In 1993 the GRO Remote Terminal System (GRTS) antennas, consisting of a 4.5-metre and an 11-metre antenna, were built to support the orbiting Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) designed to communicate with Earth via TDRS. The GRTS antennas were fixed in place, and were occasionally used to support Space Shuttle missions and the Hubble Space Telescope as they passed over the Indian Ocean and Australia. The antennas were decommissioned in 1996.
Radio Astronomy has benefited from new advances in arraying techniques. Arraying is electronically linking antennas at one or more locations to increase the strength of the signal. This Very Long Baseline Interferometry technique (VLBI) was expanded into space VLBI after the completion of the 11-metre antenna (Deep Space Station 33) in June 1996 (decommissioned in 2002). This antenna allowed communication with space based interferometer elements such as the Halca satellite from Japan. Such satellites work together with ground stations to simulate a radio telescope much larger than the Earth, increasing sensitivity.

The most recent antenna to be built at the CDSCC was the 34-metre Beam Wave Guide antenna (Deep Space Station 34) in 1997. The antenna is very similar in structure to the 34-metre High Efficiency antenna (Deep Space Station 45), however the transmission and reception equipment is located underground. This reduces the weight on the dish, minimising the strain on the antenna structure.

To ensure that the signal is focused onto the receiver the dish has a hole in the centre followed by a series of mirrors that reflect the signal downward. An added advantage of this antenna is that the receiving equipment located on the ground, can undergo maintenance independent of the position of the dish.
In addition to the antennas, there is also a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. This offers simultaneous tracking of up to eight NAVSTAR GPS satellites. The receiver is fully automated and does not require an operator except for occasional calibration or maintenance. It is used 24 hours a day, all year round.

In 1998, after almost 35 years of service, the decision was made to decommission Deep Space Station 42. There were a number of contributing factors including discontinuities in its performance, metal fatigue in the structure, and significant non-repairable wear in the drive mechanics. The antenna was removed in 2000.

+ 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