Deep Space Station 43

Deep Space Station 43 in the distance, with a road in front and a green leaf tree on the right of the photo
Deep Space Station 43 officially opened in 1973. It remains the largest steerable parabolic antenna in the Southern Hemisphere.

Quick Stats

First year of Operation: 1972

Type: Azimuth-Elevation

Diameter: 70 metres

Height: 73 metres

Transmit:  X-Band (7145-7190 MHz)
 S-Band (2090-2120 MHz)

Receive:  X-Band (8200-8600 MHz)
 S-Band (2200-2300 MHz)
 L-Band (1400-1900 MHz)
 K-Band (18.0-26.0 GHz)

Accuracy:  within 0.005° (pointing)
 within 0.25mm (surface RMS)

Turning: 0.25° per second

Winds:  Stow - steady at 72km/h
 gusts +88km/h
 Design Max. - 160km/h

Deep Space Station 43 (DSS-43) was constructed in 1969 to 1973 as a 64-metre diameter antenna. The 64-metre antenna was more than six times as sensitive as DSS-42, the original 26-metre at the Complex. Therefore DSS-43 could communicate with spacecraft at greater distances from Earth as the signal became weaker. DSS-43 supported, as needed, the Apollo 17 mission to the Moon before the antenna's official opening in 1973.

DSS-43 was extended from a 64-metre diameter antenna to a 70-metre diameter in 1987 to enhance its capabilities for the Voyager 2 1989 encounter with Neptune. It is the largest steerable parabolic antenna in the Southern Hemisphere. The massive structure, weighing more than 3000 tonnes, rotates on a film of oil approximately 0.17-mm thick. The reflector surface is made up of 1,272 aluminium panels with a total surface area of 4180 square metres. The outer panels are perforated, allowing rain and wind to pass through them.

Find more photos of Deep Space Station 43 in our Gallery.