Usuda Deep Space Center
Usuda Deep Space Center (Japanese: 臼田宇宙空間観測所, Hepburn: Usuda Uchū Kūkan Kansokujo, Usuda DSC, UDSC) is a facility of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. It is a spacecraft tracking station in Saku, Nagano (formerly in Usuda, Nagano; Usuda merged into Saku in 2005), opened in October, 1984. The main features of the station are two large beam waveguide antennas, an older 64 meter antenna and a newer 54 meter dish.
The 64 meter antenna at the Usuda Deep Space Complex | |
| Alternative names | UDSC |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°07′59″N 138°21′44″E |
| Altitude | 1,456 m |
| Website | http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/about/facilities/usuda.html |
Location of Usuda Deep Space Center | |
| Related media on Commons | |
Usuda was the first deep-space antenna constructed with beam-waveguide technology. Although this construction dramatically simplifies installation and maintenance of electronics, it was previously thought to offer poor noise performance. However, after the U.S. Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) tested this antenna and found the noise performance was better than its conventional 64-meter antennas, it too switched to this method of construction for all subsequent antennas of their Deep Space Network (DSN). Because the 64 meter antenna is aging and is still in use over ten years after its designed service life, JAXA has built a new antenna nearby, the 54 meter dish of Misasa Deep Space Station.
Similar huge antennas are used by the deep space networks of the USA, China, Russia, Europe, and India.