AMSAT News Service
ANS-207
July 26, 2026
In this edition:
* HamGPT Launches Personal AI Copilot for Amateur Radio
* Young Ham of the Year Recognition for Satellite Operator
* FireSat Constellation Launches First Operational Satellites to Transform Wildfire Tracking
* Amateur Radio and UmKA-1 (RS-40S) Satellite Celebrates âDay of the Moonâ
* HAMQ: The All-in-One iPhone Powerhouse for Satellite and Portable Ops
* Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 26, 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/
HamGPT Launches Personal AI Copilot for Amateur Radio
Amateur radio operators have a new digital tool in their toolkit with the launch of HamGPT, a specialized AI chatbot designed specifically to assist hams with technical questions, propagation, and station data.
Built
on a powerful GPT engine, HamGPT distinguishes itself from mainstream
artificial intelligence platforms by integrating directly with key
amateur radio data sources, including the FCC database and live
propagation tracking reports.

Ham Radio Copilot [Credit: https://app.hamq.net/en/]
To get started, users must register using their valid amateur radio callsign and location. The platform currently offers a free tier featuring a limited number of daily queries.
Key Features and Capabilities
-
Targeted Assistance: HamGPT
can field common operational questions, such as identifying which
amateur band currently offers the best propagation to a specific DX
destination, or surfacing nearby repeater coordinates and band plans.
-
Data Integration:
Unlike standard AI assistants that rely solely on generalized web data,
HamGPT is tailored to parse structured amateur radio frameworks,
providing context-aware answers tailored to licensing and regional
regulations.
-
Future Developments: Developers
behind the project are exploring advanced utility features, such as
processing ADIF (Amateur Data Interchange Format) log files to
streamline award tracking, DXCC qualifications, and contest log scoring.
While
tools like HamGPT showcase how modern artificial intelligence is
bleeding into technical hobbies, the platform serves as an interactive
copilot rather than a replacement for hands-on operating experience.
Early users note that while it provides quick access to localized
repeater and database queries, operators should still cross-reference
complex technical designs with authoritative texts and Elmer advice.
For more information or to test out the platform, visit:Â Â https://hamgpt.co/.
[ANS thanks Daily Ham Weekly, for the above information.]
Young Ham of the Year Recognition for Satellite Operator
The 2026 winner of the Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio
Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award (YHOTY) is Carsten Glasbrenner,
KQ4SJM, of Brooksville, Florida. Carsten, age 14, who holds a General
Class license earned in May 2024, took his Technician test at the age of
11. He is the son of Drew and Merete Glasbrenner. Carsten gives his
dad, KO4MA, credit for planting the seeds that sprouted into an early
interest in amateur radio â specifically, satellites. [Drew Glasbrenner is currently the president of AMSAT.]
Award committee chairman, Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, reported that
Carsten was almost speechless when he learned in a recent phone call he
had been selected as this yearâs YHOTY award. Carsten says he was also
pretty nervous making his first satellite contact just a month after
earning his General and called on dad for some help.
âI hadnât learned completely how to point and polarize the antenna
yet. So I was more talking and he was helping me out through what I was
going to say since FM satellites are rather quick so itâs kind of hard
to understand when youâre first doing them. So he was helping me out
with the call signs, what to say, what to copy and what grid square I
was. I didnât know what grid square we were in yet.â
Since that first contact, Carsten has well over 100 satellite
contacts in the log and has activated a number of rare grid squares. He
begins high school this fall and says his interest in kit-building,
especially soldering components, might set him on the path to electrical
engineering.

Carsten Glasbrenner, KQ4SJM, prepares
to make a satellite contact on a SOTA/POTA/grid square rove in Colorado
last week. (Credit, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA).
Carsten says his interest in sharing his new-found hobby with other
young people led to invitations to speak at Hamcation and the Dayton
Hamvention and earned him a position as AMSATâs youngest Ambassador.
This past March, Carstenâs proposal to get more young hams working
satellites became a reality. Itâs called âStudents On the Airâ days and
theyâre held the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Carsten will be presented with the YHOTY award at the Huntsville
Hamfest on Saturday, August 22 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville,
Alabama.
A previous YHOTY award winner, from 2024, is one of four top
achievers receiving scholarships from the Young Ladies Radio League
(YLRL) to support their continued studies. The Ethel Smith K2LMB
Memorial Scholarship is being awarded to Grace Papay, K8LG, who is being
recognized for the second year in a row with this scholarship. The
third-generation ham is a top contester in addition to being a satellite
enthusiast. She was the first recipient younger than 21 to receive the
AMSAT Grid Master Award. The Michigan resident is studying electrical
engineering at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. Other
recipients of YLRL scholarships this year are Katie Campbell, KE8LQR,
Sabrina Mol, WS8EMT, and Kanushi Desai, KE8RNA.
The Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award program is
cosponsored by Amateur Radio Newslineâ¢, along with Yaesu USA, CQ
Publishing, Heil Sound Ltd. and RadioWavz. The award was created in 1986
by ARNewsline⢠founder Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.
[ANS thanks Amateur Radio Newsline 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.

