NASA activates new DSS-23 antenna at Goldstone complex

NASA has officially brought the Deep Space Station 23 (DSS-23) antenna online at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California. The 34-meter multifrequency beam-waveguide antenna began communicating with spacecraft on August 3, 2026, following a testing campaign that ran from May through July.

As part of the Deep Space Network’s Aperture Enhancement Project, the new antenna aims to address growing demand for communication capacity. The network, which supports over 40 spacecraft including Voyager 1 and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, has faced challenges in keeping pace with mission requirements. NASA managers have noted that high-priority missions, such as the Artemis moon program, can reduce the available capacity for other robotic deep-space missions.

Managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the DSS-23 is the fifth antenna added through the enhancement project. The facility provides critical tracking, commanding, and data reception capabilities for missions exploring the solar system and interstellar space.