ERMINAZ-2U and -2V receive OSCAR Numbers

On October 1, 2026, the three PocketQube satellites developed by AMSAT-DL—ERMINAZ-2U, ERMINAZ-2V, and ERMINAZ-2X—were launched aboard a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. ERMINAZ-2U and -2V are operating successfully and feature, among other things, SSDV and digipeater payloads. ERMINAZ-2X, on the other hand, has not yet been received.

At the request of AMSAT-DL, AMSAT has now officially assigned the OSCAR designations AMSAT-OSCAR 129 (AO-129) for ERMINAZ-2U and AMSAT-OSCAR 130 (AO-130) for ERMINAZ-2V.

The acronym OSCAR stands for “Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio.” This designation has a long tradition in amateur radio: The first amateur radio satellite, OSCAR 1, was launched as early as December 12, 1961. Since then, it has been customary to assign an OSCAR designation to amateur radio satellites after they successfully reach orbit. Today, AMSAT manages the assignment and numbering of these designations.

AO-129 and AO-130 thus continue a tradition that dates back to the early years of spaceflight and unites successful amateur radio satellites from around the world under the common name OSCAR.