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/ (Remember! Students join for FREE!)
FireSat Constellation Launches First Operational Satellites to Transform Wildfire Tracking
As critical wildfire conditions continue to impact North America, the Google-supported FireSat initiative has marked a major milestone. As previously noted in ANS-186, Â the first three operational satellites, Firesat-1, -2, and -3, dedicated to the constellation have successfully achieved orbit. The satellites were launched aboard a SpaceX Transporter-17 rideshare mission on July 7, 2026.
The microsatellites were developed by spacecraft manufacturer Muon Space and are managed by the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance (EFA), signifying a transition from prototype validation to active, global deployment.
âProtoflightâ Mission
This latest deployment follows successful testing of the programâs technology in orbit.
The FireSat prototype, ProtoFlight, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a SpaceX Transporter-13 mission in March 2025.
The primary objective of this pilot mission was to test and validate
the constellationâs novel system design and its end-to-end data product
workflow. According to program reports, the prototype successfully detected wildfires of various types and sizes across five continents, proving the concept prior to this larger deployment.
Satellite Design and Payload Specifications

FireSat is a
purpose-built satellite constellation to focus on wildfire detection and
monitoring using high resolution infrared data. [Credit: Google
Research]
Designed specifically to address the historical
gap where emergency responders relied on weather or Earth-imaging
satellites built for other purposes, FireSat features a purpose-built
architecture tailored for high-cadence wildfire observation.
-
Multispectral IR Radiometer:
Each satellite carries an advanced six-channel multispectral infrared
payload spanning across five distinct bands, optimized around mid-wave
infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (TIR) thermal window channels.
-
Swath and Resolution:
The instrument utilizes a cross-track scanning method featuring an
expansive 1,500-kilometer (930 miles) observation swath and an average
ground sample distance resolution of 80 meters (260 feet).
-
Small-Fire Sensitivity:
By leveraging high thermal sensitivity, the satellite can detect heat
sources occupying only a fraction of an image pixel, allowing the
constellation to identify early-stage ignitions and hot spots as small
as 5 by 5 meters (16-by-16 feet or roughly 270 square feet).
-
Through-Smoke Performance:
The onboard sensors are engineered to pierce through thick layers of
smoke and cloud cover while maintaining a false-positive detection rate
of less than 5%.
Core Data Products

FireSatâs
infrared imagery shows the Nipigon 6 fire in Ontario, Canada, on June
15, 2025, identifying active fire regions at the top, both active flames
and burn scars in the middle, and old burn scars at the bottom.
[Credit: Muon Space and Earth Fire Alliance]
FireSat generates a robust suite of specialized
data products to feed directly into operational firefighting workflows
and scientific research:
-
Hotspot Identification: Near real-time detection of new or growing ignitions to catch fires early.
-
Fire Perimeter: Continuously updated boundaries of the outer edge of a fire to coordinate safe resource allocation.
-
Fire Progression: Critical situational awareness tracking spread rate, speed, and direction for evacuation planning.
-
Fire Radiative Power: Quantification of released energy to help researchers assess ecosystem impacts and estimate carbon emissions.
Following initial on-orbit testing and
calibration, the operational satellites will deliver data at least twice
daily to firefighting agencies, modelers, and scientists in EFAâs Early
Adopter Program.
The initiative is backed by foundational
support from Californiaâs CAL FIRE, tech contributions from Google.org
and Google Research, and a commitment from the Bezos Earth Fund.
For more information:
Firesat: https://earthfirealliance.org/about-firesat/ and https://sites.research.google/gr/wildfires/firesat/
Earth Fire Alliance: https://earthfirealliance.org/
Article: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/google-backed-satellites-for-wildfire-detection-launch-as-smoke-chokes-us-canada/
[ANS thanks Ars Technica, Earth Fire Alliance, and Google Research for the above information.]
Amateur Radio and UmKA-1 (RS-40S) Satellite Celebrate âDay of the Moonâ
Amateur radio operators
worldwide are participating in a special slow-scan television (SSTV)
event celebrating the âDay of the Moon.â The event features transmissions from the Russian UmKA-1 (RS-40S) satellite.
The UmKA-1 satellite was developed by the
Center for Scientific Creativity team at Podolsk School â 29 as part of
the School Space Telescope project. The spacecraft was built using the
OrbiCraft-Pro platform developed by Sputnix. Its payload features the
high-powered Leptonar-20955K telescope and a PlayerOne Saturn-C SQR
astronomical digital camera.
Â
Â

