What is AMSAT?

AMSAT is a non-profit organization of ham radio operators worldwide that uses its own membership-supported satellites. The official name for AMSAT is the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. Hams that belong to AMSAT participate in:

• The actual development and assembly of over 40 satellites to date
• Ground control after the satellite is in orbit
• Conversations using the satellite and listening to others using the satellite as a radio relay link

Photo courtesy AMSAT Electronic modules in equipment bay of the Phase 3D AMSAT satellite: At top left is camera equipment; along the bottom row are various receivers. (Launch date: late July 2000, on Ariane 507)

AMSAT satellites can often be heard by use of a short-wave receiver or a radio scanner. Ham operators make use of the satellites during natural disasters when terrestrial links and cell phone systems may be down or overloaded.

The AMSAT-built satellites "hitch" a rocket launch on a "payload-space-available" basis. The first AMSAT satellite orbited in 1961 and was called OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio). Tracking software is available for personal computers. Various AMSAT satellites have a combination of data, image and voice capabilities.