Amateur Radio Satellites: Current Status and Near-Term Plans

1. Executive snapshot

• Active two-way satellites remain concentrated in LEO linear transponders and a smaller set of FM repeaters. AMSAT’s user-reported status board shows recent “active transponder/repeater” reports for several staple spacecraft (e.g., AO-7, AO-73, FO-29, JO-97, RS-44 and others), reflecting continued day-to-day utility for SSB/CW and narrowband operations.¹
• ISS/ARISS capabilities are ongoing but operationally variable. The ISS packet system on 145.825 MHz has had recent “off” periods, while other ISS ham capabilities can be enabled or disabled as station operations dictate; operators should use the dedicated current-status page before planning activity.²
• End-of-life and commissioning are both in play. SO-124 (HADES-R) was forecast to reenter/decay during the first two weeks of January 2026, while multiple new amateur-frequency spacecraft from a Soyuz rideshare launch on 28 December 2025 were reported as in checkout/commissioning (e.g., QMR-KWT-2, RS83S, RS-18S).³⁴
• Near-term growth is centered on AMSAT’s next-generation programs and a steady cadence of smallsat digipeaters and educational missions. AMSAT publications describe GOLF-TEE (targeted NET 1Q 2026) and follow-on GOLF-1 (targeted NET 1Q 2027), plus continued work on Fox-Plus and SDR-based multi-mode payload concepts.⁵

2. “Current status” in practice

In the amateur-satellite ecosystem, a satellite being “up” is often a function of: (a) sunlight/eclipse power budget, (b) commandable mode schedules, (c) thermal/battery constraints, and (d) ground-controller operational priorities. For that reason, this report provides (1) a curated operational snapshot and (2) the primary authoritative “live” references that are updated continuously by controllers and operators.

For operational decisions (today/this week), treat AMSAT’s Live OSCAR Status page and the “Live FM” / “Live Linear” frequency pages as the controlling references.¹⁶⁷

3. Operational satellites: practical snapshot

3.1 Widely used linear transponders (SSB/CW)

The following satellites are listed by AMSAT among the “live” linear-transponder spacecraft. Availability notes are important: some are sunlight-dependent and/or commanded on a schedule (particularly for battery protection).⁷

3.2 FM repeaters and “easy access” satellites

FM satellites remain the entry point for many operators, but their availability can be constrained by mission priorities, power, and licensing/coordination considerations. AMSAT maintains a live FM list and a separate user-reported status board to indicate when specific FM repeaters are being heard and used.⁶¹

• SO-50 remains a commonly referenced FM repeater satellite in AMSAT resources.¹⁰
• SO-124 (HADES-R) was expected to reenter/decay in the first two weeks of January 2026; operators were encouraged to use it while available.⁴
• New/commissioning FM and educational missions are continuously added; AMSAT’s “Upcoming FM Satellites” page provides a pipeline view of planned missions, while weekly news bulletins highlight newly launched satellites using amateur allocations.¹¹³

3.3 Digital, packet, and image systems

Packet digipeaters, telemetry downlinks, and image modes (SSTV/SSDV) continue to expand via CubeSats and educational spacecraft. AMSAT maintains a consolidated “Image Transmitting Satellites” list, and SatNOGS provides a broad community dashboard for digital satellites and decoders.¹²

4. ISS / ARISS: current operating posture and near-term expectations

The International Space Station remains a high-interest platform because it provides multiple amateur-facing capabilities (voice contacts, packet/APRS, crossband repeater operations, SSTV events, and S-band HamTV). However, these functions are subject to station constraints, crew time, and configuration changes.

• ISS packet (145.825 MHz): AMSAT’s current status page reported the packet system as off as of 7 January 2026, highlighting the need to verify before planning passes.²
• HamTV (2395 MHz downlink): a December 2025 HDMI converter installation expanded video capabilities; AMSAT News Service reported additional HamTV activity is expected during educational contacts in 2026.³
• Hosting ARISS contacts: ARISS published a current application window for U.S. schools and organizations, with proposals due by 31 January 2026 for contacts expected July–December 2026 (subject to final scheduling).¹³

5. Near-term plans and pipeline (2026–2027)

5.1 AMSAT programs

AMSAT’s published engineering updates describe a roadmap that mixes near-term LEO capability with technology development aimed at larger footprints and higher orbits. Key elements include the GOLF series and follow-on SDR/multi-mode transponder developments.

• GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1: AMSAT’s February 2025 engineering update targeted GOLF-TEE for launch NET 1Q 2026 and GOLF-1 for launch NET 1Q 2027. That same update describes GOLF-TEE as a 3U spacecraft carrying a V/u linear transponder plus an X-band SDR downlink and active attitude control.⁵
• GOLF program intent: AMSAT describes GOLF as a stepwise program (deployable solar, 3-axis attitude control, SDR payloads, and preparation for higher orbits and larger footprints).¹⁴
• Fox-Plus: AMSAT described Fox-Plus-A as being under build/test through 2025 and (as of its January 2025 update) planned for a late-2025 launch; later engineering notes describe continued work and the broader Fox-Plus family (including an SDR-based “XBT” transponder concept).¹⁵⁵

5.2 International and university missions

• Newly launched (late 2025) amateur-frequency spacecraft: AMSAT News Service reported a Soyuz rideshare launch on 28 December 2025 that deployed multiple satellites using amateur frequencies, including QMR-KWT-2 (FM transponder + SSTV camera), Lobachevsky (RS83S; digital repeater + imaging), and SAKHACUBE-CHOLBON (RS-18S; digital + SSTV).³
• IARU-coordinated “planned 2026” example: The IARU coordination status pages list DecimalSat-1 (PocketQube) as planning a SpaceX launch in 2026 and note a coordinated downlink on 436.600 MHz (GFSK).¹⁶
• Pipeline visibility: AMSAT’s “Upcoming FM Satellites” and “Upcoming Linear Satellites” pages are maintained as living reference lists for planned missions and payloads; these pages are the most practical starting point for near-term tracking of what is expected to become available next.¹¹¹⁷

6. Recommended operator reference set

1. Live operational status (user reports): AMSAT Live OSCAR Satellite Status Page.¹
2. Live frequency summaries: AMSAT Live FM Satellites and Live Linear Satellites pages.⁶⁷
3. Station-specific (ISS): AMSAT/ARISS current status page for on-orbit configurations and temporary outages.²
4. New satellite announcements: AMSAT News Service weekly bulletins (launches, commissioning, and operational changes).³