UmKA-1 satellite created by the team of the Center for Scientific Creativity, Podolsk School â 29 [Credit: SpaceÏ]
The special transmission started on July 20, 2026 and is expected to continue till July 26, 2026.
During this period, UmKA-1 is active on a downlink frequency of 437.625 MHz FM.
Those listening can expect a mix of special audio clips as well as SSTV images, which will alternate day-to-day. The SSTV images will transmit in Robot 36 mode.
The expected schedule follows:
Telemetry of the UmKA-1 (RS-40S) satellite:
Network of amateur radio satellite stations âEfirâ â https://r4uab.ru/satdb/umka-1/
Network âSonicsâ â https://sonik.space/satellites/SDUV-9624-5611-1090-5908/
You can follow the broadcast and updates in the @AmateurSat group.
While the satelliteâs primary mission is Earth observation and educational outreach, this special event provides a fantastic opportunity for amateurs to capture unique imagery and audio from space.
Radio amateurs have already begun sharing recordings of the decoded SSTV audio and images. You can find examples on various amateur satellite tracking forums and social media groups.
Operators are encouraged to share their successful receptions.
[ANS thanks Daily Ham Weekly and R4UAB for the above information.]
Buying from Ham Radio Outlet?
Add AMSATâs Getting Started With Amateur Satellites to your order.

HAMQ: The All-in-One iPhone Powerhouse for Satellite and Portable Ops
Amateur radio operators interested in satellite communications, slow-scan television (SSTV), and portable operations have a new tool available. HAMQ, a comprehensive application developed by Mao, BG5AXS, has officially launched for the iPhone.
Designed to streamline operations in the field and reduce the need to switch between multiple apps, HAMQ integrates several key functions into a single mobile platform.

HamQ app interface [Credit: hamq.net]
Satellite Tracking and Antenna Pointing
At the core of HAMQ is its robust satellite-tracking component. Using the standard SGP4 orbital propagation model, the application calculates upcoming passes for both Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary (GEO) satellites.
The app provides real-time data, including:
-
Upcoming pass times
-
Real-time azimuth and elevation
-
Satellite position and orbital information
-
Associated operating frequencies
To assist operators during a live pass, HAMQ features a compass-assisted pointing display. This tool helps users orient themselves and aim handheld directional antennas accurately.
Integrated SSTV Decoding and Encoding
A notable feature of HAMQ is its integrated SSTV functionality. The application allows operators to both decode and encode SSTV signals directly using the iPhoneâs microphone and speaker.
Received signals can be processed in real-time,
enabling the user to view and save images on their device without the
need to first record audio and transfer it to a desktop computer. These SSTV tools are functional for terrestrial transmissions as well as amateur satellite and space-related activities.
QSO Logging and ADIF Export
To complete the operating cycle, HAMQ includes an integrated QSO logbook. Operators can record their contacts directly within the app during a satellite pass or portable operation.
For integration with the wider amateur radio ecosystem, the logs can be exported in the industry-standard ADIF format, allowing them to be easily imported into other logging software and services.
HAMQ is available worldwide via the Apple App Store as a one-time purchase. The developer has confirmed that no subscription is required.
For more information, visit the HAMQ website: https://app.hamq.net/en/
The application can be found on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hamq/id6754198942
[ANS thanks Mao Mao, BG5AXS â (HAMQ Developer) and eham.net for the above information.]
The 2026 Coins Are Here! Help Support GOLF-TEE and Fox-Plus.
Annual memberships start at only $120.

