What are AMSAT and AO-40?

AMSAT is 
a non-profit organization that builds and launches amateur satellites. AMSAT-NA is the North American organization, other countries have AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK, JAMSAT, etc.

AO-40 is 
the 40'th amateur satellite to successfully achieve orbit.
a communications system for amateur radio operators, and a platform for scientific experiments.
launched 15 Nov 2000 on an Ariane 5 from French Guiana, it was the heaviest amateur satellite ever, the largest total mass ever taken to GTO, and a magnificent orbital insertion by Arianespace...