When OSCAR was launched into space on December 12, 1961, the opportunity for amateur satellite radio transmissions from space was achieved. The satellite belongs to the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation which is an organization that is centered on educating the world about things that occur in space and the technology behind the satellite transmission unit's capabilities.

Many people had already been using amateur radio signals to talk to each other on Earth, but with the addition of radio frequencies from the high altitude offered by Space, the ability to communicate was easier and the quality of the transmissions were greatly enhanced. The network of amateur satellite radio enthusiasts are involved in developing communications technologies and in contributing to the research associated with outer space.

The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation uses the time and efforts of volunteers who are devoted to developing amateur satellite radio technologies to report any observations that they have that come from space exploration. All of the hardware and software that is used in the amateur satellite radio network were created by volunteers.

The amateur satellite radio network provides a necessary service to the United States military through the radio centers when Navy ships are at sea. The American Red Cross uses the free services of Amateur Satellite Radio transmissions to deliver health and comfort messages to crewmembers, and the vessels are kept appraised of weather conditions through the weather satellites advisory messages that are transmitted through the amateur satellite radio network.

Unlike their satellite radio counterparts, the Amateur satellite radio network relies on the generosity of strangers to perform its mission of educating the world about space and the technology used to study anything related to space. The donated resources may come from any location in the world, and when help is needed, the people of the amateur satellite radio are more than willing to devote some time into figuring out a solution to a problem that deals with Space.

The first amateur radio satellite was placed in the Smithsonian to allow people to view the advancements of space technology firsthand. The satellites that are launched into space today for the amateur satellite radio network are by far, the most technologically advanced pieces of machinery in space today.

The amateur satellite radio satellite is capable of transmitting signals from space, and the amateur satellite radio transmitter will usually track objects and send scientific data back in the form of photographs. The latest mission by NASA to the International Space Station was observed by the amateur radio enthusiasts and photographs of Atlantis undocking from the International Space Station can be viewed on the Amateur Satellite Radio Corporate website.