Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex

Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex  (MDSCC/NASA) in Robledo de Chavela.

MDSCC is part of NASA DSN (Deep Space Network) together with Goldstone (USA) and Canberra (Australia) and is located about 60Km western Madrid, in the municipality of Robledo de Chavela., in a matchless radio-electric environment for the reception of very weak signals from deep space probes, offering protection against interferences.

The DSN has the main goal of establishing communications with spacecraft devoted to the scientific exploration of the Solar System. The station is equipped with a system of large antennas, (one of 70m diameter, four of 34m, one of 26m, and one of 11m) which make the Deep Space Network a unique scientific instrument for space research and solar system mission’s follow-up.

INSA is responsible for MDSCC management, its operation, maintenance, the usage of its additional resources, the construction of new facilities inside the complex, and the upgrade of the existing ones. These tasks are performed in coordination with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is the NASA entity in charge of DSN.