The European Space Agency (ESA) has opened a new chapter in deep-space communication with the inauguration of the 35-meter "New Norcia 3" antenna in Western Australia. It is the fourth large antenna in the Estrack network and the second at the New Norcia site, about 115 kilometers north of Perth. The ceremony was held on October 4, 2025, and the new infrastructure brings significantly higher data throughput and strengthens Europe's technological sovereignty in space.

Why "New Norcia 3" is a strategic turning point

Deep space places extreme demands on ground stations: signals from spacecraft orbiting Mercury, studying the solar wind, or traveling to the outer planets reach Earth only after millions or even billions of kilometers, are extremely weak, and often masked by radio noise. New Norcia 3 is designed precisely for such challenges. The huge 35-meter reflector, low-noise systems cooled to approximately −263 °C (near absolute zero), and precise atomic clocks form a combination that allows for capturing and deciphering the "whispers" of the universe in conditions where every photon is precious.

A radio frequency amplifier with a power of about 20 kW is used to transmit commands and software upgrades to spacecraft. Thanks to this, the station can reliably "reach" probes millions and even billions of kilometers away, from probes in orbit around Mars to missions targeting Jupiter's moons or conducting observations of the Sun.

New antenna, old partnership: Europe and Australia

For two decades, New Norcia has been a reliable pillar for European missions. The first deep-space antenna at this location was opened in 2003, and the new installation confirms the long-term partnership between Europe and Australia. Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, locally manages the station on behalf of ESA, while also running NASA's Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex. This combination of experience and competence ensures that the communication "bridge" to space remains stable and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addition to joint management, the collaboration is also evident on an industrial level: construction was led by European companies, but a significant portion of the work and procurement was realized in Australia. This has created a supply chain that connects the knowledge and resources of two continents and, in the long term, brings new jobs, knowledge transfer, and investment in the local community of Western Australia.

Estrack: the European network that closes the circle around the Earth

Estrack is a global network of ground stations managed from Darmstadt (ESOC) for ESA's missions. Three 35-meter deep-space antennas – in New Norcia (Australia), Cebreros (Spain), and Malargüe (Argentina) – are geographically distributed so that at any given moment, at least one can "see" the target in space. New Norcia 3 adds an extra "ear-and-voice" capability in the Pacific Hemisphere to this ring, reducing schedule congestion and increasing the network's resilience during maneuvers, flybys, and key scientific campaigns.

The stations complement each other: while one receives and sends data, another takes over the next contact slot, and the third provides a backup. It is this orchestration that allows for continuous tracking of missions during crucial moments – for example, during braking engine burns, the activation of scientific instruments, or during critical planetary flybys.

Which missions will New Norcia 3 work on

The new system will become operational in 2026 and will initially support the flagships of the European program: among them are Juice (researching Jupiter and its icy moons), Solar Orbiter (probing the Sun's corona and heliophysical processes), BepiColombo (an ambitious dual orbiter to Mercury), the long-lived Mars Express, and Hera (planetary defense after DART). In the near future, support is also expected for a series of new scientific platforms: PLATO (exoplanets), EnVision (Venus), ARIEL (exoplanet atmospheres), RAMSES (technology and navigation), and Vigil (space weather).

During its final calibrations, New Norcia 3 already confirmed its sensitivity by capturing the very faint signal of the Euclid space telescope. Such "first signals" are a normal part of commissioning: engineers compare the measured parameters – signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, frequency stability – with expectations from the design documentation and thus fine-tune all the electronics from the receivers to the time references.

The technology that listens to the whispers of space

The central element of the new antenna is a 35-meter diameter parabolic reflector mounted on a movable support that can quickly and precisely "sweep" the sky. At the focus of the parabola are advanced receivers for the X and Ka bands and cryogenic coolers that lower the temperature of critical components to almost absolute zero. This reduces radio noise to a physical minimum and increases sensitivity to photons to such an extent that the station can detect signals on the order of a few quadrillionths of a watt.

Precise time is ensured by atomic clocks synchronized with international time standards. Phase and frequency stability at these levels enables advanced techniques such as two-way Doppler and ranging measurements, which are used to reconstruct spacecraft orbits with meter-level precision and track minimal accelerations caused by gravitational interactions or thrusters.

For transmitting to space, a high-efficiency amplifier with a power of ~20 kW in the microwave range is used. Combined with the narrow beam of the parabola and corrections for atmospheric effects, this allows for a secure uplink even during unfavorable weather conditions. Additional systems – from optical fibers for distributing a stable frequency to calibrated reference sources – ensure that every bit and every hertz arrives exactly as planned.

The operational brain: from Darmstadt to the Wheatbelt desert

Although the antenna is physically located in the desolate landscape of Noongar country, it is operationally "connected" to the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt. From there, communication windows are planned, telecommands are sent, scientific data is downloaded, and the health of the spacecraft is checked. The local CSIRO team is responsible for daily on-site operations, maintenance, and safety monitoring, including coordination with the nearby antenna for tracking Ariane 6 and Vega-C rocket launches, which takes over telemetry during their flyover of Western Australia.

