Deep Space Tracking Network Magnet

"Station 14 - this is Stardust. We have a command load to send to the spacecraft. Can we verify your command system". For the past 40 years commands have been uplinked to exploring spacecraft, and their precious science data retrieved, through the powerful transmitters, sensitive receivers, and immense antennae of the Deep Space Network, or DSN. On December 24, 1963, a memo from Dr. William Pickering, JPL Director at that time, announced that the Deep Space Network was established. Although in 1958 antennae had been built at the old site in California's Mojave Desert, and overseas sites were being developed in Woomera, Australia, and in Johannesburg, South Africa, it was Dr. Pickering's action that combined the disparate elements to create the first integrated global communications capability to deep space. BTW did you know that, On February 4, NASA digitally transmited the Beatles song Across the Universe in the direction of the star Polaris, the North Star? This was the first time music was sent into deep s[ace by the Madrid Complex part of the DSN! It was transmitted from Spain at 12:00 am UTC. The broadcast celebrates the 40th anniversary of the song's recording, the 45th anniversary of NASA's Deep Space Network, and the 50th anniversary of NASA itself. Here we have images of the DSN program patch, the official 40th Anniversary Patch and a special tribute to DSN's 50th anniversary year - 2013!! Be the 1st with the 50th Anniversary Products!! We do special orders and customisation and its always free. Whether its the NASA, ESA or ESO logo on the back, we add these at no additional cost.