OTC Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon, Space communication museum in Carnarvon, Australia
OTC Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon is a former telecommunications hub equipped with large antenna structures for space communication. The most prominent features are a 12.8-meter Casshorn antenna and a 29.8-meter parabolic dish that worked together to receive and transmit signals across vast distances.
The station opened in 1966 and became famous for relaying the Apollo 11 Moon landing broadcast to Western Australia in July 1969. This achievement marked a significant moment in Australian space history and demonstrated the importance of ground stations in connecting the world to major space events.
The station served as a vital connection point for communicating with spacecraft and satellites traveling across the Pacific region. Visitors can observe how these facilities enabled communication between Australia and the wider world during the space age.
The site operates as a museum and heritage location that visitors can explore with guided tours and displays about space communications. The grounds include outdoor areas with antenna structures, so wearing comfortable shoes and bringing water on hot days is advisable.
The Casshorn antenna remains the only one of its design ever built, featuring a distinctive combination of parabolic and hyperbolic reflectors. This unusual construction made it exceptionally effective for receiving signals across the specific frequency ranges needed for space communications in that era.
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