Australia Activates New 35-Meter Deep Space Antenna, New Norcia 3

New Deep Space Antenna Inaugurated in Western Australia

The European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with Australia's national science agency CSIRO, is set to inaugurate a new 35-meter deep space antenna, officially named New Norcia 3 (also known as NNO3 or DSA4), in Western Australia on October 4, 2025. This significant infrastructure project, located approximately 130 to 140 kilometers north-east of Perth, marks a crucial expansion of global deep-space communication capabilities.

Advanced Technology for Enhanced Communication

Construction of the New Norcia 3 antenna began in June 2022, with a critical milestone achieved in September 2024 when the 122-tonne reflector dish was lifted into place. The antenna, which stands 40 meters tall and weighs over 600 tonnes, is equipped with cutting-edge technology designed to boost data transmission rates. Key features include:

• Cryogenically cooled 'antenna feeds' operating at temperatures around -260 to -263 degrees Celsius, which can increase data return by up to 40 percent.
• Support for communication in X-, K-, and Ka-bands, providing versatility for various mission requirements.
• A pointing precision of 6 millidegrees, ensuring accurate tracking of distant spacecraft.

The industrial cost for the antenna is approximately €63 million, with the Australian Government contributing $4 million AUD to the project.

Global Network and Mission Support

New Norcia 3 is ESA's fourth deep space antenna and the second at the New Norcia site, complementing the existing 35-meter DSA-1 (NNO-1) antenna which entered service in March 2003. It forms a vital part of ESA's global tracking network, Estrack, which includes stations in Cebreros, Spain, and Malargüe, Argentina. This strategic geographical distribution ensures continuous, around-the-clock communication with spacecraft as Earth rotates.

The new antenna will support a wide array of current and future deep-space missions, including:

• BepiColombo, en route to Mercury.
• Solar Orbiter, studying the Sun.
• Mars Express, orbiting the Red Planet.
• Euclid, mapping the dark universe.
• Hera, a planetary defense mission.
• JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), exploring Jupiter's icy moons.
• The upcoming Vigil mission, designed to monitor the Sun for hazardous solar activity.

CSIRO has been responsible for the operation and maintenance of the New Norcia site on ESA's behalf since June 2019, further strengthening the long-standing partnership between Europe and Australia in space exploration.

Strengthening International Collaboration

The activation of New Norcia 3 underscores the deepening collaboration between the European Space Agency and the Australian Space Agency, building on treaties in place since 1979. This project not only enhances Europe's autonomous capacity for pioneering exploratory missions but also reinforces Australia's role as a trusted partner in global deep-space communications. The increased capacity provided by New Norcia 3 is crucial for managing the growing demand from new and more data-intensive missions, ensuring the continued return of valuable scientific data from across our solar system and beyond.