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 satellite formerly known as "Phase 3D"

the 40'th amateur satellite to successfully achieve orbit.

a communications system for amateur radio operators, and a platform for scientific experiments.