Many of you may have heard of the project for a group of students from Université de Liège to launch a satellite carrying a D-STAR capable repeater into space. It looks like they are growing closer. They are now anticipating a "late 2012" launch. Let's all wish them the best of luck. Who know, by Christmas you may even be able to make a 1,000 mile D-STAR contact without the Internet!
Here's their January 2012 Newsletter