NASA’s Antenna Woes: The Multifaceted Impact of Repairing DSS-14

In September 2025, the DSS-14 antenna, a 70-meter parabolic antenna of NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) in Goldstone, California, sustained damage from excessive rotation. This incident resulted in the impairment of cables, pipelines, and firefighting hoses, leading to flooding. The antenna is expected to be unavailable until May 1, 2026, after which it will be taken offline for extensive upgrades. DSS-14 is one of three 70-meter antennas in the DSN (the other two are located near Madrid and Canberra). These antennas are used to communicate with distant spacecraft or those experiencing technical issues.

In addition to spacecraft communication, DSS-14 is employed as a planetary radar, transmitting signals that reflect off nearby objects in the Solar System and return to the antenna. Scientists use this data to characterize near-Earth asteroids, including their size and shape. Lance Benner, a scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory using DSS-14 for planetary radar work, reported that the investigation into the incident continues. He stated that the damage did not occur during the antenna’s use for planetary radar observations.

Upon completion of current repairs, in August 2026, DSS-14 is planned to halt for an extended period until October 2028 for equipment replacement, some of which is 40 to 50 years old. “It’s an attempt to extend the entire facility’s lifespan. Approximately every 20 years, DSN attempts to improve equipment and upgrade it to prolong its service life,” said Benner about the 60-year-old antenna.

With DSS-14 currently out of service and expected to be taken offline again later in 2026 for extensive refurbishment, scientists are seeking alternative options for planetary radar observations. One alternative is using another antenna at Goldstone, DSS-13, as a radar transmitter, with reflected signals received by the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. The sensitivity of this system is about ten times less than that of DSS-14.

Despite DSS-14 not being planned to return to full operation until October 2028, Benner noted that it might be available for limited observations as early as April of the same year. He emphasized that the antenna and its radar capabilities are expected to be operational several months before the asteroid Apophis passes very close to Earth in April 2029 (according to calculations, the asteroid will approach Earth to within about 31,000 kilometers, which is less than the distance to geostationary satellites).

Aside from losing one of its largest antennas, DSN also faces growing demands from the Artemis 2 mission, which is scheduled for launch in early February. NASA will rely on DSN to support communications with the Orion spacecraft during its 10-day flight around the Moon. Support for Artemis 1 in 2022 strained the network, forcing other missions to forego hundreds of hours of antenna time. Expectant impacts of Artemis 2 are anticipated to be similar.

The Path Forward for NASA’s Deep Space Communications

In light of the DSS-14 incident, NASA is reportedly exploring alternative methods to enhance its communications capability. One promising development has been the introduction of new cryogenic receivers and advanced digital signal processors at other DSN sites, which are expected to incrementally improve their sensitivity and efficiency in the absence of DSS-14.

Additionally, NASA has increased investments in laser communication technologies, which are seen as a potential future alternative to traditional radio frequency systems. These advancements aim to bolster the DSN’s capacity to manage increased traffic resulting from future missions.

The pressure on the DSN due to the upcoming Artemis 2 mission is a key catalyst for these improvements. By integrating new technological solutions, NASA aims to mitigate potential disruptions in communication, ensuring that both current and prospective missions proceed smoothly without compromising operational integrity.