The DSN has three ground sta-
tions located approximately
120 degrees apart on Earth
(120 + 120 + 120 = 360). This
is to ensure that as the
Earth rotates, at least one
station is able to capture
and transmit signals to any
deep space mission without
any gaps in coverage.
th is fo cus is collecti ng da� �ust
li� your lig�t sen sor,
an d th is is just li� the
bowl in
your mod�
THE dEEP sPAcE NETWORK (dsN) is a worldwide network
of antennas developed by NASA to communicate with
robotic spacecraft exploring our solar system and
beyond. Sensors on board this spacecraft gather and
transmit data about distant planets, moons, aster-
oids, comets, stars, and galaxies.
Receiving data from this spacecraft is very chal-
lenging because of the extreme distances between the
spacecraft and Earth. Signals must travel millions
or even billions of kilometers between Earth and a
spacecraft in deep space. The spacecraft’s communi-
cations equipment – designed to be small and light-
weight – transmits at very low power, typically
about the same as a refrigerator light bulb. Receiv-
ing antennas on Earth must have large collectors
(antenna dishes) with precisely shaped surfaces and
they must accurately point towards the spacecraft.
Unique curved surfaces, such
as parabolas, have a point
called the FOcus, where all
of the energy entering the
shape is ‘reflected’ from
the parabolic curve and
intersects at the focus. In
your satellite dish model, the
light sensor is your focus
that receives
energy from
the bright
LED and
measures it
in the number
module.
21
Deep Space Network Station in
Goldstone, California
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