Milestones: New AMSAT President, Thai King Becomes a Ham

AMSAT's board of directors has elected Robert Bankston, KE4AL, as the amateur satellite organization's next president. Bankston lives in Dothan, Alabama. According to the AMSAT News Service, Bankston holds an Extra Class license and has previously served the group in a variety of capacities, including vice president of user services, treasurer and chair of the 2018 AMSAT Space Symposium. He succeeds Clayton Coleman, W5PFG.

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, HS10A,
(in suit) accepts his ham license and donated gear
at a palace ceremony. (Radio Amateur Society
of Thailand photo)

Following in his late father's footsteps, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has become a radio amateur as well as patron of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand. Newsline reports that the monarch, also known as King Rama X, is now also known as HS10A. His father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016, was HS1A. HS10A's palace "shack" is outfitted with two ICOM transceivers, an IC-7300 for HF and an IC-9700 for VHF and UHF.