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Deep Space Network

Deep Space Network
Deep space network 40th logo.svg
Insignia for the Deep Space Network's 40th anniversary celebrations, 1998.
Organization Interplanetary Network Directorate
(NASA / JPL)
Coordinates 34°12′3″N 118°10′18″W / 34.20083°N 118.17167°W / 34.20083; -118.17167Coordinates: 34°12′3″N 118°10′18″W / 34.20083°N 118.17167°W / 34.20083; -118.17167
Established October 1, 1958 (1958-10-01)
Website deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov
Telescopes
Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex Barstow, California, United States
Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex Robledo de Chavela, Community of Madrid, Spain
Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex Tidbinbilla, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Commons page
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Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex Barstow, California, United States
Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex Robledo de Chavela, Community of Madrid, Spain
Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex Tidbinbilla, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) is a worldwide network of US spacecraft communication facilities, located in the United States (California), Spain (Madrid), and Australia (Canberra), that supports NASA's interplanetary spacecraft missions. It also performs radio and radar astronomy observations for the exploration of the solar system and the universe, and supports selected Earth-orbiting missions. DSN is part of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Similar networks are run by Europe, Russia, China, India, and Japan.

DSN currently consists of three deep-space communications facilities placed approximately 120 degrees apart around the Earth. They are:

Each facility is situated in semi-mountainous, bowl-shaped terrain to help shield against radio frequency interference. The strategic placement with nearly 120-degree separation permits constant observation of spacecraft as the Earth rotates, and helps to make the DSN the largest and most sensitive scientific telecommunications system in the world.

The DSN supports NASA's contribution to the scientific investigation of the Solar System: It provides a two-way communications link that guides and controls various NASA unmanned interplanetary space probes, and brings back the images and new scientific information these probes collect. All DSN antennas are steerable, high-gain, parabolic reflector antennas. The antennas and data delivery systems make it possible to:


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