AO-73
FUNCUBE-1 · amateur radio satellite, NORAD 39444
Heard todayAO-73 frequencies
| Uplink | Downlink | Beacon | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 435.130-435.150 MHz | 145.950-145.970 MHz | — | USB linear inverting |
| — | 145.935 MHz | — | BPSK 1k2 |
| — | — | 145.815 MHz | CW |
Nominal frequencies, without Doppler. The live map shifts them for your station during a pass. Frequencies: SatNOGS DB (modified: working amateur transmitters only, in MHz), CC BY-SA 4.0.
About AO-73
AO-73, launched as FUNcube-1 on 21 November 2013 on a Dnepr rocket from Yasny, was built by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL for schools. Its 145.935 MHz telemetry beacon sends BPSK data that pupils can receive with a FUNcube Dongle SDR and display in the FUNcube Dashboard software.
AO-73 also carries an inverting U/v linear transponder for SSB and CW: uplink 435.150–435.130 MHz, downlink 145.950–145.970 MHz. The transponder does not run all the time; the satellite switches between its educational and amateur modes, and the transponder is mostly available when the satellite is in eclipse. Check its AMSAT status before a pass.
The telemetry stays one of the best ways to start with satellite reception: a simple 2 m antenna and an SDR are enough to decode it and watch the satellite's temperatures and solar panel currents.
Status
Active: amateurs reported hearing AO-73 on AMSAT 2 h ago.
From reports filed on AMSAT, last 30 days.
Orbit
| Type | Low Earth orbit |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 508–558 km |
| Inclination | 97.8° |
| Period | 95.3 min |
| TLE epoch | 2026-10-28 10:12 UTC |
Orbital elements: CelesTrak, checked every 3 hours.
Questions about AO-73
- What is the AO-73 uplink frequency?
- AO-73 listens on 435.130-435.150 MHz (USB linear inverting).
- What is the AO-73 downlink frequency?
- AO-73 transmits on 145.950-145.970 MHz (USB linear inverting) and 145.935 MHz (BPSK 1k2).
- What is the AO-73 beacon frequency?
- The beacon is on 145.815 MHz.
- Is AO-73 active?
- Active: amateurs reported hearing AO-73 on AMSAT 2 h ago.
- When does AO-73 pass over my location?
- Open AO-73 on the live map and enter your Maidenhead locator or use GPS: the tracker lists the passes of the next 24 hours with AOS, maximum elevation and LOS, and shifts the frequencies for Doppler.