In September, one of NASA’s biggest antennas faced damage that could keep it offline for quite some time. This issue puts additional strain on an already stretched communication system used for deep space missions.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) announced on November 10 that the 70-meter antenna at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California has been inactive since September 16. It remains unclear when it will be back in action.
The problem started when the antenna, known as DSS-14, over-rotated. This caused stress on the internal cables and pipes, and it even led to flooding from damage to the fire suppression system. Thankfully, the flood was quickly handled.
DSS-14 is crucial for communication with spacecraft exploring far reaches of our solar system. There are two other similar antennas located in Madrid, Spain, and Canberra, Australia. These antennas are key for high-data-rate missions, especially if any technical issues arise.
For weeks, rumors about DSS-14’s problems had been circulating. A real-time monitoring website showed no activity, which fueled speculation. JPL couldn’t provide comments, partly due to difficulties during a government shutdown.
Now, an investigation board is looking into the incident, but there’s no timeline yet for repairs. JPL is focusing on understanding the damage before any restoration begins. “We’ll share updates once we have more information,” they said.
It’s worth noting that outages like this aren’t new. Another DSN antenna, DSS-43 in Australia, was offline for 11 months for upgrades between 2020 and 2021. This antenna is the only one that can communicate with Voyager 2, which is now in the far reaches of space.
The loss of an antenna increases the pressure on a system that’s already under strain. A 2023 audit by NASA’s Office of Inspector General revealed that the DSN is overloaded. With more deep space missions planned, the demand for communication is only going to rise.
The recent Artemis 1 mission added to the burden as it required communication with multiple spacecraft. Other missions, like the James Webb Space Telescope, had to adjust their plans due to limited access to the DSN.
“When Artemis needs bandwidth, others have to pull back,” said Suzanne Dodd, a JPL director, in a recent meeting. She expressed concern about future budgets, noting that it’s a daunting prospect looking into the 2030s.
As we celebrate advancements in space exploration, it’s vital to remember that maintaining these communication systems is just as important. Moving forward, investing in infrastructure will be crucial to keeping our deep space ambitions on track.
Source link
Deep Space Network,NASA,SN
