To explore the Solar System and beyond, Earth-orbiting and interplanetary missions have to plan for the extremes in temperature, sometimes heavy radiation, huge magnetic fields, mountain-sized rocks, towering volcanoes, and toxic gases that they might encounter. There are also the costs and inherent risks involved to consider. While humans have explored and worked within the Earth-Moon environment, currently one of the most effective ways we can journey deep into the Solar System is using unmanned robotic spacecraft.

Communication with these robotic interplanetary spacecraft exploring the planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and the Sun occurs through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Deep Space Network (DSN).
The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) forms one of three facilities worldwide that make up the DSN. Along with sites at Goldstone in the Mojave Desert, 200kms north of Los Angeles, and Robledo, 60kms west of Madrid in Spain, the DSN maintains continuous radio contact with the spacecraft exploring the Solar System.

The DSN is managed and operated for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of the California Institute of Technology.

The function of the CDSCC is covered by a treaty-level agreement between the governments of the USA and Australia.

On behalf of the Australian government, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Division of Industrial Physics, manages NASA activities in Australia—the CDSCC being their largest undertaking in this area.

In order to provide engineering support and operations for the CDSCC, the CSIRO enters into contracts with Australian industry for the necessary staff and infrastructure.

NASA provides all funds associated with the operation of the CDSCC.

+ Foreword
+ Overview
+ Birth of the
...Deep Space Network
+ Function

+ NASA in Australia
+ Woomera
+ Muchea
+ Carnarvon
+ Cooby Creek
+ Honeysuckle Creek
+ Orroral Valley
+ Tidbinbilla

+ Tidbinbilla Part 1 | Part 2

+ Deep Space Station 34
+ Deep Space Station 43
+ Deep Space Station 45
+ Deep Space Station 46
+ Tracking
+ Transmitting
+ Signal Processing
+ Timing Systems
+ Movement
+ Drive Systems

+ Personnel
...+ Operations
...+ Systems Engineering
...+ Antennas & Facilities
...+ Administration
+ CSIRO
+ NASA
+ Raytheon Australia
+ Visitor Centre

+ Terms & Meanings

+ NASA
+ JPL
+ DSN
+ CSIRO
+ Raytheon Australia
+ CDSCC