News Eyes on the Deep Space Network

[Unstung]

Click here to visit Deep Space Network Now​

Recently JPL launched a new "eyes on" website that monitors when the radio antennas of the Deep Space Network are communicating with spacecraft. Deep Space Network Now includes information such as data rate, frequency, and accurate image representations of each antenna.

DSN activity as of this post:

 

[Loru]

9 dishes at work (and one talking to Voyager2) as this post (17:52 UTC+1)

 

[SolarLiner]

Was on it too. It's just awesome to think that this dish is receiving data from sources that far away.

 

[orb]

9 dishes at work (and one talking to Voyager2) as this post (17:52 UTC+1)

10 at this time.

 

[dehat42]

Got this on my bookmarks now...

 

[SolarLiner]

After Unstung posted this idea on the ChatBox, I thought this was a so good idea that I started coding.
His idea was to have the DSN Now app as a desktop wallpaper that reflects the status in "almost-realtime".

This works for me, but may not for you. Try it if you want, and PM me your feedback

To install: Unzip wherever you want, and execute "DSN_Wallpaper.exe"
You might want to add a shortcut to it on the "Startup" folder of the start menu, to have it automatically launch at start (and may add the "-silent" argument to not show the options window).
Downlaod: ZIP (13.2 Mb) | EXE (8.6 Mb)

 

[Unstung]

I appreciate the effort, and it works on my end too:

I like the options for the update frequency. It's nice and simple for something that takes a screenshot of a website and updates the desktop, but not the prettiest thing. I think that some image editing could be applied to every screen grab, but I don't want to force you to work on something trivial like this. I've had a hard enough time writing equation solving programs for my basic programming classes.

 

[Keatah]

It was interesting to note that MRO's signal at DSN antenna is something like 5.71x10-55 KW, much weaker than Voyager 1's signal which blasts through at an overwhelming 2.53X10-23KW!

I also saw a "spacecraft" named PHA, which stands for Antenna Phasing, or maintenance.

I've been following this site since it started up and discover something new every week!

---------- Post added at 02:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:53 AM ----------

Anyone see anything on Madrid 63?

 

[Unstung]

It was interesting to note that MRO's signal at DSN antenna is something like 5.71x10-55 KW, much weaker than Voyager 1's signal which blasts through at an overwhelming 2.53X10-23KW!

That must be an error or something atypical. The MRO has a pretty large high gain antenna that was made to transfer a lot of data frequently, and it's currently the record holder. Looking at the dishes now, the power received by Voyager 1 is on the order of 10^-23 kW, Cassini 10^-21 kW, Mars Orbiter Mission 10^-20 kW, and LADEE 10^-19 kW. It makes quite a bit of sense. The Voyagers are pretty frequent communicators, probably due to their really low data rate of 160 bits/second.

There's nothing happening with Madrid 63 on DSN Now at this time.

 

[GLS]

Oh boy...

https://twitter.com/x/status/2080698337779486934

 

[GLS]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2080737114468012513

 

[GLS]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2081114506843881941

On July 25, an initial onsite inspection by the NASA Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC) emergency response team found wildfire damage primarily to pavement and surrounding vegetation, with no significant structural damage observed to antennas or buildings.

Additional inspections and testing will continue as safety procedures allow. The situation remains dynamic, and comprehensive assessments will proceed as conditions stabilize and access improves.

Meanwhile, NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program has seamlessly transitioned mission support to its other Deep Space Communications Complexes in Goldstone, California and Canberra, Australia, ensuring continuity of operations and uninterrupted spacecraft communications.

The safety of NASA personnel remains the agency's highest priority. All personnel at MDSCC are safe, and NASA extends its sincere gratitude to Spanish emergency responders and members of The Ministry of Defense, The Ministry of Interior, and The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for their professionalism and tireless efforts in helping protect the facility under extremely challenging conditions.

NASA is also thinking of its partners at the European Space Agency (ESA), whose colleagues continue to be affected by the broader wildfire emergency.

NASA will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as new information becomes available.