Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex#Antennas

The complex is located in the Paddys River (a tributary of the Cotter River) valley, about 20 km from Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. The complex is part of the Deep Space Network run by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It is commonly referred to as the Tidbinbilla Deep Space Tracking Station and was officially opened on 19 March 1965 by the Prime Minister of Australia, Robert Menzies.

The station is separated from Canberra by the Murrumbidgee River and, more importantly, the Coolamon Ridge, Urambi Hills, and Bullen Range, which help shield the dishes from the city's radio frequency (RF) noise. Located nearby is the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

The CSIRO manages most of NASA's activities in Australia.

In February 2010 CSIRO took over direct management of the site with the establishment of CASS (CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science).{{cite web|title=CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science formed|first=Andrew |last=Wright |date=December 1, 2009|url=https://csiropedia.csiro.au/csiro-astronomy-and-space-science-formed/|publisher=CSIRO|access-date=December 11, 2022}} Previous to this CDSCC had been managed by external sub-contractor organisations, such as Raytheon Australia from 2003 to 2010;{{cite web|title=Seven Year Service to the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex Celebrated|date=26 February 2010|url=https://raytheon.au.mediaroom.com/news-release-archive?item=7|publisher=Raytheon Australia|access-date=December 11, 2022}} BAE Systems Australia 1990–2003; AWA Electronic Services -1990.{{cite web|title=Ground control: the ultimate comms centre|publisher=Comms Connect|first= Jonathan |last=Nally|date=25 September 2013|url=https://www.criticalcomms.com.au/content/industry/article/ground-control-the-ultimate-comms-centre-1309539354}}

File:Tidbinbilla ACT locality-MJC01.png

File:DSS43.jpg

During the mid 1960s NASA built three tracking stations in the Australian Capital Territory.

File:Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex Map.png

• The Tidbinbilla Tracking Station (now known as CDSCC) was opened in 1965 and is the only NASA tracking station in Australia still in operation. During the Apollo program, Tidbinbilla was used for tracking the Apollo Lunar Module.
• The Orroral Valley Tracking Station ({{coord|35|37|43|S|148|57|20.8|E|region:AU-NSW}}) was opened in May 1965 in what is now part of Namadgi National Park. Its role was orbiting satellite support, although it also supported the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. It was closed in 1985.
• Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station ({{coord|35|35|1|S|148|58|36|E|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Honeysuckle Creek}}) opened in 1967 and was built primarily to support the Apollo Moon missions, mainly communications with the Apollo Command Module. After the cancellation of the Apollo Project the station supported Skylab until its re-entry in 1979 when the station joined the Deep Space Network in support of the Viking and Voyager projects. 1981 saw the closure of the station and its 26 m antenna was moved to CDSCC to become known as Deep Space Station 46. After the antenna was removed the rest of the facility was dismantled and knocked down. Its foundation, access road and parking area are all that remains of the facility.

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As of late 2016 the station has five large antennas, called Deep Space Stations (DSS), each identified by a number: DSS-34, DSS-35, DSS-36, DSS-43, and DSS-45. The CDSCC also uses the Parkes radio telescope in central New South Wales at busy times to receive data from spacecraft (then designated DSS-49). There has been ongoing construction since 2010 building additional 34 m beam waveguide antenna. Construction of DSS-35 began in July 2010.{{cite web| url = http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/428353main_Construction_and_Env_Compliance.pdf| title = Antenna Construction - page 8| publisher = NASA| access-date = 18 July 2010| archive-date = 14 July 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100714101735/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/428353main_Construction_and_Env_Compliance.pdf| url-status = dead}} The station's collimation tower is located approximately 3 km to the north-west, on Black Hill.

CDSCC costs about {{AUD|20 million}} per year to run, and is funded by NASA.{{cite web|url=http://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/macfarlane/media-releases/over-fifty-years-space-collaboration-between-australia-and|title=Over fifty years of space collaboration between Australia and the United States|date=26 February 2015|publisher=Department of Industry, Australian Government|access-date=24 July 2015|archive-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730000415/https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/macfarlane/media-releases/over-fifty-years-space-collaboration-between-australia-and|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cdscc.nasa.gov/Pages/faq.html|title=Frequently Asked Questions|publisher=Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex|access-date=24 July 2015}}

{{Portal|Australia|Spaceflight}}

• Carnarvon Tracking Station
• OTC Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon
• Parkes Observatory

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• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f9cnx1NQYI Partners in space: CSIRO and NASA - video]
• [http://www.cdscc.nasa.gov/ Official CDSCC Webpage]
• [http://www.atnf.csiro.au/observers/tidbinbilla/ Official CSIRO pages]
• [http://www.tidbinbilla.net/ Tidbinbilla Tracking Station tribute site]
• [http://www.honeysucklecreek.net/ Honeysuckle Creek tribute site]
• [http://researchandideas.com/index.php?title=NASA%27s_GRO_Remote_Terminal_System_(GRTS) NASA's GRO Remote Terminal System Installed at Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex]

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Category:Earth stations in the Australian Capital Territory

Category:Space programme of Australia

Category:Deep space networks

Category:1965 establishments in Australia

Category:CSIRO

Category:NASA facilities in Australia