NASA Deep Space Network: Inauguration of Deep Space Station 23

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Deep Space Network (DSN) celebrated a significant milestone with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Deep Space Station 23 (DSS-23). This event, held on August 25, 2026, at the Goldstone complex near Barstow, California, marked the completion of a crucial addition to the DSN's infrastructure.

Key leadership from NASA Headquarters, JPL, and the DSN gathered to commemorate the occasion. Among those present were Germaine Aziz (project manager, DSN Aperture Enhancement Project, JPL), Bradford Arnold (manager, Telecom Programs & Oversight, JPL), Keyur Patel (associate lab director for Flight Projects & Mission Success, JPL), Wanda Peters (deputy associate administrator, Research and Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters), Jimmy Kenyon (associate administrator, RTMD, NASA Headquarters), John McCullough (acting director, Space Communications and Navigation Program, NASA Headquarters), Gregory Heckler (deputy program manager for capability development, SCaN, NASA Headquarters), William Marinelli (development manager, SCaN, NASA Headquarters), Michael Levesque (project manager, DSN, JPL), and Frank Kaufholod (project manager, NASA Glenn Research Center).

DSS-23 is the latest antenna to be integrated into the DSN as part of the ongoing Aperture Enhancement Project. Launched in 2009, this ambitious project aims to upgrade and expand the network by incorporating six new 34-meter (114-foot) multifrequency beam-waveguide antennas. These advanced and versatile antennas are designed to support a wide range of missions operating across various radio frequencies.

The Deep Space Network plays a vital role in enabling NASA's missions by providing the crucial capability to track spacecraft, send commands, and receive invaluable scientific data from missions operating in deep space. The DSN is managed by JPL, a division of Caltech, under the purview of the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, which is housed within NASA's Research and Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.

For further information on the Deep Space Network, please visit: nasa.gov/communicating-with-missions/dsn/

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech