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Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

Coordinates: 35°24′05″S 148°58′54″E / 35.40139°S 148.98167°E / -35.40139; 148.98167
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Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex in 2010
Alternative namesCDSCC Edit this at Wikidata
OrganizationCSIRO / NASA / JPL
LocationTidbinbilla, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Coordinates35°24′05″S 148°58′54″E / 35.40139°S 148.98167°E / -35.40139; 148.98167
Altitude550 m
Established19 March 1965
Websitewww.cdscc.nasa.gov
Telescopes
  • DSS 34
  • DSS 35
  • DSS 36
  • DSS 43
  • Parkes Radio Telescope Edit this on Wikidata
Telescopes
Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is located in Australia
Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
Location of Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
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70m DSS-43 telescope at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) is a satellite communication station, part of the Deep Space Network of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), located at Tidbinbilla in the Australian Capital Territory. Opened in 1965, the complex was used for tracking the Apollo Lunar Module, and along with its two sister stations at Goldstone, California and Madrid, Spain is now used for tracking and communicating with NASA's spacecraft, particularly interplanetary missions. Its DSS-43 antenna is the only antenna on Earth that can send commands to Voyager 1[1] and Voyager 2. It is managed in Australia by the CSIRO for NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC.[2]

Location

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The complex is located in the Paddys River (a tributary of the Cotter River) valley, about 20 km from Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. The complex is part of the Deep Space Network run by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It is commonly referred to as the Tidbinbilla Deep Space Tracking Station and was officially opened on 19 March 1965 by the Prime Minister of Australia, Robert Menzies.

The station is separated from Canberra by the Murrumbidgee River and, more importantly, the Coolamon Ridge, Urambi Hills, and Bullen Range, which help shield the dishes from the city's radio frequency (RF) noise. Located nearby is the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

Management

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The CSIRO manages most of NASA's activities in Australia.

In February 2010 CSIRO took over direct management of the site with the establishment of CASS (CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science).[3] Previous to this CDSCC had been managed by external sub-contractor organisations, such as Raytheon Australia from 2003 to 2010;[4] BAE Systems Australia 1990–2003; AWA Electronic Services -1990.[5]

History

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Tidbinbilla Locality Map, the site is marked with the red star.
The 70m DSS-43 dish at the CDSCC

During the mid 1960s NASA built three tracking stations in the Australian Capital Territory.

Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex Map

Antennas

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As of late 2016 the station has five large antennas, called Deep Space Stations (DSS), each identified by a number: DSS-34, DSS-35, DSS-36, DSS-43, and DSS-45. The CDSCC also uses the Parkes radio telescope in central New South Wales at busy times to receive data from spacecraft (then designated DSS-49). There has been ongoing construction since 2010 building additional 34 m beam waveguide antenna. Construction of DSS-35 began in July 2010.[6] The station's collimation tower is located approximately 3 km to the north-west, on Black Hill.

This section is an excerpt from List of antennas in NASA's Deep Space Network § Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC).[edit]
Photo Name Diameter Date operational Date decommissioned Notes Bands
DSS-33 11m 1996 2008 Small Azimuth-Elevation-Train antenna, moved to Norway in 2008 for atmospheric research[7] X, S
DSS-34 34m 1997 Beam waveguide antenna, receiving/transmitting hardware underground[8] Transmit: X (7145-7235 MHz), S (2025-2120 MHz)
Receive: X (8200-8600MHz), S (2200-2300 MHz), K (25.5-27.0 GHz), Ka (31.8-32.3 GHz), X-Band Acquisition Aid (8400-8500MHz)
DSS-35 34m 2014 Operational late 2014, officially opened March 2015. Beam waveguide antenna, receiving/transmitting hardware underground. The design uses 'night sky cooling' to cool the transmitter.[9] Transmit: X (7145-7235 MHz)
Receive: X (8200-8600MHz), Ka (31.8-32.3 GHz)
DSS-36 34m 2016 Beam waveguide antenna, receiving/transmitting hardware underground. Dish installed August 2015, operational late 2016, officially opened November 3, 2016.[10] Transmit: X (7145-7235 MHz), S (2025-2120 MHz)
Receive: X (8200-8600MHz), S (2200-2300 MHz), Ka (31.8-32.3 GHz)
DSS-42 34m 1964 2000 "Hour angle/declination" antenna, original 26m antenna, later expanded to 34m, dismantled shortly after decommissioning.[11]
DSS-43 70m 1973 Originally 64m, enlarged 1987. Largest steerable parabolic antenna in Southern Hemisphere. Only antenna capable of communicating with Voyager 2. Weighs 3000+ tonnes, 1,272 aluminum panels. [12] In its spare time the dish is used for radio astronomy.[13] Transmit: X (7145-7190 MHz), S (2090-2120 MHz
Receive:[13] X (8183-8633 MHz), S (2270-2300 MHz), L (1610-1705 MHz), K (18.0-26.5 GHz)
DSS-45 34m 1986 2016 Was constructed for Voyager 2 Uranus flyby.[14] Decommissioned after DSS-36 became operational Transmit: X(7145-7190MHz)
Receive: X (8200-8600MHz), S (2200-2300MHz)
DSS-44/DSS-46 26m 1966 2009 X-Y axes antenna. Originally HSK at Honeysuckle Creek for Apollo program. Transferred to DSN as DSS-44 in 1974, moved to CDSCC as DSS-46 in 1983.[15] AIAA Historical Aerospace Site Transmit: S (2025-2120MHz)
Receive: S (2200-2300MHz), S-Band Acquisition Aid (2200-2300MHz), X-Band Acquisition Aid (8400-8500MHz)
DSS-49 64m 1961 Parkes Observatory radio telescope, is sometimes used to assist with DSN operations as a receiver, with no transmission capability.[16]

Funding

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CDSCC costs about A$20 million per year to run, and is funded by NASA.[17][18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "A golden year for a giant antenna".
  2. ^ Latifiyan, Pouya (April 2021). "Space Telecommunications, how?". Take off. 1. Tehran: Civil Aviation Technology College: 15 – via Persian.
  3. ^ Wright, Andrew (1 December 2009). "CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science formed". CSIRO. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Seven Year Service to the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex Celebrated". Raytheon Australia. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  5. ^ Nally, Jonathan (25 September 2013). "Ground control: the ultimate comms centre". Comms Connect.
  6. ^ "Antenna Construction - page 8" (PDF). NASA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Deep Space Station 33 - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex".
  8. ^ "Deep Space Station 34 - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex".
  9. ^ "Deep Space Station 35 - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex".
  10. ^ "Deep Space Station 36 - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex".
  11. ^ "Deep Space Station 42 - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex".
  12. ^ "Deep Space Station 43 - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex".
  13. ^ a b "Tidbinbilla 70-m Radio Telescope Guide to Observations". Australia Telescope National Facility. 27 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Deep Space Station 45 - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex".
  15. ^ "Deep Space Station 46 - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex".
  16. ^ "Murriyang, our Parkes radio telescope". www.csiro.au.
  17. ^ "Over fifty years of space collaboration between Australia and the United States". Department of Industry, Australian Government. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  18. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
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