A key antenna used by NASA to communicate with spacecraft has been offline for almost two months. This 230-foot-wide antenna, part of the Deep Space Network (DSN) in Goldstone, California, went dark on September 16. It experienced over-rotation, which caused damage to its cables, pipes, and even its fire suppression system, leading to flooding.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is currently assessing the damage and will update the public on its findings once the federal government reopens. There’s been little communication from JPL since the incident, despite inquiries from media outlets like Gizmodo.
The DSN consists of three major sites located strategically across the globe—in California, Spain, and Australia—to ensure that one is always able to communicate with spacecraft as the Earth spins. This network has played a critical role since its establishment in 1963, but a recent report from NASA’s Office of Inspector General highlighted the urgent need for upgrades. The current demand for antenna time is exceeding capacity by as much as 40%, affecting various ongoing space missions.
The damaged antenna, known as DSS-14, is significant in NASA’s history. It first operated in 1966 during the Mariner 4 mission, which successfully flew by Mars. It was later upgraded to better handle communications for missions like Voyager 2’s encounter with Neptune. Because of its high sensitivity, DSS-14 is essential for sending commands and receiving data from distant space missions, as well as for tracking near-Earth asteroids.
A 2023 report predicts that demand on the DSN will likely rise even further, potentially exceeding its capacity by 50% by the 2030s. This is largely due to ambitious projects such as NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the Moon by 2026. The first Artemis mission in late 2022 alone required 903 hours of antenna time, not including the time needed by other missions.
History shows us that while the DSN antennas are typically reliable, outages do happen. For instance, the Madrid site went offline for several months in 2006 due to heavy rains. With DSS-14 currently out of commission, the pressure is on the remaining antennas to support an increasing number of missions.
As we look forward, the situation underscores the crucial need for ongoing support and investment in NASA’s communications infrastructure. This not only affects current missions but also the future of space exploration.
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Artemis,deep space network,James Webb Space Telescope,Jet Propulsion Laboratory,NASA
