According to the IARU website description, "AMICal Sat is an educational mission which has been developed by UGA-CSUG and MSU-SINP during 30 month. It involved 50 students of different level and specialties."
One of the reasons that amateur radio still exists is that we can educate the next generation of students, and AMICal Sat seems to fulfill that mission. If it was a commercial or government mission or an academic mission without substantial student involvement, then Part 5 or whatever the European equivalent is would be more appropriate, but to grow the next generation of space scientists and satellite engineers it would seem to be a legitimate use of amateur radio frequencies.
Dan Schultz N8FGV
On 09/01/20 14:15, Zach Metzinger via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Are any of these "amateur" payloads actually amateur usable transponders, or are they just telemetry transmitters on amateur frequencies?
I second that sentiment, Jim. Seems like a lot of orbiting class projects, without much amateur relevance, using our bands.
IMO, these should be Part 5 licenses in some other segment.