NASA Space Station Madrid

NASA Space Station Madrid in Robledo de Chavela is a ground station with eight parabolic antennas that communicate with spacecraft and collect data from missions throughout the solar system. The facility includes various buildings for communication, data processing, and visitor services.

The station was founded in 1961 as part of NASA's Deep Space Network, originally supporting the Apollo program. Its role expanded later to track and relay data from numerous other space exploration missions.

The center demonstrates how this location connects Spain to global space exploration efforts and what role it plays in international missions. Visitors can see work areas and understand how teams here communicate daily with spacecraft across the solar system.

The visitor center welcomes individual guests on weekends, while groups and schools can arrange visits on weekdays by contacting the center. It is best to wear comfortable shoes, as the site is spread out and includes outdoor areas where you can see the antennas.

One of the antennas, called DSS-63, is exceptionally large and can transmit signals with tremendous power to the most distant spacecraft. This massive antenna is among the most critical tools for communicating with probes at the edge of our solar system.