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 Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex (MDSCC) | |
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| Alternative names | MDSCC |
|---|---|
| Organization | INTA / NASA / JPL |
| Location | Robledo de Chavela (nearMadrid),Spain |
| Coordinates | 40°25′45″N4°14′57″W / 40.42917°N 4.24917°W /40.42917; -4.24917 |
| Altitude | 720 m |
| Established | 1961 |
| Website | mdscc.nasa.gov |
| Telescopes |
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  Location of Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex | |
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TheMadrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC; in Spanish and officiallyComplejo de Comunicaciones de Espacio Profundo de Madrid) is a satelliteground station located inRobledo de Chavela, Spain, and operated by theInstituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA).[1] Part of theDeep Space Network (DSN) ofNASA'sJet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), along with its two sister stations atGoldstone, California andCanberra, Australia it is used for tracking and communicating with NASA's spacecraft, particularly interplanetary missions. The DSN and the Near Space Network (NSN) are services of the NASA Space Communications and Navigation program (SCaN).[2]
The MDSCC is part ofNASA'sDeep Space Network run by theJet Propulsion Laboratory.[3] The facility contributes to the Deep Space Network's mission to provide the vital two-way communications link that tracks and controls interplanetary spacecraft and receives the images and scientific information they collect. The complex is one of three NASA Deep Space Network complexes in the world, located at separations of approximately 120° longitude so that a spacecraft will always be in sight of at least one station; the others are theGoldstone Deep Space Communications Complex located inCalifornia, near the city ofBarstow, and theCanberra Deep Space Communication Complex inAustralia which is close to the city ofCanberra.[4]
The complex also serves some missions of theEuropean Space Agency.
The antennas and data delivery systems make it possible to:
The complex has eight large parabolic antennas, calledDSS-61,DSS-53,DSS-54,DSS-55,DSS-56,DSS-63,DSS-65 andDSS-66.[5]
| Photo | Name | Diameter | Date operational | Date decommissioned | Notes | Bands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | DSS-53 | 34m | 2022 | Beam waveguide antenna, entered operations February 2022[6][7] | Transmit: X Receive: X, Ka | |
 | DSS-54 | 34m | 1997 | Azimut-Elevación type beam waveguide antenna[8] | Transmit: X, S Receive: S, X, Q, Ka and Ka II | |
| DSS-55 | 34m | 2003 | Azimut-Elevation type beam waveguide antenna[9] | Transmit: X Receive: X, Ka | ||
| DSS-56 | 34m | 2021 | Beam waveguide antenna, entered service January 2021[10][11] | Transmit: X, S Receive: S, X, Ka and Ka II | ||
| DSS-61 | 34m | 1999 | Deactivated late 1999, transferred to NASA for PARTNeR Project February 2001 | |||
 | DSS-63 | 70m | 1974 | Built as 64m antenna, upgraded to 70m in late 1980s. Weighs 8000 tons (dish: 3500 tons). Reflecting surface: 4180 m²[12] | Transmit: S, X, Receive: L, S, X | |
| DSS-65 | 34m | 1987 | High-efficiency (HEF) antenna. Weighs 400 tons (dish: 350 tons).[13] | Transmit: S, X Receive: S, X | ||
| DSS-66 | 26m | 2009 | Moved from Fresnedillas tracking station in 1983. Used for near-Earth missions and early orbit phase of deep-space missions |