The Deep Space Network (DSN) is a global network of large radio antennas operated by NASA to communicate with interplanetary spacecraft. It consists of three facilities spaced roughly 120 degrees apart around the globe, ensuring continuous communication as the Earth rotates. Engineers rely on the DSN to send commands, receive telemetry, and track the position of probes far beyond Earth orbit.
Heard on the job
We lost lock on the carrier, check if DSN Madrid is still tracking.
Insider tip
Because DSN time is shared among many missions, scheduling antenna time is a major logistical hurdle for mission planners.