European Space Agency inaugurates deep space antenna in WA

The European Space Agency (ESA) has expanded its capability to communicate with scientific, exploration and space safety missions across our Solar System, with the inauguration of a new, 35 m-diameter deep space antenna on 4 October.

Located at ESA’s ground station in New Norcia, about 115 km north of Perth in Western Australia, the ‘New Norcia 3’ antenna should help meet the agency’s fast-increasing data download needs and secure Europe’s independence and leadership in space. When it enters service in 2026, it will support ESA’s current flagship missions flown as part of its scientific, exploration and space safety fleets — including Juice, Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo, Mars Express and Hera — and will be a critical enabler for upcoming missions including Plato, Envision, Ariel, Ramses and Vigil.

The antenna will also play a part in ESA’s Estrack deep space tracking network, serving the agency’s efforts towards international collaboration. As part of mutual cross-support arrangements with ESA’s partners, the antenna can support other space agencies such as NASA, Japan’s JAXA and India’s ISRO, as well as commercial space missions.

As ESA’s fourth deep space antenna, New Norcia 3 is understood to be its most technologically sophisticated antenna to date. It incorporates advanced deep space communication capabilities, including components cryogenically cooled to around -263°C, near absolute zero. This sensitivity allows it to detect extremely weak signals from distant spacecraft and to maximise data return.

A 20 kW radio-frequency amplifier meanwhile enables transmission of commands to spacecraft millions and even billions of kilometres away from Earth. The antenna also features advanced clock and timing systems and world-class radio frequency communication tools and techniques to support deep space communication.

Construction of the antenna commenced in 2021 and was led by European industry, with Thales Alenia Space (France) and Schwartz Hautmont Construcciones Metálicas (Spain) as co-prime contractors. A significant portion of the budget was spent in Australia, with a contribution of €3 million from the Australian Space Agency allocated to the evolution of the New Norcia station.

“This new deep space antenna is a cornerstone for European and Australian space industries,” said Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “Its inauguration demonstrates our capacity to build strategic, world-class space infrastructure anywhere. It required implementing advanced technologies and shows we are able to deliver the mission operations infrastructure that enables European scientists to go where they wish to explore.”

A symbol of ESA’s partnership with Australia

Opened in 2003 and locally operated by CSIRO, ESA’s station at New Norcia provides a strategic geographical position allowing around-the-clock coverage for deep space missions, complementing ESA’s stations in Malargüe (Argentina) and Cebreros (Spain). Once the new addition is made operational, New Norcia will become ESA’s first ground station equipped with two deep space antennas. It will also continue to enable significant economic, technological and scientific benefits for both ESA and Australia, and will pave the way for further collaboration in areas such as communications, space safety and mission operations.

“Australia is well known as a trusted, experienced and capable operator in deep-space communications,” said Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency. “This investment by ESA and the Australian Government will unlock millions of dollars in local economic value as well as employment over the projected lifetime of 50 years.

“It’s another chapter in the story of Australian and European partnership in space, which we will grow further as we begin to negotiate a new Cooperation Agreement between Australia and ESA.”

Image caption: ESA’s New Norcia ground station in Western Australia. Image credit: ESA.