A major step forward for European space exploration took place on October 4 with the official opening of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) latest deep-space antenna, NNO-3. Located at the New Norcia ground station near Perth, Australia, this advanced facility will greatly boost ESA’s ability to track and communicate with its most distant interplanetary missions. The antenna is the main accomplishment of the European Deep Space Antenna Alliance (E-DSA²), a partnership of top European companies: Thales Alenia Space, Schwartz Hautmont, and MTEX Antenna Technology.
The NNO-3 antenna features a large 35-meter diameter dish. It is a crucial addition to ESA’s global network of ground stations, known as ESTRACK. Adding this antenna to the network will quickly improve current communication limits. It will allow for higher data transfer rates and more reliable contact with spacecraft deep in the solar system. Technologically advanced, the new facility extends ESA’s communication capabilities across high-frequency X, K, and Ka bands. This multi-band feature is essential for handling the large amount of scientific data sent back to Earth from modern space probes.
Deep-space communication presents unique challenges, which NNO-3 has been designed to meet, and these antennas must be extremely sensitive to capture faint radio signals that come from millions or even billions of kilometers away. Upon reception, NNO-3 significantly amplifies these weak signals. At the same time, the antenna provides the power and accuracy needed to send important commands to the distant spacecraft. It can be mentioned that being able to perform these tasks reliably and efficiently is crucial for mission success, ensuring a steady flow of telemetry and scientific data.
The collaboration of European industries within the E-DSA² alliance was key to making this complex project happen. Thales Alenia Space, a partnership between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), took the lead in this consortium. Their roles included ensuring the antenna’s overall performance, managing systems engineering, and integrating crucial components like radio frequency (RF) systems, power systems, and thermal management. This thorough oversight ensured that all high-tech subsystems worked together seamlessly.
The contributions from the other partners were also critical. Schwartz-Hautmont handled the engineering, detailed manufacturing, and installation of the large mechanical structure that supports the antenna dish, and this strong structure is essential for the antenna to resist environmental conditions and keep precise pointing accuracy.
Several of ESA’s key missions are already utilizing NNO-3’s increased capacity. The antenna tracks and receives data from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, a spacecraft conducting atmospheric research while in orbit around Mars. Additionally, the facility will support the Euclid mission, which aims to map the shape of the dark universe by surveying one-third of the sky to investigate the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. NNO-3 successfully received its first deep-space signal just days before the official opening; this signal was sent directly from the Euclid spacecraft. Looking ahead, this new ground infrastructure will be crucial for upcoming projects, including Plato, a mission dedicated to finding exoplanets, which is scheduled to launch next year, solidifying NNO-3’s importance in Europe’s ambitious future in space science.
The inauguration of NNO-3 demonstrates European technical skill and industrial teamwork. It is not just a new building but a major expansion of the continent’s scientific presence in space, and it surely promises to facilitate decades of new scientific discoveries by ensuring reliable communication for the next generation of spacecraft exploring our solar system and beyond.
