 The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex in 2010 | |
| Alternative names | CDSCC |
|---|---|
| Organization | CSIRO / NASA /JPL |
| Location | Tidbinbilla,Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°24′05″S148°58′54″E / 35.40139°S 148.98167°E /-35.40139; 148.98167 |
| Altitude | 550 m |
| Established | 19 March 1965 |
| Website | www.cdscc.nasa.gov |
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  Location of Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex | |
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 Related media on Commons | |
TheCanberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) is asatellite communication station, part of theDeep Space Network ofNASA'sJet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), located atTidbinbilla in theAustralian Capital Territory. Opened in 1965, the complex was used for tracking theApollo Lunar Module, and along with its two sister stations atGoldstone, California andMadrid, 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 toVoyager 1[1] andVoyager 2. It is managed in Australia by theCSIRO for NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN) at NASA Headquarters inWashington DC.[2]
The complex is located in thePaddys River (a tributary of theCotter River) valley, about 20 km fromCanberra in theAustralian 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 thePrime 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'sradio frequency (RF) noise. Located nearby is theTidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
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 asRaytheon Australia from 2003 to 2010;[4]BAE Systems Australia 1990–2003;AWA Electronic Services -1990.[5]
During the mid 1960s NASA built threetracking stations in the Australian Capital Territory.
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 theParkes radio telescope in centralNew South Wales at busy times to receive data fromspacecraft (then designated DSS-49). There has been ongoing construction since 2010 building additional 34 mbeam waveguide antenna. Construction of DSS-35 began in July 2010.[6] The station'scollimation tower is located approximately 3 km to the north-west, on Black Hill.
| 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] |
CDSCC costs aboutA$20 million per year to run, and is funded by NASA.[17][18]
