| Goldstone Deep Space Network | |||||||||||||
 Goldstone Deep Space Network |
|||||||||||||
| Organization | NASA, JPL, Caltech | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Mojave Desert (near Barstow), San Bernardino County, California, USA | ||||||||||||
|
Coordinates
|
|||||||||||||
| Established | Summer 1958 | ||||||||||||
| Website http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/dsn/ |
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Pioneer Deep Space Station | |
|---|---|
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| U.S. National Historic Landmark | |
 Pioneer Deep Space Station
|
|
  |
|
| Location: | Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, Fort Irwin, California |
| Coordinates: | 35°23′21.41″N 116°51′22.31″W / 35.3892806°N 116.8561972°W |
| Area: | less than 1-acre (4,000 m2)[1] |
| Built/Founded: | 1958 |
| Architect: | U.S. Army |
| Architectural style(s): | No Style Listed |
| Governing body: | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS & SPACE ADMINISTRATION |
| Added to NRHP: | October 03, 1985[2] |
| Designated NHL: | October 03, 1985[3] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 85002813 |
The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC) — commonly called the Goldstone Observatory — is located in California's Mojave Desert (USA). Operated by ITT Corporation for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, its main purpose is to track and communicate with space missions. It includes the Pioneer Deep Space Station, which is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The current observatory is part of NASA's Deep Space Network. The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex is one of just three in the world; the others being the Madrid Deep Space Communication Complex and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.
Contents |
Antennas
Goldstone antennas have also been used as sensitive radio telescopes for such scientific investigations as: mapping quasars and other celestial radio sources; radar mapping planets, the Moon, comets and asteroids; spotting comets and asteroids with the potential to impact earth; and the search for ultra-high energy neutrino interactions in the moon by using large-aperture radio antennas.[4]
"Goldstone has the bird"
It is commonly believed that the first US satellite, Explorer I, was confirmed to be in orbit by the use of the phrase "Goldstone has the bird". However, Goldstone was not in operation at the time of Explorer I, and like many often-repeated quotations this is a misquote. The actual phrase was "Gold has it!"[5] 'Gold' was not an abbreviation of Goldstone, but code for a temporary tracking station at Earthquake Valley in the Anza-Borrego desert.
Commemoration
The Pioneer Deep Space Station was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985.[1][3]
Complex tours
The Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex conducts tours of its facility and museum to middle and high schools as well as individuals interested in visiting.
Wildlife
While most desert creatures are essentially harmless to man, there are several poisonous snakes and arthropods that everyone should look out for. Be especially wary during the summer and autumn months of the sidewinder and Mojave rattlesnake. In addition to the snakes, you may find any of the following wildlife while at the facility: deer mouse, cactus mouse, gopher snake, desert tortoise, whiptail lizard, horned lizard, California quail, rock pigeon, burrowing owl, hummingbird, rock wren, blister beetle, desert tarantula, and many other insects, reptiles and birds.
See also
References
- ^ a b Harry A. Butowsky (May 15, 1984) (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination:, National Park Service, http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/85002813.pdf, retrieved on 2009-06-22 and Accompanying three photos, from 1969, the 1970's, and 1983PDF (634 KB)
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://www.nr.nps.gov/.
- ^ a b "Apollo Deep Space Station". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1930&ResourceType=Structure. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
- ^ "A Search for Ultra-High Energy Neutrino Interactions in the Moon Using Large-Aperture Radio Antennas". UCLA. http://www.physics.ucla.edu/~moonemp/public/. Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
- ^ The First Explorer Satellites lecture by George H. Luwig, 9 Oct 2004
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex |
- Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex Website
- Goldstone tours
- NASA's Deep Space Network
- JPL: Images of the Deep Space Network Goldstone, California
- JPL: Images of the Deep Space Network Goldstone, California
- JPL Communications Systems and Research Section 332 Website
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
