NASA has completed its investigation into the damage to the Deep Space Station 14 (DSS-14) antenna at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near Barstow, California. The event has been classified as a Type A mishap due to the extent of damages. The antenna will remain offline for repairs and scheduled upgrades.
Joel Montalbano, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, stated, “NASA takes safety and any departure from established procedures seriously, and the investigation at Goldstone made clear that we must strengthen our processes. We are acting on the investigation’s findings.”
The incident occurred on Sept. 16, 2025, when the DSS-14 antenna over-rotated while tracking the Juno mission, leading to stress on cabling and structural supports. Additionally, damage to water lines connected to the antenna’s fire-suppression system caused significant flooding at the facility, but there were no injuries reported.
A Mishap Investigation Board was convened to examine the underlying technical, organizational, and cultural factors. The board conducted inspections, interviews, and reviewed documentation from all three Deep Space Network sites. Its final report was submitted for agency approval in April.
The investigation’s recommendations emphasized the importance of training, operational procedures, system design, and safety assurance. Current teams are applying lessons from this incident to enhance operational consistency across all network sites.
The board identified software weaknesses, human error, and a failure in the antenna’s hydraulic limit system as the primary causes of the mishap. An electrical issue the day before caused misreporting of the antenna’s rotation state, triggering limit-stops during the Juno track. Operators inadvertently bypassed safeguards while troubleshooting, leading to the over-rotation. Attempts to stow the antenna during flooding caused further damage due to the over-rotation.
The hydraulic limit system was found to be inoperable and inadequately tested following a prior undocumented incident. The investigation noted a workplace culture that pressured operators to work quickly, often beyond their roles and training, which was not observed at other network sites.
NASA estimates repair costs will be between $4.1 million and $4.6 million, with a final figure pending a full assessment. The antenna is scheduled for extended maintenance and upgrades, originally set to begin in August and to be completed by October 2028.
Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator for NASA’s SCaN Program, stated, “We are committed to learning everything we can from this incident, and we’ve already begun putting those lessons into practice.”
Despite the DSS-14 incident, the Deep Space Network continues to support over 40 missions using its other antennas in California, Australia, and Spain, which are providing uninterrupted tracking services.
To view the full report, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/dss14-mishap-investigation-board-report-signed-final-redacted-hm-tagged-508.pdf?emrc=74c749
Source: www.nasa.gov.
