Tag

Deep Space Network

All articles tagged with #deep space network

science8 days ago•9 min saved

Voyager 1 closes in on one-light-day distance as Earth awaits a full-day signal round-trip

Voyager 1’s communications have grown so distant that one-way signals now take over 23 hours to reach Earth, with projections toward roughly 24 hours by late 2026. As the probe cruises outward at about 17 km/s, the data arriving on Earth corresponds to a position the spacecraft has already left, effectively making the telemetry a late snapshot from interstellar space. The milestone of one light-day (about 25.9 billion km) will be reached around November 2026, turning every command a full day to arrive and a full day for a reply. The data stream remains slim (roughly 160 bits per second), and only two instruments on Voyager 1 stay active, with power-management decisions looming as NASA relies on DSN facilities like Canberra’s DSS-43 for ground control. Voyager 2, on a different path, won’t reach this mark for years, and both probes continue to operate as the few direct data sources from beyond the heliosphere, even as power fades and operations tighten.

via Space Daily|

#deep-space-network #interstellar-space #nasa

space2 months ago•3 min saved

NASA advances plan for a dedicated Mars comms orbiter worldwide by 2028

NASA released draft objectives for the Mars Telecommunications Network, a dedicated Mars communications and navigation orbiter funded by the 2025 budget bill. The program aims to deliver a spacecraft by end-2028 to provide up to 100 Mbps direct Earth links, navigation timing, and support for missions through 2035, with a minimum five-year operational life and compatibility with the Deep Space Network. The orbiter would focus on communications and PNT rather than science instruments; draft RFPs are forthcoming and comments are due by March 10. Eligibility is limited to companies that received NASA funding in 2024–25 for Mars Sample Return design studies, with bidders including Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and others asserting interest in the project.

via SpaceNews|

#deep-space-network #mars-communications #mars-telecommunications-network

space3 months ago•6 min saved

Lunar Link: Artemis II’s Global Network Keeps Crew Connected

NASA’s Artemis II will carry four astronauts around the Moon with comms routed through the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network under the SCaN program; the mission will test the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (laser links) to move data faster than radio, while a ~41-minute blackout behind the Moon is managed via data compression and rapid reacquisition by DSN; NASA and partners are also pursuing a Lunar Relay and Navigation System to eliminate blackouts for Artemis III and beyond.

via NASA (.gov)|

#artemis-ii #deep-space-network #nasa

space4 months ago•4 min saved

Global Volunteers to Track Artemis II Moon Mission

NASA selected 34 global volunteers—ranging from government agencies and academia to commercial partners and amateur-radio groups—to passively track the Orion spacecraft during Artemis II’s roughly 10-day mission around the Moon. Volunteers will submit data to NASA’s SCaN program to help assess tracking capabilities and build a resilient public-private ecosystem for future Moon and Mars exploration; no funds are exchanged. Artemis II will launch the SLS rocket with a four-person crew, continuing NASA’s plan to advance deep-space exploration.

via NASA (.gov)|

#artemis-ii #deep-space-network #near-space-network

space4 months ago•4 min saved

Goldstone's DSN Antenna Offline Through May for Major Upgrades

NASA says the DSS-14 70-meter antenna at Goldstone is offline after last fall’s damage and will not return until May 1, with a long upgrade planned for 2026–2028; in the meantime, DSN relies on DSS-13 and a Green Bank bistatic radar setup. Artemis 2’s upcoming flight will increase DSN demand, driving infrastructure upgrades to improve resilience for future missions and ongoing planetary radar work (e.g., asteroid characterization such as Apophis).

via SpaceNews|

#artemis-2 #deep-space-network #dss-14

science4 months ago•32 min saved

NASA's MAVEN Goes Silent: Is Mars' Orbiter Lost?

NASA's MAVEN orbiter, studying Mars' upper atmosphere, went offline on December 6 and NASA now says recovery is very unlikely as it appears to be rotating unexpectedly; a Martian solar-conjunction window ending around January 16 could offer one last chance to reestablish contact, though the agency notes that other Mars spacecraft can still relay communications to Earth.

via Yahoo|

#deep-space-network #mars #maven

space4 months ago•30 min saved

NASA’s MAVEN Mars Orbiter Goes Silent, Likely Lost to Contact

NASA’s MAVEN orbiter, which has studied Mars’ upper atmosphere for over a decade, went offline in December. NASA later acknowledged MAVEN was rotating unexpectedly and is very unlikely to be recovered, though Mars’s solar conjunction could offer another contact window. In the meantime, three other spacecraft can relay data to Earth, and NASA continues root-cause analyses while exploring future options such as a revived Mars Telecommunications Orbiter.

