheduled for Launch
A group of satellites labeled as âTEVEL2â are on the launch manifest
for the SpaceX ransporter 13 mission scheduled for launch on March 4.
Designated as TEVEL2-1 through TEVE2-9, they are all listed as having a
downlink frequency of 436.400 MHz. However, this frequency has not been
coordinated with the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).
One may assume that these satellites will operate in much the same
manner as the first series of TEVEL satellites, launched in January of
2022 and now decayed from orbit. These satellites were activated
individually and carried FM repeaters with the same 436.400 MHz
downlink, and an uplink frequency of 145.970 MHz. However, there is no
official word from the satellite sponsors as to their plans for this new
series of satellites.
Yet another satellite on the Transporter 13 manifest is NILA, a 3U
cubesat built by HEX20Labs and students of Marian Engineering College,
both in India. The builders of this satellite requested a UHF downlink
for 9600 bps GFSK/AX25 telemetry. However, the IARU declined the request
because they deemed the project commercial, and not qualifying for use
of amateur frequencies.
[ANS thanks Jan van Gils, PEÃSAT, for the above information]
UVSQ-Sat NG Scheduled for Launch
Also among the satellites on the manifest for the SpaceX Rideshare 13
launch is the third of a series of French cubesats, named UVSQ-Sat NG â
or âNext Generation.â The previous satellites in this series carried
amateur radio FM transponders.
Specifically designed to observe essential climate variables,
UVSQ-Sat NG is a 6U nanosatellite, meaning that it has the dimensions of
six stacked unit cubes, each cube having a standard size of 10
centimetres by. Weighing only 10 kg, UVSQ-Sat NG represents a true
concentrate of technology. The satellite is equipped with a
sophisticated attitude determination and control system designed to meet
a variety of scientific requirements related to the observation of
essential climate variables. This addition distinguishes it considerably
from its two predecessors, UVSQ-Sat and INSPIRE-Sat 7. In a study
published in the journal Remote Sensing Journal, a team of researchers
from the Atmospheres Laboratory, Space Observations (LATMOS â
CNRS/Sorbonne University / UVSQ), in partnership with industry,
described this new space mission as well as its scientific aims. The
satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2025.
One of the objectives of UPSQ-Sat NG is to maintain the continuity of
the Earthâs Radial Assessment studies initiated by the UVSQ-Sat and
INSPIRE-Sat 7 satellites, launched in 2021 and 2023 respectively. The
UVSQ-Sat NG mission also involves monitoring concentrations of
greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, while analysing
their links with infrared radiation emitted by the Earth.
In addition to the methods used to determine the components of the
Earthâs Radial Balance sheet from the instruments of the UVSQ-Sat NG
satellite, researchers detail the technologies used to extract
information on atmospheric gas columns (CO2, CH4, O2, H2O) from data
from the miniaturised infrared spectrometer that will be on board
UPSQ-Sat NG.
Both scientific and innovative, this research project is primarily an
educational tool, and is an exceptional educational platform for
students who are actively involved in the design, implementation of the
satellite structure, and the establishment of a satellite management and
management centre. This programme aims to meet the requirements of
enterprises and public bodies in terms of training, development of
initial and continuous educational programmes, while at the same time
increasing the attractiveness of these training courses. This is in
order to ensure the acquisition of the key competences required for the
emerging professions of France in 2030.
UVSQ-Sat NG is equipped with several instruments, including radiative
sensors (thermopiles with carbon nanotubes) for monitoring incoming
solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation. A near-infrared
spectrometer is also on board to evaluate atmospheric concentrations of
greenhouse gases by making observations in the wavelength range of 1200
to 2000 nm.
In addition, UVSQ-Sat NG carries a high-definition camera designed to
take images of the Earth in the visible spectrum. This NanoCam will
facilitate the post-processing of spectrometer-based data by ensuring
accurate geolocation of observed scenes. It will also offer the
possibility of observing the Earthâs edge, thus giving an approximate
estimation of the vertical temperature profile of the atmosphere.
A scientific paper published in the journal, Remote Sensing states
that, âThe Isispace VHF Receiver (RX) operates in the commercial
frequency range of 148 to 150.5 MHz, and for amateur frequency
coordination, it operates within the frequency range of 145.8 to 146.0
MHz. On the other hand, the Isispace VHF Transmitter (TX) covers the
commercial frequency range of 400.15 to 402.0 MHz and, for amateur
usage, it spans the range of 435.0 to 438.0 MHz. An audio transponder
will also be used with the amateur radio community.â
However, no amateur frequencies have been coordinated with the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and no amateur operation has
been announced.
