# amateur radio satellite

> type of satellite that transmits amateur radio

**Wikidata**: [Q455647](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q455647)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_satellite)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/amateur-radio-satellite

## Summary
An amateur radio satellite is a type of artificial satellite designed to transmit amateur radio signals for telecommunications purposes. Also known as a ham radio satellite, it is a subclass of communications satellite used by licensed amateur radio operators around the world. These satellites are often developed and launched by a diverse range of groups, including universities, start-up companies, and amateur radio organizations.

## Key Facts
- **Primary Function:** To transmit amateur radio signals for a global community of operators.
- **Classification:** It is an instance of a "spacecraft type" and a subclass of "communications satellite."
- **Aliases:** Commonly referred to as "ham radio satellite." Other aliases include "アマチュアえいせい" (Japanese) and "业余无线电卫星" (Chinese).
- **Part of:** Amateur radio satellites are a key component of the broader field of amateur radio.
- **Notable Series:** Well-known series of these satellites include OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio), the Soviet/Russian Radio Sputnik series, and the Iskra series, which began in 1981.
- **International Scope:** Satellites have been developed by numerous countries, including the United States, Russia, China, Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Argentina.
- **Identifiers:** The Library of Congress Authority ID for this topic is sh85095895.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the purpose of an amateur radio satellite?
A: An amateur radio satellite serves as a space-based transponder or repeater for licensed amateur radio operators. It allows them to communicate over long distances, often across continents, that would not be possible with ground-based equipment alone.

### Q: What are some examples of amateur radio satellite series?
A: Several well-known series of amateur radio satellites exist. These include the OSCAR series, the Soviet and later Russian Radio Sputnik series, the Iskra series (since 1981), the COMPASS family of CubeSats, and the D-Star One series from German Orbital Systems.

### Q: Are amateur radio satellites a type of communications satellite?
A: Yes, an amateur radio satellite is a specific subclass of communications satellite. While most communications satellites are operated by large corporations or government agencies, amateur radio satellites are designed for non-commercial, experimental, and public service use by the amateur radio community.

## Why It Matters
Amateur radio satellites play a significant role in democratizing access to space and fostering global communication. Unlike most satellites, which are controlled by governments or large corporations, these are often built and operated by universities, non-profit organizations, and even student groups. This makes space technology accessible for educational purposes, scientific experimentation, and skill development in fields like engineering, electronics, and orbital mechanics.

For the global community of amateur radio operators, these satellites provide a unique platform for long-distance communication and technical experimentation. They have enabled international collaboration and goodwill, allowing hobbyists from different countries to connect directly. By serving as experimental platforms for new technologies, such as the D-Star One series from a Berlin start-up, they also contribute to innovation in satellite design and telecommunications. Their existence supports a worldwide network of skilled communicators who can provide vital emergency support when terrestrial infrastructure fails.

## Notable For
- **Community Access:** They are specifically designed for use by a global community of licensed amateur radio operators, rather than commercial or government entities.
- **Diverse Origins:** Satellites are developed by a wide range of organizations, including student groups (PRISM), universities (SBUDNIC), start-up companies (German Orbital Systems), and national research labs (Naval Research Laboratory).
- **Designated Series:** Many are organized into historically significant series, most notably OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio), the Soviet/Russian Radio Sputnik series, and the Iskra series, which began in 1981.
- **Educational and Experimental Platforms:** Beyond communication, many serve as platforms for technology demonstrations (SOMP 2b), student-led earth observation (PRISM), and atmospheric research (ANDE-Pollux).

## Body
### Classification and Purpose
An amateur radio satellite is a type of spacecraft and a subclass of **communications satellite**. Its primary purpose is to receive and retransmit amateur radio signals, acting as a repeater in orbit. This function facilitates communication between licensed amateur radio operators, often over intercontinental distances. The field is considered an integral part of **amateur radio**.

### Notable Series and Programs
Several organized series of amateur radio satellites have been launched over the decades.
- **OSCAR:** The Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR) designation is applied to many amateur radio satellites.
- **Radio Sputnik:** A series of Soviet and later Russian amateur radio satellites.
- **Iskra:** A series of Soviet amateur radio satellites with an inception date of 1981.
- **COMPASS:** A family of CubeSat satellites that includes amateur radio payloads.
- **D-Star One:** A series of experimental amateur radio satellites from the Berlin-based start-up company German Orbital Systems (GOS).

### International Development
The development of amateur radio satellites is a global effort, with contributions from numerous countries.
- **Argentina:** Pehuensat-1, DIY-1
- **China:** CAMSAT XW-3
- **Germany:** SOMP 2 (failed), SOMP 2b
- **Italy:** LEDsat, URSA MAIOR, Unisat 5, SBUDNIC, GreenCube, AstroBio CubeSat
- **Japan:** PRISM (a student Earth observation and communication satellite)
- **Spain:** HADES, EASAT-2
- **United States:** JAWSAT, Fox-1E, SpinSat, ANDE-Pollux, ANDE-Castor

### Examples of Individual Satellites
The source material lists numerous individual satellites with specific functions or origins:
- **Pehuensat-1:** An amateur radio satellite from Argentina.
- **SpinSat:** A small research satellite operated by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
- **PRISM:** A Japanese student-built satellite for Earth observation and communication.
- **SBUDNIC:** A college-built satellite from Italy.
- **ANDE-Pollux & ANDE-Castor:** Former American satellites used for atmospheric density research.
- **SOMP 2b:** A German satellite for technology demonstration and amateur radio.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "amateur radio satellite",
  "description": "A type of artificial satellite designed for telecommunications that transmits amateur radio signals.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_satellite",
  "additionalType": "spacecraft type",
  "alternateName": [
    "ham radio satellite",
    "アマチュアえいせい",
    "业余无线电卫星"
  ]
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
3. KBpedia