Now Morse code is used largely in airplane navigational systems for identification purposes, says Paul F. Johnston, curator of maritime history at the National Museum of American History.

“I also had to pass a five-word-per-minute Morse code test,” he said. He struggles a bit with Morse code, and is able to send it faster than he can understand it, he said with a smile.

One of the cubesats, FITSAT-1, will write messages in the night sky with Morse code, helping researchers test out optical communication techniques for satellites, researchers said.

Learning Morse Code was a requirement when he got his FCC ham radio operator’s license in 1976. He had to travel to Chicago for the test and prove he could tap out 13 words per minute.