Amateur radio satellites, often known as "ham satellites", are spacecraft carrying radio equipment that allow licensed amateur radio operators to communicate over much greater distances than would normally be possible using ground-based stations alone. As the satellite passes overhead, it receives signals from one station and retransmits them to another, creating opportunities for contacts across countries and even continents.
Many contacts can be made using surprisingly simple equipment, often a handheld radio and a small directional antenna. Operators track satellite passes, aim their antennas towards the satellite, and communicate during the few minutes it remains above the horizon.
If you would like to learn more about amateur radio satellites, excellent sources of information include:
Working through satellites combines radio operating skills with an understanding of orbital mechanics, making it one of the most exciting areas of amateur radio. Whether you are making your first contact through a low-Earth orbit satellite or communicating via the International Space Station, satellite operation offers a unique and rewarding challenge for radio enthusiasts.