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Tragic report emerges in late Sunday afternoon, confirming the death of renowned satirist Tom Lehrer at the age of 97. Famous for his witty ditties, such as "The Elements," he significantly contributed to popular culture.

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Website Update Date: July 27, 2025
Website Update Date: July 27, 2025

In a move that has sparked opposition from the amateur radio community, AST SpaceMobile has requested the use of the 430–440 MHz band, including the important amateur satellite service allocation at 435–438 MHz, for telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) of its satellites.

The proposal, which involves a large satellite constellation of over 240 satellites, has been met with formal opposition from organisations such as the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). These groups have cited extensive non-commercial use of the 435–438 MHz band by amateur satellites, documented interference incidents, and concerns about a lack of required sharing studies, which could potentially result in harmful interference to amateur operations worldwide.

Opposition to the proposal has been international, with substantial evidence from AMSAT societies in Germany and Sweden, and statements from the IARU emphasising the lack of technical assessments on interference and the inappropriateness of AST's invocation of regulatory provisions for priority use of this band.

For those interested in the details of this proposal and the ongoing regulatory process, the FCC Space Bureau Docket 25-201 filings and comments are available via the FCC’s electronic comment system or related amateur radio advocacy sites. Formal AMSAT news and commentary pages, as well as the IARU’s official website, also provide comprehensive insight into the proposal, opposition arguments, and developments.

Meanwhile, AST SpaceMobile is already licensed by the FCC for 430-440MHz for its five-satellite test constellation. The company has requested a modification of their license to support the full constellation, which would include 243 additional satellites.

Elsewhere, the trucking industry in the UK has been hit by a ransomware attack on Knights of Old, resulting in the company ceasing operations due to a £5 million ransom demand, beyond their means. The attack was facilitated by an easily guessed email password, not involving any unusual complexity or sophistication.

In other news, Microsoft has agreed to purchase close to two billion dollars worth of manure, sewage sludge, and agricultural waste over the next twelve years. The company intends to turn this waste into a slurry and pump it deep underground to sequester carbon dioxide and methane.

Finally, Tool Trace, a service that creates Kaizen foam inserts for organizing tool drawers directly from a photo, has been making waves. The service produces DXF or SVG files of the shadowbox outlines from a photo, which can be used for self-cutting or commercial manufacturing. Tool Trace's foam inserts are compatible with Gridfinity, and using the service has the potential to bring a touch of organizational efficiency to your tool drawer. However, be warned, some users report that Tool Trace's organisational prowess may trigger a descent into madness due to its efficiency! Just remember to include a sheet of paper for scale in the photo, either A4 or 8-1/2''x11''.

  1. The radio community strongly opposes AST SpaceMobile's request to use the 430–440 MHz band, particularly the 435–438 MHz amateur satellite service allocation.
  2. The proposition of using this band for telemetry, tracking, and command of satellites could lead to harmful interference for amateur operations worldwide.
  3. The International Amateur Radio Union has formally opposed the proposal, citing extensive non-commercial use, documented interference incidents, and a lack of required sharing studies.
  4. AST SpaceMobile's proposal involves a large satellite constellation of over 240 satellites, which has attracted international opposition.
  5. Meanwhile, in the realm of technology, Microsoft has made a significant business move by agreeing to purchase close to two billion dollars worth of waste to sequester carbon dioxide and methane.
  6. In hardware, Tool Trace, a service that creates foam inserts for organizing tool drawers, has gained attention for its efficiency, but some users report it may lead to a descent into madness due to its organizational prowess.
  7. On a personal-finance note, a ransomware attack on Knights of Old, a UK trucking company, has led to operations ceasing due to a £5 million ransom demand.
  8. The attack was facilitated by an easily guessed email password, highlighting the importance of strong cybersecurity measures.
  9. In the world of entertainment, Tool Trace's presence in the lifestyle industry is making headlines due to its potential to bring organizational efficiency to tool drawers, much like celebrities bring a touch of glamour to pop-culture.
  10. While AST SpaceMobile's proposal faces opposition in the amateur radio community, the NFL season continues unabated, with American football fans eagerly following their favorite teams, be it the Patriots, the 49ers, or the Chargers.

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