ARISS-USA Becomes Separate Organization

The U.S. members of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) international working group

have formed a separate corporation, ARISS-USA, Inc. According to the ariss.org website, ARISS-USA became a registered not-for-profit corporation in Maryland in late May. Until now, the ARISS team in the U.S. had been a cooperative venture between ARRL and AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. The action permits ARISS-USA to solicit grants and donations in pursuit of the program's goals. An application for tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status with the IRS was still pending as this was written. Until that status is granted, tax-deductible donations for ARISS may be made through AMSAT.