NASA has completed a new radio antenna at its Goldstone complex near Barstow, California. The antenna is 34 metres wide and is called DSS-23. It began operations on 3 August 2026, after tests ran from May through July. The Deep Space Network uses radio antennas to support missions far from Earth.
DSS-23 has communicated with Chandra, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Psyche, Juno and Voyager 1. The network supports more than 40 spacecraft around the world. DSS-23 is the fifth new antenna in a project with six antennas. The final antenna is expected in Canberra in 2029. Together, these changes can help NASA keep contact with distant spacecraft.