[ANS thanks Remote Sensing and IARU for the above information]

Intuitive Machinesâ Lunar Lander Beams Back First Images of Earth
The Athena lunar lander manufactured by Houston, Texas aerospace
company Intuitive Machines shared its first âselfiesâ from orbit after
launching at 00:16 UTC on Thursday, Feb. 27 from the Kennedy Space
Center in Florida.
The images released later Thursday show the six-legged Nova-C lander
with Earth in the background. Intuitive Machines shared the photos
within about 13 hours of the spacecraft launching to orbit aboard a
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Intuitive Machines, the company that built and operates that lunar
lander, shared the first images from orbit after launching from Florida.
The craft is carrying a number of science instruments, including
water-hunting technology for NASA. [Photo: © Intuitive Machines]
The Athena spacecraft, which is on a mission known as IM-2, is now
one of two American-made uncrewed lunar landers on their way to the
moonâs surface. Firefly Aerospace, also based in Texas, is operating its
own spacecraft named Blue Ghost that is due to attempt a landing early
Sunday after about a 45-day voyage.
NASA is the primary customer on both commercial spaceflights, which
are due to study different regions of the moonâs surface to pave the way
for astronauts to return as early as 2027 under the space agencyâs
Artemis program. The NASA campaign is treating the moon as a vital pit
stop for spacefarers to pause and fuel up ahead of the first crewed
missions to Mars.
If all goes to plan, Athena should be landing on the moonâs south pole on Thursday, March 6.
The IM-2 mission is targeting a landing near a plateau known as Mons
Mouton, which would be even further south than Intuitive Machinesâ first
lander, Odysseus, which made history in February 2024. The mesa-like
lunar mountain towers over a landscape carved by craters, including the
Shackleton Crater â a cold, dark region where water ice and other
volatile materials that turn easily into gas are thought to be abundant.
The main experiment onboard Athena is NASAâs PRIME-1 (Polar Resources
Ice Mining Experiment-1). The dual instrument composed of both a drill
and a mass spectrometer will excavate and measure lunar soil, known as
regolith, to detect whether gases and accessible resources are present.
Water ice thought to be abundant in the region, once uncovered, could
be extracted and used for drinking, breathing and as a source of
hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel to make future expeditions to Mars
possible, according to NASA.
Other objectives include testing a Nokia LTE 4G communications
system and deploying a propulsive drone capable of hopping across the
lunar surface.
NASAâs Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, which launched as a rideshare on
the Falcon 9, also began its own seperate journey to lunar orbit to map
the distribution of the different forms of water on Earthâs only
natural satellite.
[ANS thanks Eric Lagatta reporting for USA Today for the above information]
SpaceX Delays Flight 8 of Starship
SpaceX has pushed the eighth test flight of its Starship megarocket back a few days.
Elon Muskâs company had been targeting Friday (Feb. 28) for Flight 8
of Starship, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. But thatâs
no longer the plan.
âNow targeting to launch Starshipâs eighth flight test as soon as
Monday, March 3,â SpaceX said in an X post early on Thursday morning
(Feb. 27). No reason was given for the delay.
If all goes to plan, Starship will lift off from Starbase, SpaceXâs
facility in South Texas, on Monday during a window that opens at 2330
UTC (5:30 p.m. local Texas time).
SpaceX will try for another âchopsticksâ catch of Super Heavy, the
booster â its third overall, if successful â and Ship, the upper stage,
will attempt to deploy mock Starlink satellites on its suborbital
trajectory.
Ship will again target a controlled splashdown off Western Australia.
Eventually, SpaceX plans to snag the returning upper stage using the
launch towerâs chopsticks as well, but the company isnât ready to try
that just yet.
