The ARRL has had a VUCC (VHF UHF Century Club) Award for a long time. Not being a VHF/UHF/SHF guy, it never caught my attention until I noticed that they had a specific award for Satellite contacts. The requirement is to work a minimum of 100 different Maidenhead Grid Squares using satellites for the basic award, then there are endorsements for additional grid squares.
I was pretty sure I already had a few grids under my belt, and when I checked the first time, I discovered had 50-something. So I was half way to the goal. Today, when I last checked, I stand at 74 confirmed grids, so this is something I should be able to obtain if I keep making frequent satellite contacts.
As with many ARRL awards, you can apply through your LotW account, and pay the usual processing fees. The only complicated thing is setting up your VUCC account, because you need to specify the location you are operating from as all contacts must be made no more than 200 km apart (125 miles). In my case, my account is from my home station or somewhere within RI, which always meets the 125 mile rule. If I had a vacation home in Maine, then I would have to setup a different VUCC account for that location.
AMSAT maintains a list of Upcoming Satellite Operations which is used by folks traveling to unusual “rare” grids to announce their intentions.
