Perth Station
Encyclopedia
Perth Station is an ESTRACK
ESTRACK
The European Space Operations Centre operates a number of ground-based space-tracking stations for the European Space Agency known as the European Space Tracking network. The stations support various ESA spacecraft and facilitate communications between ground operators and scientific probes such...

 radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...

 antenna station for communication with spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....

. The station is located at the Perth International Telecommunications Centre
Perth International Telecommunications Centre
The Perth International Telecommunications Centre is located in the northeastern Perth suburb of Cullacabardee, and has handled a large percentage of Australian telecommunications company Telstra's satellite communications since its opening in November 1986...

 in the suburb of Cullacabardee
Cullacabardee, Western Australia
Cullacabardee is a northeastern rural suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, located 21 km from Perth's central business district via Alexander Drive or Beechboro Road. It is in the City of Swan local government area. Most of the suburb is covered in native sheoak and banksia forest...

.

The site hosts a 15-metre diameter antenna that transmits in S-band and receives in both S- and X-bands. There were plans to upgrade to X-band transmission in 2004. There is also a GPS Tracking and Data Facility.

The facility is used to routinely communicate with the XMM-Newton
XMM-Newton
The XMM-Newton is an orbiting X-ray observatory launched by ESA in December 1999 on a Ariane 5 rocket...

spacecraft. It is also used during the Launch and Early Orbit Phase of various satellite launches.

The site has its own no-break power plant.

External links

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