[ANS thanks Space.com for the above information]
GridMasterMap Satellite Top 100 Rovers March 2025 Rankings
The March 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: 2025-02-28
1 |
ND9M |
26 |
KX9X |
51 |
W7WGC |
76 |
HB9GWJ |
2 |
NJ7H |
27 |
ON4AUC |
52 |
N6DNM |
77 |
PT2AP |
3 |
JA9KRO |
28 |
KG5CCI |
53 |
JK2XXK |
78 |
AA8CH |
4 |
UT1FG |
29 |
N5BO |
54 |
EA4NF |
79 |
PT9BM |
5 |
N5UC |
30 |
K8BL |
55 |
SM3NRY |
80 |
VE1VOX |
6 |
DL6AP |
31 |
KE4AL |
56 |
JL3RNZ |
81 |
FG8OJ |
7 |
OE3SEU |
32 |
KB5FHK |
57 |
DF2ET |
82 |
YU0W |
8 |
WI7P |
33 |
VE3HLS |
58 |
XE1ET |
83 |
KJ7NDY |
9 |
DP0POL |
34 |
PA3GAN |
59 |
LU4JVE |
84 |
KI7UXT |
10 |
K5ZM |
35 |
KI0KB |
60 |
AA5PK |
85 |
N6UTC |
11 |
F5VMJ |
36 |
JO2ASQ |
61 |
KI7QEK |
86 |
KB2YSI |
12 |
N6UA |
37 |
KI7UNJ |
62 |
SP5XSD |
87 |
AF5CC |
13 |
HA3FOK |
38 |
LA9XGA |
63 |
F4DXV |
88 |
WA9JBQ |
14 |
WY7AA |
39 |
F4BKV |
64 |
AD7DB |
89 |
N4DCW |
15 |
N9IP |
40 |
BA1PK |
65 |
VE1CWJ |
90 |
JM1CAX |
16 |
W5PFG |
41 |
VA3VGR |
66 |
KE9AJ |
91 |
K0FFY |
17 |
LU5ILA |
42 |
N7AGF |
67 |
DL4EA |
92 |
VE3GOP |
18 |
DL2GRC |
43 |
VK5DG |
68 |
N8RO |
93 |
N0TEL |
19 |
AK8CW |
44 |
XE3DX |
69 |
KM4LAO |
94 |
KG4AKV |
20 |
AD0DX |
45 |
KE0WPA |
70 |
VA7LM |
95 |
W8MTB |
21 |
N4AKV |
46 |
PR8KW |
71 |
BG7QIW |
96 |
CU2ZG |
22 |
AD0HJ |
47 |
KE0PBR |
72 |
M1DDD |
97 |
VE7PTN |
23 |
WD9EWK |
48 |
K7TAB |
73 |
W8LR |
98 |
DK9JC |
24 |
ND0C |
49 |
EB1AO |
74 |
W1AW |
99 |
K6VHF |
25 |
DJ8MS |
50 |
AC0RA |
75 |
N4UFO |
100 |
VE6WK |
[ANS thanks @GridMasterMap for the above information]
AMSAT Remove Before Flight Key Tags Now Available
Yes, These are the Real Thing!
VUCC Standings February 2025
Here are the firsts from the new VUCC holders for Feb 2025:
N5YIZ is first VUCC Satellite holder from EL08
KH6WI/W9 (EN54) is first VUCC Satellite holder from EN54
W4BB is first VUCC Satellite holder from FM04
G4BWP is first VUCC Satellite holder from JO02
SV8CKM is first VUCC Satellite holder from KM08
SV2DSJ is first VUCC Satellite holder from KN10
ER1KW is first VUCC Satellite holder from Moldova and KN46
RA3LAS is first VUCC Satellite holder from KO85
BG6HXD is first VUCC Satellite holder from OM83
BI8FFH is first VUCC Satellite holder from PM06
[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information.]
Changes to AMSAT-NA TLE Distribution for February 28
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/.
The following satellite has been added to this weekâs AMSAT TLE distribution:
HADES-R (SO-124) NORAD Cat ID 62690
The following satellites have been deleted from this weeks AMSAT TLE distribution:
SO-120 NORAD Cat ID 56992 Decayed from orbit on or about 11 February 2025
XW-2C NORAD Cat ID 40906 Decayed from orbit on or about 16 February 2026
[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.
FAILED
Royal Moroccan Air Academy, Marrakech, Morocco, direct via CN8ERA
The ISS callsign was scheduled to be OR4ISSThe scheduled crewmember was Sunita Williams, KD5PLB
The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ
Contact was not successful for: Fri 2025-02-21 11:12:20 UTC 72 degrees maximum elevation
ARISS is working to determine what exactly happened.
