ESA’s chilling new “super antenna” in Australia reaches spacecraft billions of miles away

Situated in New Norcia, around 115 kilometers north of Perth in Western Australia, the "New Norcia 3" antenna will handle ESA's rapidly growing data transmission needs while reinforcing Europe's independence and leadership in space exploration.

At the inauguration on October 4, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said: "This strategic investment reinforces ESA's deep-space communication capabilities and maximizes the return of our missions' most valuable asset: data delivered from spacecraft voyaging far from Earth. New and exciting opportunities between the European and Australian space sectors are opening up with Australia announcing this week a mandate to begin negotiations on a cooperative agreement with ESA."

Supporting Missions Across the Solar System

Construction began in 2021 and was completed on schedule, reflecting close collaboration between ESA, European and Australian industries, and their partners. When it becomes operational in 2026, the antenna will support ESA's major scientific, exploration, and space safety missions including Juice, Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo, Mars Express, and Hera. It will also play a key role in future projects such as Plato, Envision, Ariel, Ramses, and Vigil.

In addition to ESA missions, the antenna will contribute to international cooperation. Through cross-support agreements, it can assist other agencies such as NASA, Japan's JAXA, and India's ISRO, as well as commercial spacecraft operators. This collaboration enhances scientific return and operational efficiency for all partners involved.

Advanced Technology for Deep Space Communication

The new facility at New Norcia is ESA's most advanced deep space antenna to date. It features cutting-edge communication systems, including components cooled to approximately -263°C (near absolute zero) to detect extremely weak signals from spacecraft billions of kilometers away. A 20-kilowatt radio-frequency amplifier allows it to transmit commands across vast distances.

Precision timing systems and state-of-the-art radio frequency technologies make this antenna a cornerstone of deep space communication, maximizing the reliability and efficiency of contact with missions throughout the Solar System.

Strengthening Europe-Australia Space Cooperation

Opened in 2003, the New Norcia Estrack station highlights ESA's long-standing engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and its enduring partnership with Australia. The collaboration has brought significant scientific, economic, and technological benefits to both sides, laying the groundwork for future joint projects in communications, mission operations, and space safety.

Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency (ASA), said: "Australia is well known as a trusted, experienced and capable operator in deep-space communications. This investment by ESA and the Australian Government will unlock millions of dollars in local economic value as well as employment over the projected lifetime of 50 years."

"It's another chapter in the story of Australian and European partnership in space, which we will grow further as we begin to negotiate a new Cooperation Agreement between Australia and ESA," he added.

Construction, Industry, and Investment

The inauguration event was led by Josef Aschbacher alongside Enrico Palermo and Rolf Densing, ESA's Director of Operations, with Western Australian ministers Stephen Dawson and Sabine Winton among those present.

The total cost of the antenna is estimated at EUR 62.3 million, covering construction, upgrades to site infrastructure, and facility services. The Australian Space Agency contributed EUR 3 million toward the evolution of the New Norcia station.

European contractors Thales Alenia Space (France) and Schwartz Hautmont Construcciones Metálicas (Spain) led construction efforts, with major Australian participation from TIAM Solutions, Thales Australia, Fredon, and Westforce Construction.

"This new deep-space antenna is a cornerstone for European and Australian space industries," said Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space. "Its inauguration demonstrates our capacity to build strategic, world-class space infrastructure anywhere. It required implementing advanced technologies and shows we are able to deliver the mission operations infrastructure that enables European scientists to go where they wish to explore. Alongside Schwartz Hautmont and mtex antenna technology, we are very proud of this first major success for the E-DSA² consortium."

A Strategic Site for Global Connectivity

New Norcia's location provides an ideal position for around-the-clock tracking of deep space missions and complements ESA's other ground stations in Malargüe (Argentina) and Cebreros (Spain). Once operational, it will be the first ESA site equipped with two deep space antennas.

The station is operated locally by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, which also manages NASA's deep space network facility at Tidbinbilla near Canberra.

Western Australia's location also serves ESA's launch monitoring needs. Payloads launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, pass over the region after separating from their rockets. A nearby 4.5-meter antenna tracks Vega-C and Ariane 6 launchers, collecting essential flight data.

Additionally, the site hosts a custom-built transponder antenna for ESA's Biomass mission (launched in 2025). This system helps calibrate satellite instruments as part of a five-year study of Earth's forests, with the Biomass spacecraft passing over the site several times each year.