ESTRACK, Spacecraft communication station in New Norcia, Western Australia
ESTRACK is a network of spacecraft communication facilities in Western Australia that uses large antennas and technical systems to maintain continuous contact with space probes and satellites. The network operates multiple stations equipped with different antenna types that specialize in receiving signals across specific frequency ranges.
The European Space Agency built the first major antenna at this site in the late 1990s to track the growing number of space missions being launched. The facility has expanded and been upgraded since then to maintain communication with missions traveling ever farther into the solar system.
The facility serves as a working hub where space scientists and engineers from around the world gather daily to monitor and communicate with distant spacecraft. Visitors can witness the international collaboration firsthand as teams coordinate their efforts to track missions and receive data from across the solar system.
The facility is located in a remote area of Western Australia and is generally not open to the public for regular visits, though occasional tours can be arranged in advance. Planning ahead is essential if you wish to see the site, as access requires prior arrangement with the managing organization.
The location was deliberately chosen in this isolated region to minimize interference from radio signals and receive clear data transmissions from space. This geographical remoteness is precisely why the facility achieves such reliable performance.
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