Key points
- In the last 60 years, the Canberra Deep Space Science Complex (CDSCC) has been involved in hundreds of deep space exploration missions.
- CDSCC continues to play a crucial role in tracking, communicating, and collecting data from deep space missions, relaying messages from Mars, interstellar space, and beyond.
- CDSCC's largest antenna – DSS43 – is the only antenna in the world that can communicate with Voyager 2.
Nestled in the hills of Tidbinbilla, a 40-minute drive from Canberra is the CDSCC, one of three Deep Space Network (DSN) stations worldwide. Along with its sister stations in Madrid, Spain and Goldstone, USA, they provide continuous communication with spacecraft as they explore near and far from home. We’ve directly managed the station for NASA since 2010.
When it opened in 1965, CDSCC operated just one 26-metre antenna. Today, controllers operate the CDSCC’s four antennas (one 70-metre and three 34-metre). As part of the DSN’s ‘Follow the Sun’ operations, CDSCC controllers also control the antennas in both Madrid and Goldstone during their shifts, ensuring continuous communication with spacecraft whilst their colleagues in the northern hemisphere get some rest.
From relaying messages during the Apollo Moon landings to receiving signals from spacecraft now traveling through interstellar space, CDSCC has played a crucial part in tracking, communicating, and collecting data from some of the most momentous missions in space history.
Apollo Program: a giant leap for mankind
Launch Date: December 21, 1968 (Apollo 8) – December 7, 1972 (Apollo 17)
Mission Status: Successfully completed
Mission Objective: Land humans on the Moon and return them to Earth safely.
Mission Overview: The Apollo Program was NASA’s historic effort to land the first humans on the Moon. Launched in the 1960s, the program aimed to achieve crewed lunar landings and advance human spaceflight capabilities. The program’s most famous mission, Apollo 11, saw Neil Armstrong take humanity’s first steps on the Moon on 21 July 1969, a defining moment in human history.
CDSCC's role: from first steps to final transmissions
Opening in March 1965, the CDSCC – then known as the Tidbinbilla Deep Space Instrumentation Facility 42 (DSIF42) – was built specifically to support spacecraft exploring the universe. As NASA’s Apollo Program progressed, the station was upgraded to assist with human spaceflight missions, becoming part of the Manned Space Flight Network. This expansion allowed CDSCC to provide vital tracking, telemetry, and communications support for Apollo missions 8, 10 and through to the program's final mission, Apollo 17.
During the Apollo program NASA constructed CDSCC’s largest antenna – DSS43. The larger the dish the greater its sensitivity to radio signals transmitted from deep space. The antenna was tested on the final mission of the Apollo program – Apollo 17 in December 1972.
It received the final voice transmission from Gene Cernan as he took humanity’s last steps on the Moon: “And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus–Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind.”
Curiosity Mars rover: unravelling the secrets of the Red Planet
Launch Date: 26 November 2011
Mission Status: Ongoing – active on Mars
Mission Objective: Determine if Mars was ever able to support microbial life.
Mission Overview: The Curiosity rover landed on Mars in August 2012, as part of the Mars Scientific Laboratory (MSL) Mission, designed to explore the planet’s surface and search for signs of past habitability.
Analysing rock, soil, and air samples, Curiosity provides insights into Mars’ past environments and has made a number of significant discoveries. These include the detection of organic compounds in rock samples, fluctuations of methane in the planet’s near-surface atmosphere and evidence of ancient habitable environments with fresh water.
CDSCC's role: delivering word of a safe touchdown on Mars
CDSCC’s DSS43 antenna played a crucial role in Curiosity’s landing on Mars. During what has been dubbed the “Seven minutes of Terror” DSS43 tracked the rover’s dramatic descent onto the planet’s surface. The spacecraft had to slow down from a speedy 20,000 km/h to a gentle landing. There was a nervous wait before DSS43 received the critical signal confirming Curiosity’s safe touchdown.
Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART): a new era in planetary defence
Launch Date: 24 November 2021
Mission Status: Successfully completed
Mission Objective: Demonstrate asteroid deflection as a viable planetary defence strategy.
Mission Overview: The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was the world’s first full-scale planetary defence test. Organised by NASA, DART was designed to assess whether intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid could alter its trajectory. DART’s target was Dimorphos, a 160-metre-wide asteroid that orbits a larger asteroid called Didymos.