UPCOMING
No additional contacts are scheduled in the immediate future.

The
crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} &
437.800 MHz down). If any crewmember is so inclined, all they have to
do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the
crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know.
The packet system is also active (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.
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]
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Kyle Chavis, WA4PGM, will be QRV from St. Lucia from 26 Feb through 4
Mar as J68HZ. OPERATION SUSPENDED DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER. Keep an eye
on hams.at for additional info.
Tom Gaines, KB5FHK, plans operations from EM62 and from EM72 on March 8 & 9. See hams.at for details.
A growing number of satellite rovers are currently engaged in sharing their grid square activations on https://hams.at.
By visiting the website, you gain easy access to comprehensive
information about the operators responsible for activating specific grid
squares. Additionally, you have the ability to assess the match score
between yourself and a particular rover for a given pass, while also
being able to identify the upcoming satellite passes that are accessible
from your location.
[ANS thanks Ian Parsons, K5ZM, AMSAT rover page manager, 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.
March 1, 2025
Irving Hamfest
Betcha Bingo Hall
2420 W. Irving Blvd.
Irving, TX 75014
http://irvingarc.org/hamfest
N5HYP
March 22, 2025
Midwinter Madness Hamfest
Buffalo Civic Center
1306 County Rd 134
Buffalo MN 55313
https://k0ltc.org/midwinter-madness/
KÃJM, ADÃHJ, KEÃPBR
April 4 â 5, 2025
Southeastern VHF Conference 2025
Quality Inn
3095 Wilma Rudolph Blvd
Clarksville, TN 37040
W4FCL
April 5, 2025
RARSfest
Jim Graham Building
NC State Fairgrounds
Youth Center Drive, Gate 5
Raleigh NC
https://www.rarsfest.org/index.php
K4EB, N4AEW, W1DCM, KK4HG, N4HF
[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director â AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ A total lunar eclipse will happen overnight between March 13 and
March 14, 2025. It will be the first total lunar eclipse visible
anywhere in the world since November 2022, and will also be the first of
three happening between 2025 and 2026. During totality â the peak phase
of the eclipse â the moon will turn a deep reddish-orange hue, earning
it the nickname âBlood Moon.â This effect happens because Earthâs
atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths of light from the sun while
allowing longer wavelengths of red and orange hues to be refracted into
Earthâs umbra (the darkest part of Earthâs shadow). When these longer
wavelengths strike the moon, they can make it appear red, similar to how
the sky appears red during sunrise and sunset. Totality will last for
an impressive 65 minutes, beginning at 0726 UTC on March 14. (ANS thanks
Space.com for the above information.)
+ GOES-19 will replace GOES-16 as the operational GOES-East weather
satellite on April 4, 2025. Between 17 March 2025 and 1 April 2025, the
GOES-16 satellite will undergo a minor East/West station-keeping
maneuver, drifting from its current operational longitude of 75.2°W to a
new operational longitude of 75.5°W. During this time, the GOES-East
HRIT/EMWIN Broadcast will continue from GOES-16. This 0.3°W shift is
expected to induce minimal change in received signal strength for ground
stations employing properly aligned small aperture antennas. GOES-19
will also begin its drift maneuverâ drifting from 89.5°W to 75.2°W ~1
deg/day drift. On April 1, GOES 19 arrives at 75.2°W, then GOES-19
Post-Drift Product Checkout at new location commences. (ANS thanks Carl
Reinemann, usradioguy.com, for the above information.)
+ In less than 48 hours the HB9RG Trophy of the AMSAT-HB will start.
Further information has been added to the website, including the form
for entering QSO data as well as provisional activity planning for the
bonus day on March 10th: https://www.amsat-hb.org/hb9rg_trophy/hb9rg_trophy_2025_-_distance
  QSO with station HB9RG will be rewarded with an additional 500 points
on March 10. Anyone who only wants to contact the HB9RG station on
March 10 is invited to do so. Every QSO on March 10 will be confirmed
with an anniversary QSL card. Share your activities for the HB9RG Trophy
with us via X, Bluesky and Facebook. Use the hashtag #HB9RGTrophy. (ANS thanks Michael Lipp, HB9WDF, President AMSAT-HB, 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 weekâs ANS Editor, Mark Johns, KÃJM
mjohns [at] amsat.org
ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002