What types of amateur stations can automatically retransmit the signals of other amateur stations?

FCC Part 97 rules specifically outline which amateur stations are permitted to automatically retransmit the signals of other amateur stations. These are limited to repeater, auxiliary, and space stations. Repeaters are designed specifically for this purpose, receiving a signal and simultaneously transmitting it on another frequency to extend a user's range. Auxiliary stations do this for point-to-point links, often used to connect repeater networks together. Space stations, such as amateur satellites, function essentially as orbiting repeaters. Beacons and earth stations are incorrect distractors. A beacon station only transmits one-way signals for propagation testing or telemetry, and an earth station is just a ground station communicating with a space station. Neither is designed to automatically retransmit other users' signals.