NASA Deep Space Antenna Damaged and Offline
NASA's DSS-14 antenna, a critical 70-meter dish at the Deep Space Network (DSN) complex in Goldstone, California, sustained damage in September and is expected to remain offline until May. The antenna is also scheduled for significant upgrades later this year.
Incident Details
The damage occurred on September 16 when the antenna over-rotated, resulting in stress to cabling and piping. Hoses within the antenna's fire control system were also damaged, leading to flooding. The incident is currently under investigation. The damage did not occur during planetary radar observations.
Antenna Functions and Alternatives
DSS-14 is one of three 70-meter antennas in the DSN, used for communicating with distant spacecraft and those experiencing technical issues. It also functions as a planetary radar, transmitting signals to characterize near-Earth asteroids. While DSS-14 is offline, researchers are utilizing alternative methods for planetary radar observations, such as using another Goldstone antenna (DSS-13) as a transmitter and the Green Bank Observatory for signal reception. This bistatic system offers roughly one-tenth the sensitivity of DSS-14.
Repair and Future Upgrades
The antenna is officially scheduled to resume operations on May 1, though this timeline may be subject to change. DSS-14 was already slated for extended maintenance from August 2026 to October 2028 to replace equipment that is up to 50 years old. This effort aims to extend the operational lifespan of the approximately 60-year-old facility. The antenna is projected to be operational months before the asteroid Apophis's close flyby in April 2029.
Artemis Mission Impact on DSN
The Deep Space Network is also facing increased demands from the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, scheduled for early February, which will require DSN support for communications with the Orion spacecraft during its lunar flight. Support for Artemis 1 in 2022 previously necessitated other missions to yield hundreds of hours of antenna time, and a similar impact is anticipated for Artemis 2.
According to Greg Heckler, deputy program manager for capability development in NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, the new requirements from Artemis are placing pressure on the DSN. However, he noted this presents an opportunity to secure resources for DSN capability, capacity, and resilience improvements, which will also benefit science missions. Science missions should anticipate reduced DSN access during Artemis flights, which could last up to four weeks. During the remaining 11 months of the year, the Science Mission Directorate community will have greater access, particularly as the network expands and becomes more resilient.