The New Space Explorers on the Solar System Block
21 October 2005
Our solar system is about to be invaded...by Earth!
As part of NASA's Deep Space Network, the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex will help provide support to many new spacecraft in the year ahead.

Continuing the pace of exploration over the past two years, the next 12 months will see a range of new missions heading out to unlock the secrets of our solar system, from the way that the Sun's energy interacts with Earth's protective magnetic shield, to new voyages to Venus and Mars, returning pieces from a comet, and the grand adventure to tiny, distant Pluto.

The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex in Australia along with its sister stations located in Goldstone, California; and near Madrid, Spain will provide two-way communication between these and the dozens of other robotic space explorers extending our understanding of our corner of the galaxy.

Missions coming up this year and into 2006 include:

	Venus Express Venus Express will dig into the secrets of the Venusian atmosphere and study its complex dynamics and chemistry, plus interactions between the atmosphere and the surface. Launch: November 2005....Mission website...>>
	New Horizons New Horizons is the first mission to the last planet - the initial reconnaissance of Pluto-Charon and the Kuiper Belt - sent out to explore the mysterious worlds at the edge of our solar system. Launch: 11 January 2006....Mission website...>>
	Stardust The Stardust spacecraft successfully flew through the cloud of dust that surrounds the nucleus of comet Wild-2 and gathered a sample of cometary material. Return: 15 January 2006..........Mission website...>>
	ST-5 Space Technology 5 (ST5) will flight test its miniaturized satellites and innovative technologies in the harsh environment of Earth's magnetosphere. Launch: 27 February 2006.........Mission website...>>
	Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will take the most powerful telescopic camera ever to another planet, plus five other scientific instruments. Arrives: 10 March 2006.......Mission website...>>
	STEREO This two-year mission will use two nearly identical space-based observatories to provide the first-ever stereoscopic 3-D measurements of solar activity. Launch: 11 April 2006.........Mission website...>>
	Dawn Dawn, the first spacecraft ever planned to orbit two different bodies after leaving Earth, will orbit Vesta and Ceres, two of the largest asteroids in the solar system. Launch: 17 June 2006.........Mission website...>>

There are also other missions of exploration both space- and Earth-based being operated by many nations. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has a list of these missions on their website.

To understand how NASA's Deep Space Network will support these missions, transmitting commands, and receiving data from millions and even billions of kilometres from Earth, visit the DSN website.

Watch for regular updates on our website or keep up-to-date with the latest news at the NASA and JPL websites.

The Solar System is about to get a whole lot busier. Come along for the ride!

Article compiled by Glen Nagle - CDSCC Education & Outreach Manager.