Deep Space Network (DSN) is an international network of radio antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions, and radio and radar astronomy observations for the exploration of the solar system and the universe. The network also supports selected Earth-orbiting missions. DSN is part of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Image File history File links Deep_space_network_40th_logo. ... A yagi antenna Most simply, an antenna is an electronic component designed to send or receive radio waves. ... Existing or occurring between planets. ... An Ariane 5 expendable launch vehicle lifts off with the Rosetta spacecraft on March 2, 2004. ... Radar astronomy is a technique of imaging nearby astronomical objects. ... Presentation of the solar system (not to scale) The solar system comprises the Earths Sun and the retinue of celestial objects gravitationally bound to it. ... The deepest visible-light image of the cosmos. ... Earth is the third planet from the Sun. ... NASA logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... The Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in La Cañada Flintridge, near Pasadena, California, USA, builds and operates unmanned spacecraft for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ...

General information

Deep Space Network operations center

DSN currently consists of three deep-space communications facilities placed approximately 120 degrees apart around the world at: Image File history File links Deep-space-op. ... Image File history File links Deep-space-op. ...

• the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex outside of Barstow, California, United States;
• a complex in Robledo de Chavela, 60 kilometres (37 miles) west of Madrid, Spain; and
• the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC) in the Australian Capital Territory, 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of Canberra, Australia near the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

Each facility is situated in semi-mountainous, bowl-shaped terrain to shield against radio frequency interference. This strategic placement 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 Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC) —commonly called the Goldstone Observatory— is located in Californias Mojave Desert (USA). ... Bishop is a city located in Inyo County, California, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,575. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 3rd 410,000 km² 402. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words χίλια (khilia) = thousand and μέτρο (metro) = count/measure). ... This article is about the Spanish capital. ... 70m telescope at the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex Tidbinbilla Locality Map The Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC) is located in Australia at Tidbinbilla in a valley of the Murrumbidgee River, about half an hours drive out of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, accessible from either the northern... Motto: Pro Rege, Lege et Grege (For the Queen, the Law and the People) Nickname: (none) Other Australian states and territories Capital Canberra Government Administrator Chief Minister Const. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Tidbinbilla Locality Map Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, on the fringe of Namadgi National Park, is a short drive from the city of Canberra, Australia. ...

NASA's scientific investigation of the Solar System is being accomplished mainly through the use of unmanned spacecraft. The DSN provides the vital two-way communications link that guides and controls these planetary explorers, and brings back the images and new scientific information they collect. All DSN antennas are steerable, high-gain, parabolic reflector antennas. NASA logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... Unmanned space missions are those using remote-controlled spacecraft. ... A parabola A parabola (from the Greek: παραβολή) is a conic section generated by the intersection of a cone, and a plane tangent to the cone or parallel to some plane tangent to the cone. ...

The antennas and data delivery systems make it possible to:

• Acquire telemetry data from spacecraft.
• Transmit commands to spacecraft.
• Track spacecraft position and velocity.
• Perform very-long-baseline interferometry observations.
• Measure variations in radio waves for radio science experiments.
• Gather science data.
• Monitor and control the performance of the network.

The network is a facility of the JPL and is managed and operated for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The Interplanetary Network Directorate (IND) manages the program within JPL. Telemetry is a technology which allows the remote measurement and reporting of information of interest to the system designer or operator. ... Interferometry is the applied science of combining two or more input points of a particular data type, such as optical measurements, to form a greater picture based on the combination of the two sources. ... The California Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Caltech) is a private, coeducational university located in Pasadena, California, in the United States. ... The Interplanetary Network Directorate (IND) is the branch of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) charged with the development and operation of NASAs Deep Space Network (DSN). ...

Antennas

70m antenna at Goldstone

Each complex consists of at least four deep space stations equipped with ultrasensitive receiving systems and large parabolic dish antennas. There are: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1415x1116, 214 KB) Sunset shot of the 70m antenna at Goldstone, California The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, located in the Mojave Desert in California, is one of three complexes which comprise NASAs Deep Space Network (DSN). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1415x1116, 214 KB) Sunset shot of the 70m antenna at Goldstone, California The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, located in the Mojave Desert in California, is one of three complexes which comprise NASAs Deep Space Network (DSN). ... The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC) —commonly called the Goldstone Observatory— is located in Californias Mojave Desert (USA). ...

• One 34-metre (111-ft) diameter High Efficiency antenna.
• Six 34-metre Beam Waveguide antennas (three at the Goldstone Complex, two at the Madrid complex, and one at the Canberra Complex).
• One 26-metre (85-foot) antenna.
• One 70-metre (230-foot) antenna.

Five new 34-metre beam waveguide antennas were added to the system in the late 1990s. Three were located at Goldstone, and one each at Canberra and Madrid. A second 34-metre beam waveguide antenna was completed at the Madrid complex in 2004. The metre (Commonwealth English) or meter (American English) (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet) is a non-SI unit of distance or length, measuring around a third of a meter. ... The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC) —commonly called the Goldstone Observatory— is located in Californias Mojave Desert (USA). ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The ability to array several antennas was incorporated to improve the data returned from the Galileo spacecraft. The array electronically links the 70-metre antenna at the Deep Space Network complex in Goldstone, California, with an identical antenna located in Australia, in addition to two 34-metre (111-foot) antennas at the Canberra complex. The California and Australia sites were used concurrently to pick up communications with Galileo. Galileo is prepared for mating with the IUS booster Galileo being deployed after being launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-34 mission Galileo was an unmanned spacecraft sent by NASA to study the planet Jupiter and its moons. ...

All the stations are remotely operated from a centralized Signal Processing Center at each complex. The Centers house the electronic subsystems that point and control the antennas, receive and process the telemetry data, transmit commands, and generate the spacecraft navigation data.

Once the data is processed at the complexes, it is transmitted to JPL for further processing and for distribution to science teams over a modern ground communications network.

History

The forerunner of the DSN was established in January, 1958, when JPL, then under contract to the U.S. Army, deployed portable radio tracking stations in Nigeria, Singapore, and California to receive telemetry and plot the orbit of the Army-launched Explorer 1, the first successful U.S. satellite. NASA was officially established on October 1, 1958, to consolidate the separately developing space-exploration programs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force into one civilian organization. Explorer-I, officially known as Satellite 1958 Alpha, was the first United States Earth satellite and was sent aloft as part of the United States program for the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On December 3, 1958, JPL was transferred from the Army to NASA and given responsibility for the design and execution of lunar and planetary exploration programs using automatically operated spacecraft. Shortly afterwards, NASA established the concept of the Deep Space Network as a separately managed and operated communications facility that would accommodate all deep space missions, thereby avoiding the need for each flight project to acquire and operate its own specialized space communications network. The Deep Space Network was given responsibility for its own research, development, and operation in support of all of its users. Under this concept, it has become a world leader in the development of low-noise receivers; tracking, telemetry and command systems; digital signal processing; and deep space navigation. December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• List of observatories
• List of radio telescopes

The following is a list of astronomical observatories, along with initial dates of operation and location, if available. ... Related topics List of observatories Radio telescopes A more complete list of radio telescopes can be found by looking at the radio telescopes category External links AstroSurf. ...

External links and further reading

• NASA/Caltech JPL DSN - official site.
• (PDF) Uplink-Downlink: A History of the Deep Space Network, 1957-1997 (NASA SP-2001-4227).
• Douglas J. Mudgway, Big Dish: Building America's Deep Space Connection to the Planets, University of Florida Press, 2005 ISBN 0813028051.