This division of labor brings a dual benefit: ESOC has a centralized overview of the entire network, while local operators can react quickly to the state of the equipment, environmental conditions, and unexpected situations. At the same time, it relieves the schedule of the other stations – Cebreros and Malargüe – which reduces the risk of downtime and data loss during peak loads.

Economic and scientific impacts over fifty years of operation

The estimated service life of the new antenna is about half a century. During this period, tens of millions of euros and Australian dollars in added value are expected through local contracts, maintenance, logistics, and highly skilled jobs. But the real gain is also measured in the data that will reach scientists: everything from spectral analyses of volcanic activity on Venus, to precise mapping of the icy moon oceans around Jupiter, to continuous monitoring of solar particle ejections and their timely announcement to protect power grids, satellites, and communication systems on Earth.

In addition, the international exchange of capacity remains crucial. Through cross-support cooperation agreements, New Norcia 3 can handle some of the traffic from agencies like NASA, JAXA, or ISRO, as well as private missions. This approach increases the scientific return and ensures that no critical operation is left without an "ear" on Earth in case of extraordinary circumstances.

The path to inauguration: from idea to first signal acquisition

The project was launched in 2021 after an analysis of the needs of future missions and data growth trends. The design was optimized for faster switching between frequency bands and different types of modems to serve a larger number of users simultaneously. Key construction steps included pouring monumental foundations, assembling the steel structure, precisely centering and balancing the 122-ton reflector, and integrating the cryogenic and timing subsystems. Final tests included capturing the first verification signals, phase stability tests, and compatibility checks with existing Estrack network systems.

In the days before the official opening, during final calibration, the system "listened" to space for the first time and received a signal from the Euclid spacecraft. This confirmed that the optical-mechanical array, low-noise electronics, and data processing chain are ready for the operational demands starting in 2026.

What more capacity in deep space means for the public

For the average user on Earth, the new antenna may be just another giant dish on the horizon. However, behind the scenes, the additional capacity means faster publication of scientific data, higher quality images and spectra, more opportunities for rapid responses to unexpected phenomena (e.g., sudden cometary outbursts, solar flares, or transient radio signals), and stronger security for space traffic. In the field of space weather, for example, constant insight into solar activity is crucial for protecting the satellites, communication networks, and navigation systems we use every day.

For education and science popularization, a stable flow of data enables timely campaigns, public catalogs, and open archives that researchers, students, and enthusiasts can use without long waits for transmission or processing.

Geography, environment, and respect for the Yued people

New Norcia is located in an area that is the traditional home of the Yued people of the Noongar nation. During planning and construction, emphasis was placed on responsible environmental management, minimal radio noise, and the preservation of local communities. In practical terms, this means strict radio silence zones, precise beam pointing, and operational protocols that reduce the impact on the neighborhood and natural resources.

How the editorial team sees the priorities for the next steps

For the industry: it is recommended that domestic and European companies actively involve New Norcia in the development and testing of new communication modems, advanced error correction algorithms, and automated diagnostics. For researchers: planning of observation campaigns should be coordinated with the extended communication downlink windows, thereby increasing the science-to-antenna-hour ratio. For policymakers: investing in related infrastructures – from high-throughput optical fibers to local data processing centers – multiplies the effects of this antenna and shortens the path from raw signal to scientific discovery.

Key figures and terms

• Reflector diameter: 35 m


• Operating bands: X and Ka (receive and transmit, depending on mission configuration)


• Cryogenic cooling of receivers to about −263 °C for minimal noise


• Transmitter system power: approximately 20 kW


• Operational management: ESOC, Darmstadt; local operations: CSIRO


• Planned start of full operational use: 2026


• Location: New Norcia, Western Australia; ~115 km north of Perth


• Network: part of Estrack along with Cebreros (Spain) and Malargüe (Argentina)


• Mission examples: Juice, Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo, Mars Express, Hera; in preparation PLATO, EnVision, ARIEL, RAMSES, Vigil

From deep space to daily life

Technologies developed for deep-space communication often find their way into commercial systems on Earth: precise time synchronization is used in 5G and future 6G networks, robust error correction methods improve satellite television and internet, and cryogenic techniques and low-noise receivers drive innovation in radio astronomy and medical diagnostics. New Norcia 3 is not just a new antenna – it is a platform for knowledge transfer between space and everyday life.

The broader context: global cooperation instead of parallel systems

Although Europe is strengthening its own independence with this project, deep-space communication is in practice a global discipline. Mutual support agreements between agencies prevent duplication of costs and reduce risks. When a European spacecraft needs an additional contact window over the Pacific Ocean or North America, partners provide it – and vice versa. Standardized protocols and interoperable equipment ensure that the "communication language" is understood regardless of whose backyard the antenna is in.

What's next until 2026

After the grand opening on October 4, 2025, a period of gradual commissioning will follow: additional calibrations, test sessions with various spacecraft, verification of safety procedures, and integration into mission planning. Only when all subsystems have gone through operational scenarios – from nominal high-downlink sessions to emergency uplinks in urgent situations – will the antenna enter regular service and become an equal "member" of Estrack.