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AST SpaceMobile to use 430 MHz band for 248 satellites

434.100 MHz downlink received September 12, 2024 by PE0SAT

434.100 MHz downlink received September 12, 2024 by PE0SAT

On April 21, the FCC announced that AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science, LLC) will be using the Amateur 430 MHz band for 248 satellites in its planned Low-Earth-Orbit constellation which aims to provide global cellular broadband communications.

Center frequencies are 430.5 MHz, 432.3 MHz, 434.1 MHz, 435.9 MHz, 439.5 MHz with 50 kHz bandwidth.

Read the FCC announcement at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-391A1.pdf

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ISS Astronaut to use Amateur Radio to Talk to UK Students

2026-03-30 ARISS UK ContactStudents at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys will use amateur radio to speak to astronaut Jack Hathaway, KJ5NIV, on the International Space Station (ISS).  The ARISS contact, between NA1SS on the ISS and GB4SLS at the school, will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 2:28 PM BST (13:28 GMT). You can listen in on 145.800 MHz (plus/minus 3 kHz Doppler shift) FM.

Astronaut Jack Hathaway, KJ5NIV, will answer questions from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury, U.K.

The space and ground teams will attempt to use the HamTV transmitter during this contact. The HamTV DATV frequency is 2395 MHz.

The event will be streamed live: https://live.ariss.org/

The HamTV downlink will be streamed: https://live.ariss.org/hamtv/

Questions:
1. What are the purposes of the experiments you do in space?
2. Why do we go to space to do some experiments rather than do them on Earth?
3. How does the ISS stay in orbit around the earth?
4. How does it feel to see so many sunsets and sunrises each day from the ISS
5. What food do you eat on the ISS?
6. Why is there no air in space?
7. How does rocket fuel work when there is no air for combustion?
8. What do you do for entertainment on the ISS?
9. How hard do you have to train to go into space?
10. What is it like launching into space?
11. What is like to be in zero gravity for a long period of time?
12. Without weight pulling things down onto the ground there must be a lot less friction to help you move, how do you compensate for that?
13. Do you have any source of internet in space?
14. What is the most amazing thing that you have seen from space?
15. What ordinary daily tasks are the most difficult to do in space?
16. How does being in space affect the human body?
17. Is there a lot of noise on the ISS or is it quite quiet?
18. How do you clear up spills in space?
19. Do you ever feel lonely from the isolation in space?
20. How do you prepare for space walks?

The ARISS program is aimed at students and enthusiasts and aims to inspire them in the study of sciences with this amateur radio activity. The demonstration of amateur radio communication from space invites schools and universities to make use of these educational technical resources. We invite radio amateurs and space enthusiasts to tune in to this exciting moment.

Follow ARISS International on X

The latest information on the ARISS operation mode can be found at
https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

How to hear the ISS https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-hear-the-iss/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Free UK amateur radio Online Training course https://essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/

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Students On The Air Satellite Activity Starts March 3

Students On The Air - StOTA Every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month starting March 3, 2026

AMSAT has announced the launch of Students On The Air (StOTA) Days, a new initiative aimed at encouraging student participation in amateur satellite operations. The activity was inspired by AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, and his son Carsten, KQ4SJM, and is designed to promote regular on-air activity among licensed student operators.

Students are encouraged to get on the air and operate via amateur satellites on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, beginning March 3, 2026. While student-to-student contacts are especially encouraged, all satellite operators are welcome to participate and help make students feel welcome on the air.

To support coordination, AMSAT has created a dedicated #students-on-the-air channel on the AMSAT Discord Server where participants can arrange contacts and share activity.

AMSAT Discord Invite https://discord.gg/xbTXcPJHyt

StOTA (Students On The Air) channel https://discord.com/channels/715554730323083274/715891435143954512

Reports of StOTA activity and contacts are encouraged and may be submitted to Carsten, KQ4SJM, whose contact information is available via QRZ.com

Activity reports will help AMSAT gauge participation and support future student-focused satellite initiatives.

Source AMSAT News Service https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

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Wick High School students to contact ISS

International Space Station - Image Credit NASA

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

Students at Wick High School in East Caithness have been chosen by ARISS International to have an amateur radio contact with an astronaut on the International Space Station.

The Wick High School Radio Club @GM0WHS posted on X:
HUGE NEWS FROM @wickhigh
Pupils from all across East Caithness will be talking to an astronaut later this year! We’re really humbled to have been chosen by @ARISS_Intl for a scheduled contact with the Space Station.

The radio club was established in 2023 by Computing Science teacher Chris Aitken MM0WIC @skipperAitken . So far 15 students have passed the exam for their amateur radio licence.

The John O’Groat Journal says:

“Because of Wick’s far-north location, this contact is likely to be one of the most northerly direct educational links with the ISS ever attempted. The station will appear around 25 degrees above the southern horizon, travelling west to east, making the contact both spectacular and technically demanding.”

Read the full story in the John O’Grout Journal at
https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/we-have-contact-wick-high-pupils-to-get-direct-line-to-i-425857/

RSGB announcement https://rsgb.org/main/blog/school-zone-stories/2026/01/30/lift-off-for-wick-high-astronaut-contact/

Follow Wick High School Radio Club on X

Follow ARISS International on X

Follow AMSAT-UK on X

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Webinar for CCSDS Outreach Initiative and Competition

Following on from our announcement of the ESA / CCSDS sponsored outreach competition to develop reference protocols, AMSAT-UK are pleased to announce they will be holding a webinar at 16:00 UTC on Wednesday 14th January.

The webinar will be via Zoom and the event will be recorded. The registration link is here:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/KgrRSLJgQN2tpriQye18tw

A reminder that the details of the competition can be found here:

https://amsat-uk.org/2025/12/08/ccsds-outreach-initiative-and-competition/

73
Dave Johnson, G4DPZ
Hon Sec, AMSAT-UK
Email: esa-competition@amsat-uk.org

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