Media release

From: CSIRO

Latest NASA spacecraft-tracking antenna unveiled at Canberra VIP event

The latest antenna to join NASA’s Deep Space Network, Deep Space Station 36 (DSS36), will be officially launched at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla on 3 November 2016.

The new antenna marks the culmination of a six and half year $120m investment from NASA at the CSIRO-managed facility, which resulted in the construction of two new antennas for NASA’s Deep Space Network.

It will play an important part in NASA’s ‘Journey to Mars’ by providing two-way communication capacity for human and robotic missions, which will enable science, tracking and command data to be sent back and forth from Earth.

Assistant Minister Hon. Craig Laundy MP, senior representatives from NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the US Embassy, industry partners and CSIRO will be present to mark this milestone with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Melrose High School Year 9 and 10 students with a keen interest in astronomy will also be present for the event.

Details

Event:   Photo, video and interview opportunity

Date:     Thursday 3 November 2016

Time:     11am event start (please arrive at 10.30am, and see ‘Other details’ below on attending the event)

Venue: Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, 421 Discovery Drive, Tidbinbilla ACT

Interview opportunities

- Chargé d’Affaires ad interim US Embassy                                           Mr James Carouso

- Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science               Hon. Craig Laundy MP

- NASA Associate Administrator                                                                Mr Robert M. Lightfoot Jr.

- JPL Deputy Director                                                                                      Lt. Gen. Larry James

- CSIRO Chief Executive                                                                                 Dr Larry Marshall

- CSIRO-CDSCC Director                                                                                 Dr Ed Kruzins

- CSIRO-CDSCC Manager Education & Public Outreach                    Mr Glen Nagle

- Melrose High School                                                                                    Science students (Yrs 9-10)

Photo and video opportunities

- Ribbon-cutting ceremony

- DSS36 and DSS35 antennas

- Additional images and footage also supplied

Other details

- There is no mobile phone or wireless microphones usage permitted on site, as these interfere with spacecraft tracking operations

- There will be an audio deck available to tie into for sound

- Contact Gabby Russell/Glen Nagle in advance with names of crew who will be attending

- All visitors must bring photo ID with them on the day

Media contacts

Gabby Russell (CSIRO): Ph 02 9490 8002, E gabby.russell@csiro.au

Glen Nagle (CSIRO): Ph 02 6201 7838, E glen.nagle@csiro.au