{"id":284051,"date":"2022-12-19T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-484707"},"modified":"2023-09-29T17:42:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T21:42:03","slug":"nasa-enables-future-of-science-observation-through-tri-band-antennas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/nasa-enables-future-of-science-observation-through-tri-band-antennas\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Enables Future of Science Observation through Tri-band Antennas"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-0 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">3 Min Read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA Enables Future of Science Observation through Tri-band Antennas\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"880\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"Antennas against blue sky with clouds\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?resize=300,172 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?resize=768,440 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?resize=1024,587 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?resize=1536,880 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?resize=400,229 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?resize=600,344 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?resize=900,516 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?resize=1200,688 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><figcaption>With four new antennas around the globe, the Near Space Network is advancing its capabilities to support science and exploration missions that use enhanced instrumentation. Now, missions using the network will be able to send back terabytes of data for processing and discovery.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-credits color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credits: <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/esc.gsfc.nasa.gov\/projects\/NSN\" rel=\"noopener\">Near Space Network<\/a> enables spacecraft exploring the solar system and Earth to send back essential science data for researchers and scientists to investigate and make profound discoveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, the network has integrated four new global antennas to further support science and exploration missions. In December 2022, antennas in Fairbanks, Alaska; Wallops Island, Virginia; Punta Arenas, Chile; and Svalbard, Norway went online to provide present and future missions with S-, X-, and Ka-band communications capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These new antennas were created to support missions capturing immense amounts of data. Just as scientists increase their instrument capabilities, NASA also advances its communications systems to enable missions near-Earth and in deep space.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"KSAT antenna in Svalbard, Norway. \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sg12.jpg?resize=2000,1500 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">KSAT antenna in Svalbard, Norway, with radome fully installed.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">KSAT<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>This upgrade is bringing unprecedented flexibility to the Near Space Network and will enhance direct-to-Earth communications \u2013 the process by which a satellite takes a picture and then sends the image over radio waves to an antenna on Earth. This data is then processed and sent to scientists. The Near Space Network is managed by NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/scan\/index.html\">Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN)<\/a> program office, which oversees development and enhancement of NASA\u2019s two primary communications networks: the Near Space and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/scan\/services\/networks\/deep_space_network\">Deep Space<\/a> networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Near Space Network provides missions with communications services through a blend of government-owned and commercial assets. To develop these new antennas, the team worked with commercial partner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.no\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT)<\/a>, who created the Chile and Norway antennas, while NASA developed the other two in Virginia and Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/asf_antenna.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"950\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/asf_antenna.png?w=788\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Alaska antenna against sunset\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/asf_antenna.png 788w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/asf_antenna.png?resize=249,300 249w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/asf_antenna.png?resize=768,926 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/asf_antenna.png?resize=332,400 332w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/asf_antenna.png?resize=498,600 498w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/asf_antenna.png?resize=747,900 747w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 788px) 100vw, 788px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA’s new tri-band antenna in Fairbanks, Alaska.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now operational, the four antennas are integrated into the network\u2019s service catalog, advancing its capabilities to support science and exploration missions that use enhanced instrumentation. Now, missions using the network will be able to send back terabytes of data for processing and discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An example is the upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/pace.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Plankton, Aerosol, Clouds, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)<\/a> mission, which will help researchers better understand ocean ecosystems and carbon cycling and reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth on the ocean\u2019s surface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMissions like the PACE satellite incorporate high-resolution science instruments,\u201d said Damaris Guevara, project lead for the networking upgrade. \u201cThese instruments require advanced space communications capabilities, like Ka-band, to get the entirety of their data back to Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/svs_pace_beauty1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/svs_pace_beauty1.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"PACE spacecraft above the Earth\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/svs_pace_beauty1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/svs_pace_beauty1.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/svs_pace_beauty1.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/svs_pace_beauty1.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/svs_pace_beauty1.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/svs_pace_beauty1.jpg?resize=900,506 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The new antennas also will have new networking capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All four ground stations are incorporating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/scan\/engineering\/technology\/delay_disruption_tolerant_networking\">Delay\/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN).<\/a> DTN will empower missions with unparalleled connectivity by storing and forwarding data at points along the network to ensure critical information reaches its destination. DTN is an advanced communications capability being developed and tested by NASA\u2019s SCaN and Space Technology Mission Directorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, to enhance mission teams\u2019 access to data, the network incorporates cloud-based data storage services. Satellites like PACE will downlink their data to an antenna, and that data will go through the ground station\u2019s high-rate data processors to a cloud-based storage and data access service that will allow mission teams to acquire their data faster and from almost anywhere. This reduces hardware needs and lowers overall storage costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Multiple missions will benefit from this new infrastructure and advanced capabilities, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/nisar.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA-Indian Space Research Organization Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)<\/a> satellite. Launching in 2024, NISAR will measure Earth\u2019s changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces, ice masses, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With four new antennas around the globe, the Near Space Network is advancing its capabilities to support science and exploration missions that use enhanced instrumentation. Now, missions using the network will be able to send back terabytes of data for processing and discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-about-the-author nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-about-the-author\"><div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-x-0 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black padding-top-3\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h3 class=\"heading-14\">About the Author<\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-row grid-container padding-x-0 maxw-widescreen\"><div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><div class=\"grid-row\"><div class=\"hds-author-thumbnail mobile:circle-6 mobile:maxw-6 circle-card maxw-card thumbnail margin-right-2 desktop:margin-right-5\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"10rem\" height=\"10rem\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"avatar avatar-300 photo medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cropped-microsoftteams-image-14-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Katherine Schauer\"><\/div><div class=\"grid-col\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-29 line-height-sm\">Katherine Schauer<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"padding-y-2\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><p class=\"margin-top-0\">Katherine Schauer is a writer for the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program office and covers emerging technologies, commercialization efforts, exploration activities, and more.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Near Space Network enables spacecraft exploring the solar system and Earth to send back essential science data for researchers and scientists to investigate and make profound discoveries. Now, the network has integrated four new global antennas to further support science and exploration missions. In December 2022, antennas in Fairbanks, Alaska; Wallops Island, Virginia; Punta [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239,"featured_media":302113,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[10576,10578,3315,2877],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Enables Future of Science Observation through Tri-band Antennas","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/nasa-enables-future-of-science-observation-through-tri-band-antennas\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/nasa-enables-future-of-science-observation-through-tri-band-antennas\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png"},"articleSection":"Technology","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katherine Schauer"}],"creator":["Katherine Schauer"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Operations Mission Directorate","Communicating and Navigating with Missions","Near Space Network","Space Communications & Navigation Program"],"dateCreated":"2022-12-19T22:30:00Z","datePublished":"2022-12-19T22:30:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-29T21:42:03Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Enables Future of Science Observation through Tri-band Antennas\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/nasa-enables-future-of-science-observation-through-tri-band-antennas\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2022-12-19T22:30:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Technology\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Operations Mission Directorate,Communicating and Navigating with Missions,Near Space Network,Space Communications & Navigation Program\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Katherine Schauer\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"time_ago":"1 year","featured_image":{"id":302113,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/nika-carousel-1920x1100-1.png","title":"Antennas Near Space Net","alt":"Antennas against blue sky with clouds","caption":"With four new antennas around the globe, the Near Space Network is advancing its capabilities to support science and exploration missions that use enhanced instrumentation. Now, missions using the network will be able to send back terabytes of data for processing and discovery."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284051"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284051"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":302166,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284051\/revisions\/302166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/302113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284051"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=284051"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=284051"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=284051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}