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 24, 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/.
+ This week there are no additions or deletions to the AMSAT 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.]
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
Planetario de Orizaba, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign was OR4ISS
The scheduled crew member was Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor was VE3TBD
Contact was successful: Thu 2026-07-23 17:07:12 UTC
POIC at Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, telebridge via ON4ISS
The ISS callsign was TBD
The scheduled crewmember was Williams, KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor was KI5SDP
Contact was successful: Fri 2026-07-24 17:56:30 UTC
+ Upcoming
YOTA Camp 2026 IARU-R1 OEVSV, Wagrain, Salzburg, Austria, telebridge via VK4ISS
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot, KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is IN3GHZ
Contact is go for: Wed 2026-07-29 12:59:44 UTC 48 deg
âKosmosâ Space Station, Elabuga District, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via TBD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSÃISS
The scheduled crewmember is Anna Kikina
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR
Contact is go for Thu 2026-07-30 11:35 UTC
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 airâso keep listening, as you never know when activity might occur.
Radio will be powered down in support of Soyuz undocking and onboard
maintenance:
Power down: July 25 at 21:50 UTC
Power up: July 27 at 15:50 UTC
Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module â Call sign RS0ISS.
Please note weâre 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/. Radio will be powered down in support of Soyuz undocking:
Power down: July 25 at 21:55 UTC
Power up: N/A
HamTV in the Columbus Module (2395.00 MHz) is currently transmitting
a test signal. The color bar test generator portion of the system is
experiencing technical issues, and troubleshooting is underway. For
more information, visit the ARISS Ham TV Live site at https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/. Ham TV will be powered down in support of payload operations and onboard maintenance:
Power down: July 22 at 14:40 UTC
Power up: July 27 at 15:45 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 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 faires, and other events.
AMSAT Ambassador Clint Bradford, K6LCS, says,
âThink a 75-minute presentation on âworking the easy satellitesâ
would be appropriate for your club or event? Let me know by emailing me
at k6lcsclint [at] gmail [dot] com or calling me at 909-999-SATS
(7287)!â
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
44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting
October 8-11, 2026
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/
[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director â AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information.]
Satellite Shorts from All Over
+ The All American Five Radio Repair Summer Camp runs from July
27â31, 2026, at the Museum of Radio and Technology (MRT) in Huntington,
West Virginia. Designed for beginners with no electronic background, the
five-day course teaches basic tube radio troubleshooting through split
daily sessions of instruction and lab work. MRT provides all tools, test
equipment, and a radio to keep, though students may bring their own
pre-approved, transformerless, point-to-point five-tube radio.
Participants must bring a 3-ring binder, pencil, scientific calculator,
and cover their own lodging and meals, aside from a provided Friday
pizza lunch. Classes are strictly limited to six participants (minimum
three), and interested individuals can sign up or get questions answered
by contacting Bob Ripley at mratwv@gmail.com. [ANS thanks Museum of Radio and Technology for the above information.]
+ SpaceX recently launched
the Transporter-17 rideshare mission from California, carrying 81
payloads including the innovative BOHR CubeSat. Developed by City Labs, the BOHR satellite is recognized as the worldâs first commercial nuclear-powered spacecraft. While
the satellite relies on standard solar panels for its main flight
operations, its payload utilizes a proprietary NanoTritium betavoltaic
power source. This
technology converts energy directly from tritium decay into electricity,
bypassing traditional limitations like sunlight or battery exhaustion. Furthermore,
the mission marks a regulatory milestone, securing official clearance
under the FAAâs specialized pathway for space nuclear launches. Ultimately, this successful demonstration paves the way for reliable, routine commercial nuclear energy deployment in space. [ANS thanks Space.com for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-just-launched-the-1st-ever-nuclear-powered-commercial-satellite.]
+ Australian quantum technology company QuantX Labs has achieved a
historic world first by successfully commissioning an optical frequency
comb in orbit. Supported by the Australian Space Agencyâs Moon to Mars
Demonstrator Program, the payload launched aboard a SpaceX rideshare
mission from California. This crucial milestone validates years of
research, proving that advanced Australian quantum technology can
survive launch and operate reliably in the harsh space environment. By
converting ultra-stable optical signals into electronic timing data, the
frequency comb acts as a vital building block for next-generation
optical atomic clocks. The successful demonstration significantly
reduces technical risk for QuantX Labsâ KAIROS program as it targets a
full optical atomic clock launch in 2027. Ultimately, these
ultra-precise space-based timing systems will greatly enhance
positioning, navigation, and critical ground infrastructure like
communications and financial networks. [ANS thanks Space Connect for the above information. Read the full article at https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/satellites/7192-australia-achieves-world-first-with-quantum-timing-breakthrough-in-space?highlight=WyJvcHRpY2FsIiwiZnJlcXVlbmN5IiwiY29tYiJd.]
Â
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 weekâs ANS Editor,
Vidya Gopalakrishnan, K4VGK
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.