via Yahoo News New Zealand|

#deep-space-network #mars #mars-missions

science6 months ago•3 min saved

NASA's Deep Space Network Antenna Sustains Damage

A key 70-meter antenna (DSS-14) at NASA's Deep Space Network in Goldstone, California, was damaged in September and remains offline, potentially impacting communication with deep space missions. The incident has added to existing concerns about the overstretched network, which is crucial for missions like Artemis, James Webb, and Voyager 2, amid budget constraints and increasing mission demands.

via SpaceNews|

#antenna-damage #deep-space-network #dss-14

science10 months ago•1 min saved

NASA Seeks Industry Proposals for Lunar and Martian Communications

NASA has paused its plans to acquire lunar communication ground stations due to uncertain budgets, aiming to support lunar missions and ease the burden on the Deep Space Network.

via SpaceNews|

#budget #deep-space-network #ground-stations

space-technology2 years ago•0 min saved

"Electron Spin Communication: Linking Mars Astronauts to Earth"

NASA is working on improving its Deep Space Network with laser signal capabilities to address the communication challenges faced by isolated Mars astronauts, with one team of scientists developing experimental technology for ultrafast communication between Earth and Mars.

via Interesting Engineering|

#communication #deep-space-network #laser-technology

space2 years ago•3 min saved

"NASA Resolves Voyager 1 Communication Breakdown"

NASA engineers are making progress in solving the communication breakdown issue with Voyager 1, the first human-made object to leave the solar system. The problem seems to stem from the spacecraft's flight data subsystem (FDS). A recent signal detected by the Voyager mission team contained a readout of the FDS' entire memory, providing valuable information for troubleshooting. Despite the distance of 15 billion miles from Earth, NASA is working to decode this signal and restore communication with the pioneering space mission.

via Space.com|

#communication-breakdown #deep-space-network #interstellar-space

space-technology2 years ago•3 min saved

"NASA's Breakthrough Hybrid Antenna Enhances Deep Space Communication"

NASA has upgraded its Deep Space Network with a hybrid antenna capable of receiving both radio frequency and laser signals, marking a significant advancement in deep space communication. The experimental antenna, located at the California facility, successfully tracked and decoded a signal from a gold-capped laser transceiver attached to NASA’s asteroid probe Psyche, demonstrating synchronous radio and optical frequency deep space communications for the first time. This upgrade aims to meet the increasing demand for data transmission from deep space missions, with the hybrid antenna achieving data transfer speeds 40 times faster than traditional radio frequency communications at a distance of 20 million miles. The new technology paves the way for more efficient communication with future space explorations and enables the rapid transfer of high-resolution images and extensive scientific data from distant space missions.

via Gizmodo|

#deep-space-network #hybrid-antenna #laser-communications

science-and-technology2 years ago•4 min saved

"NASA's Innovative Antenna Communicates with Deep Space Using Laser Technology"

NASA's experimental hybrid antenna at the Deep Space Network has successfully tracked and decoded the downlink laser from the Psyche spacecraft, demonstrating the potential for retrofitting giant dish antennas for optical communications. This breakthrough paves the way for higher-data-rate communications and supports future space exploration capabilities, including sending humans to Mars. The antenna's ability to receive both radio frequency and near-infrared laser signals marks a significant advancement in deep space communication technology.

via NASA|

#deep-space-network #dsoc #nasa

space-technology2 years ago•13 min saved

"Revolutionizing Space Exploration with Cutting-Edge Laser Technology"

NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN), the communication infrastructure that connects spacecraft with engineers and scientists on Earth, is struggling to handle the increasing data load from a growing number of missions. Thousands of hours of science observations are being lost, and the network is oversubscribed by up to 40%. To meet the demands of future space exploration, experts suggest turning to laser communications, which can provide higher bandwidth and alleviate the strain on the DSN. NASA is already testing optical communications systems, and while there are challenges to overcome, such as cloud cover and spacecraft tumbling, optical communications could be a game changer for transmitting large quantities of data in the future.

via The Verge|

#communication-infrastructure #deep-space-network #future-space-missions

space2 years ago•3 min saved

"NASA's Deep Space Network Faces Uncertain Future, Officials Warn"

NASA officials have expressed concerns about the future of the Deep Space Network (DSN), a crucial system used to maintain contact with missions across the Solar System. With around 40 missions currently relying on the DSN, and another 40-plus missions expected to join in the next decade, the network is becoming oversubscribed and stressed. The upcoming Artemis missions, which involve astronauts and require high data transmission rates, will further strain the aging infrastructure of the DSN. NASA officials highlighted the need for upgrades and improvements to ensure the network's continued functionality and support for future space exploration endeavors.

via Ars Technica|

#communication #deep-space-network #infrastructure