Thanks. I did not know about the Israeli satellite. I was aware of the balloons, and such, I have actually launched several.
What I was interested in was if any of the APRS sats still work. The "Digi-peaters in the sky". You used to be able to get out a position report and message with just a HT. I'm a backpacker, so the idea of keeping a printout of passes, and being able to get a message/coordinates out without paying for a sat phone is appealing.
Matt