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Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

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Organization
  
CSIRO / NASA / JPL

Established
  
19 March 1965

Altitude
  
550 m

Website
  
www.cdscc.nasa.gov

Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex Scientists at Canberra39s Deep Space Communication Complex are

Location
  
Tidbinbilla,Australian Capital Territory

Similar
  
Goldstone Deep Space Co, Honeysuckle Creek Tracking, Madrid Deep Space Co, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Space Flight Operation

Canberra deep space communication complex


The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) is an Australian ground station located at Tidbinbilla in the Australian Capital Territory. Opened in 1965, the complex was used for tracking the Apollo Lunar Module. It is part of the Deep Space Network of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), managed in Australia by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Contents

Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex NASA39s Deep Space Network

Nasa canberra deep space communication complex


Constitution

The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) is a ground station that is located in Australia at Tidbinbilla 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 then Prime Minister of Australia Sir Robert Menzies.

Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

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.

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

Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex FileCanberra Deep Space Communication Complex general view

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

History

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

Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex Canberra Complex Deep Space Network

  • The Tidbinbilla Tracking Station (now known as CDSCC) was opened in 1965 and is the only NASA tracking station in Australia still in operation. During the Apollo program, Tidbinbilla was used for tracking the Apollo Lunar Module.
  • The Orroral Valley Tracking Station (35°37′43″S 148°57′20.8″E) was opened in May 1965 in what is now part of Namadgi National Park. Its role was orbiting satellite support, although it also supported the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. It was closed in 1985.
  • Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station (35°35′1″S 148°58′36″E) opened in 1967 and was built primarily to support the Apollo moon missions, mainly communications with the Apollo Command Module. After the cancellation of the Apollo Project the station supported Skylab until its re-entry in 1979 when the station joined the Deep Space Network in support of the Viking and Voyager projects. 1981 saw the closure of the station and its 26 m antenna was moved to CDSCC to become known as Deep Space Station 46. After the antenna was removed the rest of the facility was dismantled and knocked down. Its foundation, access road and parking area are all that remains of the facility

    • Antennas

    Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex FileCanberra Deep Dish Communications Complex GPN2000000502jpg

    As of late 2016 the Station has five large antennas in use: DSS-34, DSS-35, DSS36, 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. There has been ongoing construction since 2010 building additional 34 m beam waveguide antenna. Construction of DSS-35 began in July 2010. The station's collimation tower is located approximately 3 km to the north-west, on Black Hill.

    Funding

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

    References

    Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA