NASA Deep Space Network's New Goldstone Antenna Becomes Operational
The Deep Space Network's (DSN) Goldstone complex, located near Barstow, California, has activated its latest antenna, Deep Space Station 23 (DSS-23). This significant addition is a 34-meter (114-foot) multifrequency beam-waveguide antenna, designed to bolster the DSN's capacity and dramatically improve NASA's deep space communication infrastructure for decades to come.
The ceremonial activation of DSS-23, attended by NASA leadership, personnel, and dignitaries, took place on August 25, 2026. This marks the latest milestone in the Deep Space Network's Aperture Enhancement Project, initiated in 2009. The project aims to expand and modernize the network by introducing six new 34-meter multifrequency beam-waveguide antennas. These advanced antennas are crucial for supporting missions operating across a variety of radio frequencies.
The DSN plays a vital role in space exploration by enabling the tracking of spacecraft, the transmission of commands, and the reception of scientific data from missions operating in the farthest reaches of space. This network is under the management of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a division of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), located in Southern California. JPL operates the DSN on behalf of NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program, which is headquartered at NASA Headquarters within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate.
Further information about the Deep Space Network can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/communicating-with-missions/dsn/
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