A new deep space communications antenna in New Norcia, Western Australia, is set to revolutionise space comms. It might relearn the past, it might save souls, it might unlock the secrets of the universe. The New Norcia 3 (NNO-3) antenna, 40 meter high towers in a picturesque monastic town. Yet it’s equally outstanding in its svelte weight of 700 tonnes. It has been engineered to handle the ever-increasing appetite for data downloads from our ever-busy spacecraft that are out exploring our solar system.
One of several stations on five continents that ESA operates, the New Norcia station came under the leadership of Suzy Jackson. The antenna is an integral communications link to the far-flung missions. It will similarly position Australia as an undeniable leader and influencer in worldwide space exploration. The recent addition is indicative of a larger commitment to advancing leading technology and understanding the cosmos.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg, an ESA antenna systems engineer, said she was excited with the antenna’s capability. The station has the potential to, in future missions, receive signals transmitted from the surface of Mars, increasing its value and significance even more.
Enhancing Communication with Deep Space
The New Norcia 3 antenna will support several high-profile space missions, including JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer), which aims to explore Jupiter’s icy moons, considered prime candidates for potential extraterrestrial life.
Former NASA deep space networks engineer Suzy Jackson underscored the challenges of deep space communication. She explained that the signals we’re getting from the spacecraft are really weak by the time they make the journey to Earth and back.
“Signals coming from a spacecraft in deep space, by the time they get to us, they’re incredibly faint, and when we talk back to a spacecraft, by the time our signals get to the spacecraft, it’s also incredibly faint,” – Suzy Jackson
To meet these challenges, Jackson said that the antenna’s success all came down to high-tech.
“We use enormous hardware, a very big dish to catch as much of the signal as we possibly can, and then we have cryogenic amplifiers that are cooled to minus 260 degrees Celsius, so that they don’t contribute noise to the signal,” – Suzy Jackson
This cutting-edge technology allows the team at New Norcia to communicate effectively with various missions, sending commands and receiving valuable scientific data.
“We also send commands to our spacecraft to tell the spacecraft what to do,” – Mehran Sarkarati
A Community United in Excitement
The Shire of Victoria Plains community is ecstatic about the new antenna and its potential for fostering interest in space science. Local government officials are already working on plans to use this globally significant ground station to attract tourism. Their mission is to motivate the next generation of explorers and engineers, to inspire curiosity and imagination, and engage every visitor.
The role of public engagement to science is crucial Katherine Bennell-Pegg. She is passionate about the fact that space exploration can inspire the next generation of young people and advance our scientific literacy.
“One of my favourite missions that’s going to be connected to through this centre here in Western Australia is called JUICE. It’s going explore the icy moons of Jupiter, the most prominent candidates for potential life in our solar system,” – Katherine Bennell-Pegg
The community’s excitement is palpable, as residents recognize the significance of hosting such advanced technology. The shire’s ambitious plans draw in supporters and donors, capturing imaginations and fortunes. They inspire and teach all of us about the wonders of space exploration.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Space Exploration
The New Norcia 3 antenna, recently installed, is coming online at this moment. It will be essential to dozens of upcoming missions that will study Mars, Jupiter, the Sun and more. ESA Director General Dr. Josef Aschbacher made clear the mission-defining role this antenna would play. It’s going to be critical in observing billions of stars and galaxies, thus generating humongous data.
“[There are] billions of stars and galaxies we are observing and that creates huge amounts of data and that’s why we need a large antenna to get the weak signal from these telescopes from far away,” – Josef Aschbacher
As Dr. Aschbacher noted, the universe we can see and measure is a small fraction of the whole universe.
“All the stars that we see, the sun and all the planets, that makes only 5 percent of the universe,” – Josef Aschbacher
Our New Norcia 3 antenna is now in place and poised to increase our knowledge of dark matter and energy. It will be crucial to missions such as Euclid, which seek to clarify these dark aspects of our universe.
