NASA has commissioned a new 34-meter antenna, designated DSS-23, at the Goldstone complex in California. The facility began operations on August 3, with the Chandra X-ray Observatory serving as one of its first tracked targets. This addition is part of the Deep Space Network (DSN), which manages communications for over 40 spacecraft exploring the solar system and interstellar space.
The DSN consists of three complexes located in California, near Madrid, and near Canberra. These sites are positioned to ensure continuous coverage as the Earth rotates. The network supports long-range missions, including Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and New Horizons, while also managing increasing demand from lunar programs like Artemis, which receive priority status for data transmission.
DSS-23 is the fifth of six planned 34-meter antennas under the Aperture Enhancement Project, which began in 2009. The final unit, DSS-33, is scheduled for launch in Australia in 2029. The project has faced significant delays and budget increases; initial cost estimates of $362.4 million in 2015 rose to $706 million by the start of the 2023 fiscal year, with a five-year schedule slippage.