On 26 September 2022, the DART spacecraft collided with Dimorphos at a speed of 6.44km/s. The mission team estimated the impact would shorten Dimorphos’ orbit around Didymos by just a few minutes. However, the data collected revealed it shortened the orbit by 32 minutes – far exceeding expectations and proving the mission a resounding success.
CDSCC's role: a close-up view of a critical collision
CDSCC transmitted the final commands to the DART spacecraft as it prepared to collide with the asteroid and collected data right up until the moment of impact. CDSCC also received data from LICIACube – a cubesat or tiny satellite – that took photos of the spacecraft’s collision.
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): gazing on the pillars of creation
Launch Date: 25 December 2021
Mission Status: Ongoing - fully operational
Mission Objective: Explore the earliest galaxies, distant exoplanets, and the origins of the universe.
Mission Overview: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency.
JWST orbits the Sun 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth at a location known as Lagrange Point 2. Equipped with highly advanced and sensitive instruments, JWST captures high resolution, full-colour images and important scientific data as it explores distant stars, galaxies and exoplanets.
CDSCC's role: collecting awe-inspiring data from the Webb
Months before launch, the team at CDSCC began preparations for the mission, testing Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas to ensure their compatibility with the mission.
Tracking JWST from launch and deployment, CDSCC now provides ongoing mission support, it is a permanent fixture in the station’s tracking schedule. One spectacular image that JWST has captured is that of ‘The Pillars of Creation’, huge towers of gas and dust located in the Eagle Nebula, around 6,500 light years from Earth. The gas and dust inside these clouds are clumped together under gravity, eventually creating new stars. This image is one example of the data that CDSCC and its sister stations relay from spacecraft to mission and research teams.
Parker Solar Probe: flying (not) too close to the Sun
Launch Date: 12 August 2018
Mission Status: Ongoing
Mission Objective: Solar orbiter collecting information on the origin and evolution of solar wind to help forecast changes in the space environment that can impact life on Earth.
Mission Overview: Designed to swoop within 6.5 million kilometres of the Sun’s surface, the Parker Solar Probe faces brutal heat and extreme radiation as it studies our nearest star closer than ever before.
On 14 December 2021, the spacecraft flew through the Sun’s upper atmosphere – the corona – where it sampled particles and measured the magnetic fields. This made it the first spacecraft in history to ‘touch’ the Sun. It got even closer in 2024, flying just 6.1 million kilometres above the Sun’s surface at a speed of 692,000 km/h – faster than any human-made object has moved before.
CDSCC's role: getting to know our friendly, neighbourhood Sun
CDSCC, along with its sister stations, continues to track the spacecraft on its journey around the Sun, supporting telemetry and science data transmission.
Voyager: a grand tour of the Solar System and beyond
Launch Date: 5 September 1977 (Voyager 1) and 20 August 1977 (Voyager 2)
Mission Status: Ongoing – exploring interstellar space
Mission Objective: Explore the outer planets and continue into interstellar space
Mission Overview: The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft were launched in 1977 to complete a ‘grand tour’ of the Solar System, collecting data on Saturn, its moon Titan, Neptune and Uranus as the spacecraft flew past.
After these flybys were completed, the two Voyagers were sent to explore the outer regions of our Solar System and interstellar space – where they are currently operating. The Voyagers are the only human-made objects that have travelled into interstellar space.
CDSCC's role: Voyager 2, this is Earth calling
CDSCC’s DSS43 is the only antenna on Earth capable of communicating with Voyager 2. This is because Earth blocks signals from the other DSN stations in the northern hemisphere.
On 21 July 2023, Voyager 2 lost contact with Earth after a routine command error caused its antenna to shift 2 degrees off target. Through intense efforts, CDSCC detected a faint ‘heartbeat’ signal from Voyager 2, confirming the spacecraft was still operational. After multiple attempts, commands from CDSCC successfully reorientated Voyager 2’s antenna, restoring communication between Earth and the spacecraft.
As space exploration pushes further into the unknown, CDSCC will remain an important part in deep space exploration. With advanced instruments and 60 years of experience, the station ensures that missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond stay connected to Earth.