At 12:09 AM 5/28/2023 +0000, you wrote:

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-148

In this edition:

• AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager Retires

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AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager Retires

It is time for me to retire from the position of AMSAT-NA Orbital Elements Manager.

I have held this position since October 8, 1993, when I inherited it from Dick Campbell, WR5RW (formally N3FKV). I also inherited a BASIC sorting program from Dick which has faithfully produced the AMSAT TLE format each week for almost 30 years. Today I have to use an emulator, but it consistently produces the format we (and our computer tracking programs) expect to see.

But, have no fear, Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P has been developing a software-based system that pulls the TLE data directly from the internet (Space-Track, 18SPCS), formats it, and sends it out to the amateur radio community. Joe has been testing it for over a month now and it is ready to go!

It has been a privilege to serve AMSAT as Orbital Elements Manager and I will miss the Thursday night routine of sending out the AMSAT TLE. But to those who have helped me along the way … thanks. Special thanks to Keith Pugh (W5IU Silent key), Dick Cammpbell (WR5RW), Nico Janssen (PA0DLO), and also to Joe Fitzgerald (KM1P) for stepping up to the job.

[ANS thanks Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, for the above information]

Thank you for your service Ray. We never would have been on time and on target on satellite without you.

KB7ADL