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Space Science

ESA Opens Deep Space Antenna in Australia 21

Posted by michael from the is-anybody-out-there dept.
Gavinsblog writes "New Scientist is reporting that the European Space Agency has opened the first of its new deep space antennae. It is 35 metres across and can operate at up to 32 Ghz - able to provide a link to spacecraft up to 900 million kilometres away."
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ESA Opens Deep Space Antenna in Australia More

ESA Opens Deep Space Antenna in Australia

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  • Any chance of communicating with Pioneer 10 on this thing?

  • well, (Score:2, Funny)

    by C21 ( 643569 )
    man, I'd hate to be the guy that has to go up on that thing every day and clean the bird shit off...
    • Actually, I was wondering about the dangers in standing between the direct transmitting beam of this thing and its intended target. I seem to remember reading that a little 3-4' dish transmitting high-speed internet (it was a /. article about an outdoor conference of sorts) can cause damage if one was to stand too close in front of the dish.

      Would this this cause cancer, or perhaps just barbecue any little birdies that decide to land on it near the focal point?

  • ET (Score:2, Funny)

    by CowboyNick ( 612553 )
    Is this an upgrade so ET can phone home?
    • No, All ET needs is an umbrella, record player, and a Speak n' Spell tied to a tree with a fork stuck in it.
  • I wonder if this could be used to communicate with a satellite that would orbit Mars. It would make it easier to send research data back, and perhaps send another probe.
    • You obviously didn't read the article....
      • I did read the article. Now, I may not have understood it correctly though.

        ESA already has a number of ground stations around the world capable of contacting spacecraft that are relatively close to Earth. But the new antenna will provide a link to spacecraft up to 900 million kilometres away, well past the orbit of Jupiter. This capability will be crucial for keeping in touch with a number of planned European missions into deep space.

        So my question was, if we were to put a satellite that would orbit Mars, we would now have a way to communicate with it. Also, if said satellite is able to gather surface, atmosphere, weather data, etc. it would aid us in exploration and possible colonization of Mars. Also, it could provide as a repeater to probes further out than this antenna on earth could reach. Maybe I'm just reading too much into this...
        • Are you sure you read it thoroughly?

          The first of the ESA missions, Mars Express, will launch in June 2003 carrying an orbital craft and the British lander Beagle 2.

          There are several problems with turning a Mars probe into a "repeater." Firstly, it's weight would be increased significantly by the extra antennae ('cause one would need to be pointed at Earth, each of the others pointed at the target missions), the extra power source (solar panels?), and computing hardware. The other problem is more significant. Mars and Earth have different orbital periods. Once every 2.1 years or so the Sun will lie between the two planets. Also, probes further out will not have the same period as Mars. There will be points in time during missions when the probe and the Earth are on one side of the solar system and Mars on the other, so the probe and Earth will be closer to each other than the probe is to Mars. An entire fleet of repeaters would be necessary to provide continuous coverage.
          • Ok, I didn't realize that the Mars Express is going to stay in orbit. Question for you then, how would we be able to create a reliable connection with Mars if in the future it is colonized?
            • A few things...

              1. You can colonize Mars. I'm staying here. Mars has such a weak magnetic field that its surface is bombarded by high-energy ions (cosmic rays, solar wind). As long as you lived 10 meters underground you'd be fine, until you realized you were in a prison of your own making.

              2. Now both NASA AND ESA have reliable connections to Mars. Ground-based antennae are adequate for the vast majority of the time. It's not like you're going to use a data connection to Mars like you use the Internet. Can you imagine playing Quake 15 with your Martian buddies and getting 10 minute lag?

              3. Ok, so maybe eventually there will be a fleet of communication satellites around Mars just like there is around Earth. Then GPS, some secret military satellites, and it would be just like home...

  • Very powerful tool! (Score:5, Funny)

    by JUSTONEMORELATTE ( 584508 ) on Thursday March 06, 2003 @12:16PM (#5449258) Homepage
    Especially if we discover intelligent life, and we want to offer them Shocking News about how they can Significantly Enlarge Their Breasts
  • I mean, 900 million KM isn't THAT far in what it's going to be used for.
  • My liquid nitrogen super-cooled P4 3gig runs faster then that!

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